WEST END DEVELOPMENT

CITY COMMISSION DISCUSSION

At their Monday, September 14, 2026 meeting, the City Commission will discuss potential next steps for the redevelopment of the City-owned West End properties. The discussion is intended to provide initial policy direction and will not involve formal selection of a development partner.

The West End properties represent a significant opportunity for redevelopment in the City’s urban core. The City has invested approximately $7.6 million through the Parking Services Fund to assemble the properties, creating multiple contiguous, publicly owned parcels available for potential redevelopment.

In April 2026, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to explore development opportunities for the properties, with proposals due in June. Following review of the proposals received, interviews were conducted with selected development teams to further explore their concepts, approaches, and ability to advance the City’s objectives for the properties.

The RFP process also raised broader policy and financial questions that should be considered before determining a path forward. Rather than focusing solely on the selection of a development partner, Monday’s discussion will examine the redevelopment approach that best advances the City’s long-term goals for the properties.

A central consideration is the future of public parking. The discussion will focus on whether public parking should remain City-owned and controlled, be incorporated into a privately owned development, or potentially be pursued separately by the City while other portions of the property are made available for private redevelopment. Each approach carries different considerations related to financing, long-term control, parking availability, and the City’s existing investment in the properties.

Additionally, consideration will be given to how these decisions intersect with other objectives identified through the RFP, including housing at underserved price points, public restrooms, a Police Department substation, quality urban design, and alignment with the City’s Strategic Action Plan and Objectives and Key Results.

At this stage, initial direction is being sought from the City Commission regarding the City’s desired role in public parking, the appropriate level of public investment, housing priorities, and the public amenities and benefits expected from redevelopment. The discussion may extend across future meetings as the Commission evaluates the options and identifies areas where additional information or analysis is needed.

STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

NEW PUBLIC DASHBOARD TRACKS PROGRESS

The City has launched a new public-facing performance dashboard, providing the community with an ongoing way to track progress on the City’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP), City Commission Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), and associated OKR Work Plan.

The dashboard marks a major milestone in the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan, moving the City from plan development to a centralized system for tracking progress, measuring outcomes, and reporting results. The new platform is used internally by the employee team to manage implementation and is also designed to provide greater transparency and accountability to the City Commission and community.

Approximately six months into implementation of the three- to five-year plan, the Strategic Action Plan is showing 15% overall progress, with approximately 6% of plan elements completed, 33% on track, 20% pending, and 42% upcoming.

Implementation is underway across all six Strategic Action Plan pillars. Childcare, which emerged as the top priority through public engagement during development of the Strategic Action Plan, has been an important area of early progress. Efforts include opening a new day camp at Hickory Hills to provide additional childcare opportunities for local families, identifying and pursuing funding opportunities that can help grow childcare capacity, and working with regional partners to expand childcare opportunities throughout the area.

Progress is also being made across a range of other community priorities. Mobility initiatives include completion of the Cass Street crosswalk project and establishment of the Complete Streets Advisory Committee to help advance safer and more accessible connections throughout the City. Environmental initiatives include completion of the Kids Creek/11th Street Culvert project, continued work toward West Grand Traverse Bay shoreline restoration, and substantial completion of the solar and battery energy storage project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Additional progress includes adoption of the Parks and Recreation Five-Year Master Plan, advancement of housing initiatives, and continued regional collaboration on utilities, transportation, sustainability, workforce development, and economic development.

The public dashboard, identified as a priority in the OKR Work Plan, represents the next step in strengthening accountability around the City’s strategic priorities. Community members can use the dashboard to follow what has been completed, what is underway, and what work remains as the City advances the priorities established through the Strategic Action Plan and OKR process.

PROJECT UPDATES

COMPLETE, ACTIVE, AND UPCOMING

Cape Seal Project: Active

Project began September 9, 2026.

Catch Basin Cleaning Project: Active

Project began September 8, 2026.

S. Garfield Sidewalk Construction Project: Active

Project began September 8, 2026.

Farmers Market Project: Active

Construction is underway on the new Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market Pavilion. Parking Lot B is closed for the duration of the project, which includes construction of a modern, accessible covered pavilion, reconstruction of the parking lot, upgraded drainage and stormwater infrastructure, enhanced landscaping, and parking improvements to better serve the market and surrounding riverfront. The project is anticipated to be completed in spring 2027.

Monroe Street Reconstruction: Active

Phase 3 of the Monroe Street Reconstruction is underway, with Monroe Street closing from Randolph Street to West Front Street. Work will include sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, curb and gutter, pavement, sidewalks, and related improvements, with intermittent impacts expected at the Randolph and West Front intersections. This final phase of reconstruction is anticipated to be completed and reopened to traffic on or around October 30, 2026, weather permitting.



Projects Completed

Eleventh Street Culvert/Kids Creek Restoration Project

Pavement Marking Project

Oak Street Mill and Fill (Seventh Street and W. Thirteenth Street)

Seventh Street Mill and Fill (S. Elmwood Ave. and S. Division Street)

Elmwood Mill and Fill (W. Front Street and W. Eleventh Streets)

Washington Street Resurface (Rose Street to Prospect Street)

Cass Street Crosswalk (E. State Street and E. Front Street)

Looking Ahead

Crack Sealing Project: Begins September 2026

TRAIL SURFACE IMPROVEMENTS

BOARDMAN LAKE LOOP AND TART ALONG RAILROAD

The Department of Mobility Infrastructure has recently worked to improve trail surface repairs along portions of the TART Trail and Boardman Lake Loop, improving conditions for bicyclists, pedestrians, and other trail users.

