Downtown Sparta Blueprint 2009 (PDF)

The Blueprint Plan includes input and collaboration from:

Community Organization Leaders

Downtown Business Owners

Retail Trade Area Surveys

Customer Focus Groups

Employee Focus Groups

Sparta Downtown Development Authority

Sparta Chamber of Commerce

Village Council Members

Sparta Township Representatives

Sparta Residents

Community Meeting Attendees

Market Analysis

Lets work together to implement the 5 year action plan and make Downtown Sparta truly “What a Neighborhood Should Be”.

The Downtown Development Authority, Chamber of COmmerce, Village of Sparta is currently in the process of adopting the plan into the Master Plan and as the Guide for Downtown Development.

Thanks to a matching federal Transportation Enhancement Grant administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation, Downtown Sparta will begin a Streetscape Project in April. This project is an initiative of the Downtown Development Authority in partnership with the Village of Sparta. Sparta is one of only seven municipalities in Michigan to receive the grant in 2009. With $376,500 in Transportation Enhancement Grant funds, the improvements include pedestrian safety measures including brick crosswalks and lighting, benches, trees, shrubs, and landscaping in an effort to slow traffic down. Project limits are on Division Avenue from State Street to the Nash Creek Bridge and along N. Union. Additional funding is through Kent County, Sparta DDA, and the Village of Sparta.

For a few years, the DDA and Village have been budgeting funds in anticipation of this project, which means taxes will not be increased and special assessments will not happen for this project. The DDA captures a percentage of tax dollars from the taxing jurisdictions on specific DDA parcels as passed by State Legislation to work on development projects. The project is anticipated for competition in early July.

]]> http://spartachamber.com/coc/2009/02/27/sparta-streetscape-project-awarded-federal-grant/feed/ 0 http://spartachamber.com/coc/2008/12/10/sparta-businesses-are-lookin-good/ http://spartachamber.com/coc/2008/12/10/sparta-businesses-are-lookin-good/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:12:28 +0000 admin http://spartachamber.com/coc/?p=13 Notice the amazing changes in Sparta commercial buildings lately?

Some of the major changes are due in part to the Village of Sparta Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Property Enhancement Grant program for exterior enhancements to commercial buildings within the DDA District. The program has generated over $250,000 of investment from business owners into the exterior of their buildings over the past two years. The investment from property owners in their buildings is important for the vitality of Sparta business and the enhancements are having a major effect on the image of Sparta.

Round Again, the downtown business at 213 E. Division, has become a historical focal point for downtown Sparta after the completion of the DDA grant program in 2007. By taking the architectural history into account, the property owners, Howard and Joan Lettinga, decided to restore the exterior to its original size as built in 1907. By removing a 1940’s addition, the Lettinga’s found the original building sign in the façade of the building as the doorway header reading “N.A. Shaw Palace Livery 1907”. As a building that has served many different businesses over the years, including a Drayage Business (the hauling of a load by a low built cart by horses), a Livery Barn, Fields Transfer Line, a farm implement business, a John Deere equipment repair operation, a beauty shop, real estate office, accounting business, and photo shop, the building was finally purchased in 1984 as a consignment/ resale business by the Lettinga’s. As 2007 marked the hundredth year for the historic building in downtown Sparta, the Lettinga’s celebrated by restoring the building to its historic exterior and continuing the legacy of the historical building in downtown Sparta.

Another example of the DDA grant program is the major exterior improvements on the building at 530 S. State Street that currently houses Spectrum Health, Mel Trotter, LA Insurance, and the Secretary of State. Through the DDA Grant Program, the 530 S. State Street building underwent major façade improvements that included adding new façade materials, raised the height of the front façade to hide equipment, and correlated the businesses on the property. The improvements are remarkable and the project has made major improvements to the South State Street corridor.

Maxine’s Family Restaurant, at 370 N. State Street, is another example of success for the DDA Grant Program. Through major façade improvements, parking lot enhancements, streetscape improvements, and landscaping work, the business has made a major impact on the North State Street corridor and improve the exterior of the visual appeal of the restaurant. Maxine’s Family Restaurant has changed their image and look through the DDA Grant Program. The before and after photos show the extreme results of the project undertaken in 2008.

Interested in the 2009 DDA Property Enhancement Grant program? Businesses must meet grant guidelines and meet with the Property Enhancement Grant committee before applications are accepted. Grant guidelines are online under Assisting Businesses at www.spartami.org.

The Downtown Streetscape Construction Project is set to begin April 1, 2009 and last through the beginning of July 2009 from State Street to Prospect on Division Avenue.;

To find our more details about the project, please join us at the open house between:

6:00 and 8:00 pm on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
at the Sparta Civic Center • 75 N Union • Sparta, MI 49345

Stop by to see what the excitement is about in downtown Sparta!