MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. — People in Muskegon Heights are growing impatient about a reconstruction project that’s supposed to be happening this year. The goal is to make Broadway Avenue look like new again. Once completed, business owners in the area said the reconstruction project will have a positive impact on the community and their establishments.
“Some people tell me they dodge those holes for us, so I appreciate them for dodging the holes,” said Corine Rose, owner of Corine's Cakes and Catering.
Nearly a year after it was announced that the nearly two-mile stretch of roadway would have work done on it, some business owners said they are confused as to why no work has been done. Rose said she can’t wait for the project to start.
“I look forward to it, I want a video of it, I’m going to videotape them doing it, to take pictures and keep posting it because just to see it getting done, that's a major huge task alone and a big party for me,” Rose said.
Muskegon Heights interim city manager Melvin Burns II said the project is expected to be done by this fall which has been the plan since the project was announced and because of this, he said people who live and work in Muskegon Heights should be patient as the city continues to work to get the reconstruction project started.
“People have to be patient because once you hear that announcement, there's administrative things have to be done, we have to sign grant paperwork with the state, we've got to do construction work, surveying, and submit our plans to the state for the reconstruction project, Burns said.
Being patient can be tricky for some as long-time barber Corey Chapman said the condition of Broadway Avenue has sent his customers elsewhere because they said the streets were just too much to deal with to keep coming back.
“It will be a rejoiceful moment for everybody that pay car insurance and pay taxes, it will be a rejoiceful for a moment,” Chapman said. "Thank the Lord that me and my coworkers do great work, because if we did lackluster work, we would be out here with a cup asking do you have a quarter?”
Once completed, Rose said she and her entire staff will rejoice as it’ll be a new leaf turned for her business.
“I think it's going to be ten times better once it’s done because I want there to be something affordable for people, because people like food that mom and dad and grandma will cook,” Rose said.
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