This week, crews conducted surface repairs along the TART Trail parallel to Railroad Avenue, between Washington Street and State Street near F&M Park. Additional trail surface improvements were also recently completed at various locations along the Boardman Lake Loop.

The work addressed areas of deteriorated trail surface and is part of the City’s ongoing maintenance of its non-motorized transportation network. 

TRAVERSE CITY LIGHT & POWER INCENTIVES

RESIDENTS ARE SAVING ENERGY AND GETTING REWARDED

Energy efficiency might sound like a big-picture concept, but every green city starts with one green home at a time.

In the past year, TCLP customers saved more than 4.1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity through the utility’s energy-efficiency programs. That’s enough electricity to power approximately 628 homes in the City for an entire year!

City residents are taking advantage of TCLP's Energy Rewards program, which features 351 unique customers and 424 applications approved in the 2024–25 fiscal year for rebates on e-bikes, snowblowers, lawnmowers, and more! 

So what does that mean for you?

TCLP offers incentives to help make energy-efficient upgrades more affordable for residential customers. Depending on the project, residents can receive incentives for improvements such as heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction stoves, EV charging equipment, electric lawn equipment, solar and other energy-saving upgrades.

For example, current incentives include up to $3,000 for qualifying heat pump systems, $1,000 for a heat pump water heater, $500 for an induction stove, $300 for an EV charging station, and $150 for an electric lawn mower or snow blower.

These programs are designed to make it easier for residents to invest in their homes while using less energy. And the impact adds up: the more homes that participate, the more energy we can save across our community.

Already thinking about an upgrade? Check first to see if TCLP can help pay for it.

Learn more about TCLP Energy Rewards and explore the full list of residential incentives at TCLP Energy Rewards.

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 14

Michigan's 2017 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) designates galvanized water services as lead service lines if they "are or ever were" connected to a lead gooseneck, requiring utilities to pay for replacing private water services from the curb stop to the building. Lead goosenecks, installed before the mid-1940s, are 3-foot lead pipes used between the brass connection to the water main and a galvanized pipe.

The City has since installed copper services and has no known fully lead service lines. Not all private galvanized lines need replacement; those originally connected to City-owned copper services don't require replacement. The water service line replacement project started in May 2026 and is anticipated to be completed by fall 2026.

Week of September 14 Locations

The week of September 14, 2026, work will be conducted on the 900 and 1000 blocks of Barlow. This work will cause lane closures and lane shifts. Additionally, the work will cause sidewalk closures.

PUBLIC BEACH

MONITORING & TESTING

The Environmental Health Division of the Grand Traverse County Health Department works closely with the City of Traverse City, Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, and the Traverse City State Park to ensure the health and safety of several public beaches in Grand Traverse County.

The Watershed Center administers grants from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to sample surface water from swim areas of the beaches. The water samples are analyzed for E. coli, a relatively harmless organism that may indicate the possible presence of harmful pathogenic microorganisms.

The Beach Monitoring Dashboard is updated weekly on Thursdays. If any beaches report a "Level 2" or higher, those specific beaches will then be resampled. Resample results will be available and published 24 hours later.

On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, water sampling classified all beaches in the City of Traverse City as Level 1 and are considered safe for full-body contact.

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE

Be a hero and join us for a Community Blood Drive hosted at the Governmental Center in the lower level cafeteria on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins welcome. Call 1-866-MI-BL00D.

Pro-Tip: Make sure to EAT a healthy MEAL and DRINK plenty of WATER before donating. 

Learn More

40 UNDER 40 CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Traverse City Business News 40Under40, bringing together the 2026 honorees and alumni from throughout the program’s history to celebrate two decades of recognizing emerging leaders in the region.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees, Technology Director Jerry Swanson and City Commissioner Lance Boehmer!

Joining them at the celebration were 40Under40 alumni City Manager Benjamin Marentette, Mayor Amy Shamroe, Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Colleen Paveglio, and Parking Services Director Nicole VanNess.

The City is proud to celebrate the leadership and contributions of Team Traverse City, past and present, and their continued commitment to serving our community.

WHY IS THAT?

ARE PARKING AMBASSADORS HIDING IN THE BUSHES?

We get it. Receiving a parking violation is a bummer. It happens, even to the person writing this! Sometimes we lose track of time, an errand takes longer than expected, or we simply forget to check the meter.

But there’s one parking myth we hear from time to time: Do Parking Ambassadors wait nearby for a meter to expire, then circle back a few minutes later to issue a violation?

The answer: nope!

When Parking Ambassadors walk their assigned routes in Downtown Traverse City, they are required to continue moving forward along the route. They cannot simply turn around and head back to a recently expired meter. The City also has tools in place to verify that established enforcement procedures and routes are being followed.

So, while we can’t promise you will never come back to find a parking violation on your windshield, we can clear up one thing:

No Parking Ambassadors are hiding in the bushes waiting for your meter to expire.

And now you know. WHY IS THAT?