SPDC aids Allegan Riverfront Revitalization Study

January 20, 2014

Allegan was one of five cities statewide to gain planning assistance through an effort called PlacePlans. The effort brought together expertise from the MSHDA, MML and SPDC.

Allegan was one of five cities statewide to gain planning assistance through an effort called PlacePlans. The effort brought together expertise from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the Michigan Municipal League and Michigan State University's School of Planning, Design and Construction.

The SPDC faculty, Warren Rauhe and Wayne Beyea, facilitated the planning and design process with the City, citizens, Michigan Municipal League staff, and both landscape architecture and urban & regional planning students.The SPDC students developed a conceptual master plan, design concepts, images of the proposed improvements, and text for the final report.

"The design and planning process in Allegan allowed our students to work as an interdisciplinary team on a unique and highly visible project,” said Warren Rauhe.

The nine-month-long project included three local meetings and a three-day design charrette.

Warren stated, “The community was involved at all stages, some 150 people at each meeting, whereby our students were interactive with the public. The community plans to implement a major riverfront development project with private consultants.

The new design will connect the entire area by a walking path, create a plaza complete with a clock tower behind the Griswold, and transform a large segment of what is now parking into a multi-seasonal space with a water splash pad for summer and an ice rink for winter and an area for temporary concert staging. With concept in hand, city officials hope to make the project a reality within the next five years.”