Volunteers prepare for Ypsi PRIDE Day
May. 13, 2010 · 7:09 a.m.
Each year, residents in and around the city of Ypsilanti carry on a tradition started by a group of community members enrolled in a city leadership program, a sort...read more
Bicycles zoom as flowers bloom
Apr. 30, 2010 · 2:11 p.m.
The weather has turned, the trees are budding and the flowers are popping out of the ground; time for a cruise through town. But don’t be so quick to hop in the...read more
Sheriff Clayton visits Ypsilanti Township
Apr. 29, 2010 · 12:59 p.m.
About 50 Ypsilanti Township residents gave the Washtenaw County Sheriff Office their input about law enforcement in the community Tuesday evening.
The information...read more
Local photographer raising funds for Ypsi Project exhibit
Apr. 20, 2010 · 2:20 a.m.
Ypsilanti has many faces, and Erica Hampton wants to share a few of them with you.
Over the past year, Hampton created the The Ypsi Project, a series of portraits...read more
Savoy taking shape as live music venue
Apr. 17, 2010 · 2:38 p.m.
Ypsilanti's newest concert venue is preparing for its grand opening weekend April 23, more than a month after its soft opening March 13.
Formerly Club Divine,...read more
Photo by Christine Laughren
The Ypsilanti Downtown Development Association met Thursday and voted to remain at "associate status" in the Michigan Main Street Program rather than move up to "select status."
Door remains open for higher status level in future
Mar. 20, 2009 · 3:19 a.m.
After a year of training the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority voted not to pursue “select level” status as part of the Michigan Main Street Program.
In a 4-3 vote, the DDA decided to remain at the “associate level” and continue attending MMS trainings in preparation for “select level” status next year.
Joining the Main Street program was recommended as part of the city’s five-year Blueprint process.
The application, due May 1, requires a five-year budget, a full time director, public and private funding as well as an extensive downtown building inventory. It also entails a different organizational structure with separate committees operating under the DDA board.
A few DDA members voiced concern at Thursday morning’s meeting regarding the full-time director position. Board member Jim Nelson said committing to a full-time director downtown would leave Depot Town with no one.
“When I make a commitment to someone I want to follow through on that commitment,” he said. “We had to go to Depot Town and ask them to participate with us in order to get a full-time director.”
Brian Vosburg currently serves as director for the Depot Town Downtown Development Authority and the DDA.
Board member David Curtis said he did not feel comfortable voting for the “select level.”
“I didn’t feel like I had enough information,” he said.
Michigan State University Extension Planner Teresa Gillotti told the board if it did decide to hold off on the “select level” it should make an effort to attend the training so the process could move forward next year.
DDA Chair Peter Rinehart, who attended many training sessions this past year, said he was ready to move forward with the Main Street program.
Rinehart suggested to the board to revisit the issue at a special meeting next week after he and others had the opportunity to put more information together. But board member Stewart Beal proposed remaining at the “associate level.”
Rinehart said he was a little disappointed. However, he also said the extra year would give others a chance to attend the training sessions and generate more community support.
“We just put a speed bump in our own road,” he said. “It doesn’t slow us down, it just means we get to catch some air before we hit.”
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