The City of Rochester has installed the buttons that pedestrians can push to change the traffic light. I wonder why that was necessary. I used to be able to drive through downtown (from University to Second Street) with only one stop for a red light. Now, I sometimes get stopped two or three times! Some intersections in Rochester Hills also have these buttons. It never took that long to wait for the light to change. Of course, now, Rochester Hills has the "fast-track" lights, which are anything but "fast."

Some times they are set-up, like in a downtown area, to slow traffic, not to speed it up.

I don't think the goal for downtown Rochester is to get the Lake Orion commuter through downtown at 45 mph.

Ron, I agree with you about all of the "clutter" on the sidewalks. I do hear that the Leader Dogs enjoy it though, training the dogs with the extra obstacles. I would take out the fences and shrubs and turn those into sitting areas so people can look out at the streets. They would be great spots to insert tables and chairs for dining.

Several years ago I tried to sit on a bench along Main Street after buying ice cream from a business that is no longer there. With all of the large trucks and other traffic it was loud and smelly - not a pleasant experience at all! I don't know why anyone would want to sit on a bench on Main Street facing the stores or the street. I would save those types of improvements for Rotary Park, Rochester Park and the path behind the library - all much quieter and more aesthetically pleasing. Maybe Rochester needs to consider a traffic by-pass for those just passing through.

Bah Humbug!!!

Take a short trip to the downtowns of the other nice suburban cities and you'll find all these same things. AND, when you combine it with traffic lights designed to slow down traffic (and encourage the big trucks just passing through to go around), it will be a nice relaxed downtown with pedestrians of all ages (even those who occasionally need to sit down).

Hi Bob;

You are making a very valid point. One of the primary reasons for Parking Meters long ago was to counteract the problems of employees of the merchant stores on Main were parking in primary parking spots ALL DAY LONG. Some cities have tried to eliminate the problem by marking the tires of all cars with chalk and then checking them a few times a day to see if those cars were there for long periods of time .... if they were then a parking ticket was be issued. This process was not financially viable and so the birth of Metered Parking took place as it should have and had to be done. The owners of the store's employees that were abusing the free parking had no time and or the inclination to monitor their own employees. In fact many of the cars were owned by the Store owners as well. ;-)

Bob Lytle and the rest of the entitlement attitude land owners on Main Street don't want to have to provide parking for their customers and tenants through their self-serving "parking exempt district" paid for by the City and DDA, don't want the City and DDA to charge for parking, but want the City and DDA to pay for enforcement at no charge to them. Pretty cozy and convenient. Time for this favoritism and inside baseball to end.

JR, what are you talking about? How many businesses on Main St. have any room to park customers on their properties? You realize that the merchants DO pay for the parking lots and upkeep don't you? Being in the district that is operated under the auspices of the DDA requires the businesses to pay for that service in their taxes. No one is getting a free ride or favoritism so what makes you think that?

Some of the worst violators for misusing the limited metered spots are the owners or employees. Call city hall and ask who receives the most parking tickets and you would find out that very few are customers, at least not on a continual basis. Those who only need a few minutes to pick up an rx, make a bank deposit, or pick up a food order are rarely the offenders. Sit down meals, hair salons, bar patrons, etc. often make up a large portion of scofflaws of any meter users in most any city.

Smart city leadership works to provide parking for store customers because it is a necessity for the customer base. Free customer parking is a short walk for most all businesses downtown. Only the lazy or those who feel they are entitled to not having to walk abuse the system. Time limits in metered spots is frowned upon by those same lazy or entitled abusers. We have too many people who think the rules only apply to others, not themselves. Time for them to grow up and quit being so selfish and greedy.

Dee, most zoning ordinances require businesses to provide (either on site or nearby) a certain number of parking spaces based upon a formula that takes into account the kind of business and its square footage. The favored few within roughly a block of either side of Main Street are exempt from this requirement and have sold their former parking lots to the City or DDA which now pays for the lots and their maintenance, lighting, insurance, and enforcement. Rather than pushing the problem on to government for a solution at public expense, why can't businesses make sure their employees aren't abusing the system?

Thanks Ron!

I too am against collecting fee's or taxes that serve no purpose, but the 50 cents one needs to put in the meter is a small price to pay to increase the odds that I'll actually find a spot downtown.

Oh, ASSESS the paving! I had to read that one a few times! ;)

There are some asses in this area, but fewer than in most other Michigan cities.

I made a typing error. Should read ASSESS. Sorry for the mistake!

