Development within existing Cities, Townships and Villages was a clear priority established by citizens in the Grand Vision. "Placemaking" (a process and philosophy of community development) is one of the best ways to accomplish community development within our existing local communities. Here we highlight three communities in our region at various stages of a placemaking process. With the guidance of the principles established in the Grand Vision survey, each community is working on their own process to identify and improve the assets of their community, creating their own "sense of place." A special thanks to Vicente Ramos with Experience Works for writing this piece.       

The Village of Honor - The Vision Takes Form

With economic decline threatening the future of their village, a group of Honor area residents formed HARP, the Honor Area Restoration Project, a 501 (C) 3 non-profit committed to developing a Grand Vision-like blueprint for prosperity.  Over the past year, HARP has worked with the Alliance for Economic Success, holding meetings with concerned citizens to evaluate economic conditions and opportunities, identify strengths and weaknesses, and generate a plan for "placemaking" to help establish existing economic assets and promote local, natural resources. 

Using a small grant from Rotary Charities, they hired a consultant to help focus their efforts and at last month's "Envision Honor" planning session, 145 area residents identified their community development priorities: develop a new downtown "streetscape," create new recreation facilities, establish themselves as a destination for tourism businesses, increase riverfront access, devise a plan for a connected community that is walkable and bikeable, and create a gateway to the Sleeping Bear Dunes. 

The Village of Kalkaska - Getting Planned and Ready to Go

Grappling with economic dislocation common to much of Northern Michigan, Kalkaska residents are considering placemaking as one strategy for redefining their community and planning their future.  The Village of Kalkaska is on the cusp of finalizing their Village Master Plan, focusing their Village development efforts. The philosophy of placemaking offers Kalkaska residents another option for promoting local strengths and resources, helping them to face new challenges, encourage economic opportunity and help improve the quality of life for all citizens.  

Working with the Grand Traverse Group and the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, Kalkaskans plan to develop their industrial park, reassess commercial and residential real estate, and promote their first-rate medical facility, their 100,000 acres of forest land and world-class fishing.  In short, by planning in the mindset of placemaking and defining their "sense of place" as a community, Kalkaska is looking to re-position itself as an area with the kind of infrastructure, technology and environmental resources that attract investment. 

The City of Frankfort - Local Grand Vision Implementation via Placemaking 

Once a regional hub for shipping, Frankfort now competes in a diversified economy, embracing placemaking as a way to promote its natural resources, work-force and civic cohesion. The City of Frankfort as long been a supporter of the Grand Vision principles and continues to implement policies and regulations that are consistent with the goals established in the Grand Vision Survey. As a means for implementing the Grand Vision principles within their community, the City of Frankfort has utilized the concept of placemaking.

Decades before placemaking became a common term; Frankfort government leaders understood re-conceiving the town's economic image can be the way to prosperity. Ten years later, their ideas evolved into a developmental blueprint supported by an engaged seasonal, as well as generational, population. Once the citizenry became involved, business leaders quickly saw the wisdom of public sector initiatives. Since then, Frankfort has secured over $7.3 million in investments, including a $3 million USDA loan for infrastructural upgrades, and are modifying zoning ordinances to promote a commerce-based economy featuring strong local business and tourism. All in all a fine start toward re-conceiving their town and its economic future through placemaking.

Through a collaborative effort, in true Grand Vision fashion, the Village of Honor, the Village of Kalkaska, and the City of Frankfort are coordinating and focusing their efforts to implement principles of the Grand Vision through a placemaking process. As we continue to move forward with the implementation of the Grand Vision principles throughout our region, local communities will take on an added significant, through placemaking, in making the Grand Vision a reality.