January 7, 2016

Taking Pride in Alpena

Big strides since October:

1) Public input on improvement study
2) More assistance from MSU
3) 'Taking Pride' becomes a non-profit
corporation
Progress is so rapid on Taking Pride in Alpena's initiative to improve the
commercial and recreational aspects of Alpena's US-23 South Bay Corridor
we may have to publish more updates! Since our public campaign in
summer 2015 to raise match money for a DEQ corridor study grant and
then being rejected for said grant Taking Pride in Alpena is using the
match money to fund its own study, made less costly through collaboration
with Michigan State University professors and students and a professional
landscape architect firm. One part of the study is complete; another is
under way this month. Here are the details:

1. Beckett & Raeder will conduct a Public Input Session in

Alpena Jan. 26:
The first part of the planning and design work is ready for review! Ann Arbor professional
landscape architect Deb Cooper of Beckett & Raeder, working with Prof. Trish Machemer and five
Michigan State University landscape architecture students who participated in a groundwork
study of the South Bay corridor, will offer a public report/public input session Jan. 26 at 7
p.m. in the Gallery Room at Alpena Mall.
The MSU Landscape Architect students, who made a site visit to Alpena in late September and
also worked from a stack of information including governmental unit planning documents, South
Bay Corridor meeting notes and information including e-letters, and public input from Alpena
stakeholders taken by Cooper in November, plus other pertinent materials, focused their efforts
on five areas:
1) Utilizing Natural Resources for Cultural and Economic Development
2) Storm Water Management
3) 3-D Model (A 3-D model of the commercial corridor using the "base plan" for
improvement. This visual is to elicit public input in January and is not a "final" projection of
corridor projects.)
4) Land Planning Opportunities and Complaints
5) Branding and Identity (i.e. using Alpena's "Sanctuary" theme; pursuing the now familiar
"South Bay Corridor" nomenclature, etc.)
As a starting point, South Bay project volunteers envisioned a new design, lighting, and green
space in the commercial area as well as possibly extending the existing bike path to the "45th
Parallel" sign at Squaw Bay, then looping it east to the Alvar Shoreline on Partridge Point and
back to Island Drive, allowing a scenic trail through woodland and shore. Two small parks, one at
or near the 45th Parallel sign and another at the Alvar shoreline, are also under consideration.
These initial ideas, further shaped through discussion with area stakeholders, are the basis for

the study by architectural landscape students and professionals and may be further amended
through public input at the Alpena Mall meeting Jan. 26.

2. Second MSU group (School of Urban and Regional

Planning) joins
study effort!:
In no small part due to MSU involvement in the first part of the South Bay Corridor
revitalization effort, its School of Urban and Regional Planning has also approved a study of the
area, this one to focus solely on economic revitalization in the commercial part of the
corridor. Nine communities/organizations applied for an MSU Urban and Regional Planning field
practicum this winter semester and Taking Pride in Alpena was one of four selected.
Representatives Larry Clark and Dennis Schultz will be in East Lansing Jan. 13 for a meeting to
determine the "Scope of Services" in this part of the study and 4-5 students will be in Alpena for
a site visit the week of Jan. 18. We are seeking complimentary lodging and meals for the team
while they are in town. Students final report is due in April. More information will be disseminated
after the Jan. 13 meeting. The only cost to participate in the program is a $3,000 stipend made
payable to the university.
ALSO: Larry and Dennis meet Jan. 13 with Sen. Jim Stamas to brief him on Taking Pride in
Alpena's efforts, progress thus far, and to seek his assistance with grant funding.

3. Taking Pride in Alpena becomes a non-profit corporation:

To save money and make Taking Pride in Alpena more attractive to donors, the organization
has become a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The benefits are: exemption from federal income
tax; tax-deductible contributions; possible exemption from state income, sales, and
unemployment taxes; reduced postal rates; exemption from federal unemployment tax; and taxexempt financing. Taking Pride in Alpena has accordingly been filed as a non-profit corporation
with the Michigan Attorney General's Charitable Trust Section and with the IRS.
At its organizational meeting Dec. 11, 2015, Larry Clark was elected president, Bob Young
vice president, Betty Westrope secretary, and Brian Winter treasurer, serving with fellow
directors Hal Neiman, Dennis Schultz, Gary Parteka, Don Duvall, and Doreen Kriniak.
Its mission is: Working together as citizens, businesses, and governments to improve
the appearance and vitality of Alpena Township. Current efforts focus on a new pedestrianfriendly commercial streetscape along the US-23 South Bay Corridor plus additional recreational
amenities in the area including non-motorized trails and two small parks near Squaw Bay and
Partridge Point.
The organization will collect no dues but will seek an annual contribution according to the
following guidelines: Resident - $25; Senior - $15; Small Business - $50; Mid-Sized Business $100; Large Business -- $200; Agency or Institution - $75; Other donors any contribution is
appreciated. Checks may be made out to "Taking Pride in Alpena" and mailed to 2380 US-23South, Alpena, MI 49707. We are accepting contributions now as we have commitments
for all monies raised during the fundraising campaign in 2015.
In the event you are wondering what happened to the "South Bay Corridor Association," it
remains an informal collection of citizens who do projects in and around the South Bay Corridor.

4. Township Board approves blight resolution:

At its Jan. 4 meeting the Alpena Township Board approved a resolution authorizing its
supervisor and building inspector to enforce blight ordinances for buildings within the current
Taking Pride in Alpena project area (South Bay corridor), such enforcement consisting of
notification letters and, if necessary, citations. The resolution was requested by Larry Clark in
advance of a June 1 application deadline for grants under the Michigan Blight Elimination
Program. The program this year will award up to $250,000 per proposal to demolish blighted

commercial and residential buildings as well as those within a downtown or commercial corridor
provided the applying unit of government has done its work (through notification and citation to
owners of blighted properties) to try to remediate the situation. Additionally, the applying entity (
township) needs to have a local place plan or other placemaking effort which, of course, we do!
East Tawas and Onaway have received past funding under the program; in 2015 Manistique was
granted over $200,000.
If you would like to volunteer for this improvement effort or would like additional information
please call Larry Clark at 464-9047.