The re-paving of Tienken will wait until the 3 lanes or 5 lanes thing is resolved, which will then allow for some county, state and federal funds to be sought based on the final plan.

Yes, please tax me more so that a small number of people can have a cheap gym (Troy's is not free, google it).

FYI - That was sarcasm.

When our city officials gave 7.5% annual raises and continued 14 % pension contributions, that left less money in the budget for items such as snow plowing that would actually be helpful to the residents.

Marie... thanks for your post... just the facts...

LOCAL STREET - WINTER MAINTENANCE
2013‐2015 ADOPTED BUDGET DOCUMENT
Technical Appendix Page #77

$553,098 -- 2009 Actual
$525,648 -- 2010 Actual
$556,185 -- 2011 Actual
$839,130 -- 2012 Budget
$829,370 -- 2013 Adopted
2012/2013 % Change ‐1.2%
$840,670 -- 2014 Projected
2013/2014 % Change +1.4%
$852,730 -- 2015 Projected
2014/2015 % Change +1.4%

MAJOR ROAD ‐ WINTER MAINTENANCE
$430,180 -- 2012 Budget
$422,870 -- 2013 Adopted
2012/2013 % Change ‐1.7%

How many miles of major and local roads does the City of Rochester Hills maintain?
According to Act 51 the City of Rochester Hills maintains 38.61 miles of major roads and 217.61 miles of local roads for snow removal, repairing, etc.
http://www.rochesterhills.org/FAQ.aspx

City of Rochester Hills Winter Maintenance Policy -- see attachment at top

Category 1
Snowfall of less than 4 inches
MAJOR ROADS & EMERGENCY ROUTES – 38 miles of major roads that are traveled by the most vehicular traffic as well as emergency vehicles. These roads are plowed and salted on a 24 hour basis, 7 days a week as needed.

Category 2
Snowfall of 4 or more inches throughout the City
MAJOR ROADS & EMERGENCY ROUTES – 38 miles of major roads that are traveled by the most vehicular traffic as well as emergency vehicles. These roads are plowed and salted on a 24 hour basis, 7 days a week as needed.

LOCAL ROADS - 242 miles of local roads are plowed and salted on an as-needed basis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When plowing local roads, the city is divided into six plow routes. The routes begin on the East and West sides of the city and progress towards the middle.

• Following a significant snowstorm (4 or more inches in a 24 hour period), plow all local roads within 4 days recognizing that each step will require more time to complete, depending on the severity of the storm.

I am referring to the residential streets of Rochester Hills.

Marie...

Thanks were both on the same page. 'Local Streets' -- the far majority are Residential Streets.

Thank you for the information Scott. Great plan with an exorbitant budget. So why aren't the streets cleaned? We certainly cannot blame it on lack of funds for overtime or materials.

@ Marie
Why do you think the budget is exorbitant? What do you think would be a reasonable budget? What town around here has, in your view, better services?
@ Scot Beaton
What is the cost/ mile for street clearing? How does RH's cost/mile compare to other towns with a similar mix of local/main streets? I don't think the absolute cost is the best measure of whether the budget is "exorbitant."
For 2011 & before, you give actual numbers; for 2012, you give the budget. Did you use all of the budgeted amount in such a mild winter? If not, what happens to that money? Also, do you somehow husband money early in the season in case it's a bad year?

The city allots approximately $391/mile to plow our residential streets this season when we had minimal snowfall last season after increasing the budget 46% over the previous season to almost a million dollars. For these reasons alone, it appears we would have quite the generous budget this year. One has to wonder where the over budgeted funds from last season appeared. I visited relatives in Troy and Sterling Heights over the holidays. The residential streets were more thoroughly plowed and salted. I have resided in this community for over 25 years and have witnessed many snowfalls. This is the poorest and slowest snow removal I have ever experienced in over a quarter of a century especially considering the intensity of the snowfall. I do hope this will not set the precedent for the season.

Carey... thanks for post more information -- history...

Case Study: Rochester, Michigan: The Western Knitting Mill

The Western Knitting Mill has been in Rochester, Michigan, in one form or another, since 1844. The current building was built circa 1898 and served as a production facility for woolen goods, such as socks and mittens, until 1939. After the knitting mill closed, the building was reused as an ammunition plant during World War II, an automotive solvent plant immediately after the war, and an automotive tubing manufacturing facility until it closed in 1994. -- more info at...
http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/main-street-news/2002/11/brownfields.html

Happy New Year Rochester Patch readers and blogs.

