MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. — An estimated $10-12 million is heading to one of the Heights’ more heavily traveled roads and is likely to provide a much-needed boost of support to the city’s downtown business community.
Broadway Avenue from Glade to Getty streets – roughly two miles of roadway – is expected to be completely redone, with improvements to come to its underground infrastructure as well.
“We're going to be replacing water supply lines, replacing water mains, rebuilding manholes,” Muskegon Heights city manager Melvin Burns said. “That matters, because we're reinvesting in this main road that goes to our downtown – better infrastructure.”
Six million of that investment comes from the state legislature, Burns said, though federal dollars are playing a role too.
“It'll actually be a nice little case study and how we match these funds, even some intergovernmental cooperation,” Burns said, later adding that construction is slated for late summer or early fall of 2024. “It almost feels like you're going slower than you want to, but it's important because we don't just to be – not just City Council's plan – but our community moving together in one direction.”
The improvement project comes after the city unveiled a statue highlighting the high school’s marching band last month in Rowan Park.
To people like Muskegon Heights native Corine Rose – owner of Corine’s Cakes and Catering – the work is something the downtown area has been in need of.
“I hope they can bring (the Heights) back to look like it was when I was little,” Rose said. “Because we need some more stores on here – very bad. I think we can be the start to get everybody else to want to come out here and beautify and help with the city to bring something back out here.”
Rose moved from the Lakes Mall in Muskegon to her current location along Broadway in January of 2023. She takes pride in her physical location and continues to offer soul food and a myriad of sweet southern treats. She hopes the work can start sooner rather than later.
“A lot of people – well, some at least on social media – say they don't want to come here because of the potholes, but it hasn't stopped people. As long as you can dodge them, you can make it here but yeah, I think fixing it will improve the traffic even more, and the flow and ease the minds – but it needs it really bad for the community.”
Once construction does begin, it’s expected to be done in sections and take anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
And because businesses like Corine’s are far and few between, Burns hopes the move breathes new life into the city’s downtown with new investments.
“What I tell people is – we may be struggling now, but things go in cycles,” Burns said. “The person who says, ‘You know what, I can do this right here now.’ I think that's the person that actually wins.”
The city's mission of "reaching new heights" is something Rose has already helped start, and she's excited for what's to come.
"It's gonna bring people to want to bring their businesses out here and bringing the businesses out here – that's gonna help the city," Rose said. "I think it's gonna make a change.”
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.