Small, waterfront town image is key to downtown Oscoda renaissance

The Oscoda Press presents this update on downtown planning:

City planner Doyle Hyett of HyettPalma of Alexandria, Va. returned to Oscoda to present the firm’s Cool Cities Blueprint recommendations. Suggestions by HyettPalma were divided into categories, which follow.

Public improvements

• Extend the boardwalk, maintain cleanliness, and construct a pier at Oscoda Beach Park.
• Use streetscaping to reinforce future image of a type which would be pedestrian oriented and easy to maintain and repair.
• Explore the feasibility of locating a marina/docking facility along the AuSable River.
• Build a hotel on Lake Street to cater to a different kind of traveler. Until then, use the property as a sports venue in summer and an ice rink in the winter.
• Develop directional signs for motorists to take the existing system to next level. Hyett suggested Oscoda and AuSable work together to create welcome, directional and public parking signs which make motorists react, and not think, about local amenities, services and attractions.
• Enhance US-23 with the development of a three-lane traffic pattern on State Street, which would have a dedicated center lane and on-street parking, if allowed by the Michigan Department of Transportation. Hyett recommended the township embrace the recommendation and request a meeting with MDOT as soon as possible to begin an immediate trial of the new lanes before summer. The trial could run simply by repainting traffic lines. According to Hyett, much of the revitalization effort will be dependent on this project.
• Allow as much on-street parking on US-23, Lake Street and side streets as is possible, keeping parking lots behind buildings. Hyett pointed out that customers are not feeling welcomed by the offensive signs he has seen. “This is a very small town and businesses that do that have a very negative vibe going out,” said Hyett. He recommends that business owners remove private parking signs, or at the very least, word them less harshly.
• Work on reducing the speed of larger trucks.

Private Improvements

• Don’t try to contrive an image, instead embrace history and create the small town, hometown, waterfront town theme.
• Continue with the plans to maintain the artwork on murals.
• Improve storefronts to be beautiful, clean and neat. He suggested the DDA provide the tools to accomplish this by working with the state on a 50/50 match grant program; develop design guidelines (not laws) for appearance; and provide parking lots that are clean, landscaped and well lit.

Anchors
Hyett explained an anchor helps the area to not drift away. Existing anchors in Oscoda are the restaurants, historical museum, cafes and movie theater. An important anchor – the library – was previously moved out of the downtown area, he said. Hyett suggested one new anchor could be had by developing the old Oscoda Elementary School into condos, lofts or apartments, or a center for performing arts or professional offices. Retail shops were discouraged at the site. Ideal uses for another anchor, Furtaw Field, would be to bring the library back downtown or construction of a building for performing arts or a retail offices. “Please don’t market to a big-box retailer,” he urged. Another idea called for a weekend farm market.

Business Development

• Downtown businesses should be clustered between Division and Michigan streets, he advised.
• A program should be developed to have representatives from the DDA visit every downtown business on a periodic basis.
• Iosco County should be approached for help in removing snow on downtown streets and walkways.
• Business owners may need to extend their hours to be open when customers are available. This may mean opening later in the morning to compensate later hours.
• Business owners need to maintain attractive and comfortable shops, provide quality products and great visual displays, and also provide friendly interaction with customers.
• Work with existing businesses first, then branch out to recruit external businesses.

Marketing

• The town has great existing events and Hyett urged keeping these fresh year-to-year. He also suggested the need for another event in August.
• Always work with the media.
• Create a downtown brochure in addition to existing guides.
• Run image ads on a year-round basis.
• Establish a central community message board at the township hall.
• All businesses need to take advantage of technology and create a Web presence.

The full blueprint can be found on the www.oscodatwp.com website or download here: Oscoda Cool City (pdf)