Carey, the lot next to the Rochester Mills building is owned by the Rewold Construction company to the East of the lot. It serves as a great site for several downtown events from Oktoberfest, Earth Day Expo, Fire and Ice, as well as parking for the farmers market. It would be nice to see this field developed a little better though.

i heard that property was going to expand the Rochester Mills into a major brewing area; so the beer could be mass produced for nationwide distribution.

Jill, Rochester Mills purchased a facility off of Opdyke last year and is in the process of canning their beer for distribution.

Oops-looks like I need to clarify-shrinking government does have something to do with a balanced budget if expenditures are greater than revenue or positions are created and grown that serve little purpose other than creating more jobs in the govt. sector-in this case, I am commenting on communities where expenditures and revenues are balanced and the comment is looking to shrinking the growth in the "papers" which is getting more expensive and expansive year to year.

Bonnie, I agree that downtown Rochester is in need of a parking structure. As a new member of the DDA, I can say that it has been discussed before and is being looked at very seriously. We are meeting for Goals and Objectives in mid-January. It would be helpful to express your need directly to the DDA and where you think it is needed most. Thanks for your comment and input.

There are more places to park on the weekend than people generally know about. If downtown and the next roads east and west are full there is the farmer's market and library lots to the east, a large lot behind the Rochester Athletic Club and plenty of parking behind and below 543 N. Main (medical plaza). I do agree with the need for a structure as well but our current lots need to be better promoted in general.

Went down Saturday night after dinner for a drink, found a great spot on Main on the second pass. Anecdotal, yes.

I keep trying to think of a nice way to say this, but I can't. All those cars, where other people downtown eating, drinking and shopping. It's a great sign for the merchants.

Sounds great. I am sure that the City of Rochester Hills will willingly dissolve and be absorbed in the City of Rochester, the historical center, which according to a recent report, is run less expensively for the average residential taxpayer.

No-we are distinct in character. Skipping the voting etc, etc. We have a fine community police department and a great fire department--and I for one would not give that up. If RH wants Rochester to "bail them out", and we retain the name and expand on our services via a contract lets see where that takes us. If this is the case about cities geographically , socially etc intertwined, take a drive down Woodward and lets see how those cities feel about the question of consolidation. I am for saving some money but not becoming one government in Oakland Cty or Michigan--I don't want to be one big homogenized bureaucracy. It's a slippery slope. And in our city, Rochester, when push comes to shove, we are together-we aren't giving up what we worked for and saved and bettered all these years--and we aren't giving up the people who did such "heavy lifting" for us these past few years especially. We are going to keep them and keep our city, our unique character and our name distinct.
This has been a topic among a couple of people and it has been bandied around when they are at Oakland Cty.. But if Rochester Hills needs some help, I think Rochester would listen to them and see where they could help them out.

Kristin... 350 no Avon Township votes in April 1974.

Avon Township -- History

In 1967, the township filed a petition to become a city. In January 1968, township voters approved the petition to move forward with seeking city status. Three proposed city charters were voted down by residents, the first in March 1969, the second in May 1970, and the third in September 1971. The city of Rochester then sought to annex all of the township, which was unanimously denied by the Michigan Boundary Commission. In 1972, petitions were filed to consolidate Avon Township and Rochester. In April 1974, the consolidation petition lost by 350 votes in the township, while passing by four votes in Rochester. In May 1974, Rochester's petition to annex 2.2 square miles of Avon Township was approved by the Michigan Boundaries Commission. The township became Avon Charter Township in August 1978. Court challenges to the 1974 annexation continued until November 1981, when the township was ordered to surrender the annexed property.

In May 1984, township voters approved a city charter. On November 20, 1984, the township became the City of Rochester Hills. The name of the new city was put to a vote, with the other choice being "Avon Hills". The name "Rochester Hills" won with voters based on the area's historical ties to Rochester, and the rolling hills that exist in the area. Township Supervisor Earl E. Borden became Rochester Hills' first mayor.

Kristin... one small hurdle -- LOL

The City Charters: -- strong Mayor form of government vs City Manager form of government. It would be fun to find out how many 'townies' Rochester residents, would want Bryan Barnett to represent them as their new Mayor.

Kristin... Happy New Year

It was certainly a big $$$ mistake for the City to buy Mizelfelds parking lot which primarily serves Mitzelfeld rental tenants along with Gus O'Conners and the Rochester Chop house filling the rest of the lot. If I recall correctly it was MR. Mitzelfeld SR. himself who originally was interested in building a privately owned or co-owned structure with the city. If the owners/landlords of the downtown properties can't get together like Birmingham and Royal Oak have .... well everyone including private taxpayers will eventually suffer the $$$ losses that will come in the near future barring an economic depression.

Has anyone been to the Rustbelt Market in Ferndale? It's an art/craft market that's open on weekends. I ask because I wonder whether it wouldn't pay for some of RH's business landlords (especially whoever owns the space across from RHS that once held Whole Foods) to open a kind of year-round farmer's market there, at least until a more lucrative tenant appears.

I used to live in the Philadelphia area, & they had year-round farmer's markets of that sort.

As for the area that was once Borders, couldn't Pet Smart expand a bit & maybe have a little coffee shop annex where visitors could bring their dogs? In the US, we have this odd sort of conundrum where we don't want dogs in a lot of public places because we think they don't be have well, but as a dog owner, I know that you have to train your dog to behave well in public by taking them out in it & we don't have a lot of places to do that -- especially in the winter. Partridge Creek does have a very pro-dog policy -- since there's that open space next to Pet Smart, why not try something there? It's also close to the Leader Dog place -- we do have lots of puppy foster parents who need to socialize their dogs. Maybe existing local coffee shops -- Bean & Leaf, Dessert Oasis, & Hepburn's -- could take turns running the shop with a kind of cart-service -- even if only on weekends?

Kathy,
You have a lot of good ideas and knowledge from living in different areas. I hope the Citys of Rochester and Rochester Hills listen before it's too late. I have lived here for 26 years and have seen good and bad changes. Bigger is not always better.

I just don't think someone wanting to go out for dinner in downtown Rochester wants to park 2 miles away and ride a bus.

Matt...

Thanks for your thoughts; when you have time... the Road Commision for Oakland County is building a new multi million 3 and five lane hwy. (Tienken) next year; not a complete street NO bike lanes.

Matt and Kathy -- Like your comments; if you have time post a comment on this blog. My thoughts about their plans -- these new plans, my thoughts fall on deaf ears.

Let's Propose a New Tienken Parkway -- Posted on August 3, 2012 at 3:16 am
http://rochester.patch.com/blog_posts/lets-propose-a-new-tienken-parkway

Nothing ruins a good walk downtown like a diesel smoke belch from a bus.

Aiden: I was watching today, while walking downtown, just how difficult it is for passengers in a parked car trying to get out onto the two foot strip of sidewalk between the curb and the numerous obstacles that the DDA? approved.

Most of that two foot of sidewalk was snow covered. Who will be responsible for clearing snow from the 2 foot sidewalk between the fences and other obstacles and the curbs?

Richard ... Good sense of Humor! We need that as much as we can get nowadays eh?
Thanks ... ;-)

Well said.

And as a follow-up to all those who complain, I never seem to have a problem finding a parking spot at any of the valet stands at some of our best restaurants.

I doubt very much if the sidewalk obstructions will be with us for very long.....just think of the money saved without them. Now the cost will double...Put them up n takem down. If they leave them up then we will see them crumble and in need of constant paint and repair and the cost of repairing peoples car doors as the kids get out of the passenger side only to bang the car doors into those to close to the curb iron works....Common sense only comes from experience and age....Oh where are you Ken???

Marsha and Don have said pretty much what my opinions are with regard to the multiple walking "HAZARDS" that now exist on our Downtown sidewalks.
Who decided what was going to be set in place on our sidewalks?
Why has no one come forward to support what has been done?
DDA ... HELLO?
What was the cost to put in these walking and parking hazards?
Are there any plans in place at this time to rethink these Hazards?

Marsha: One would be lucky if they could walk next to each other because of the DDA obtructions they purchased and placed.

What happens when one meets other two walking toward them? Dohey try to find a spot between the planters, benches, trees, posts etc., etc,? We've narrowed the sidewalk considerably ... Why did we make it narrower when the primary idea regarding to the area between the store fronts and the parked cars was to "promote" downtown walkers? I'd really like to have some reasons why things were done as they now are.

Ron, look at the presentation. http://www.downtownrochestermi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/WEBSITE-PRESENTATION-SITE-DEVELOPMENT-NOV-2010.pdf . I would assume that the city held meetings regarding the finalization of these plans and all agreed that it was a good idea. Obviously not everything was done to the T. The one way streets are lacking the lighting and finishing the plan called for. When you see the before and after of the Main Street sidewalks you can clearly see the reduced width of the sidewalk. I wonder why no one caught that. My biggest complaint is with the large poles that hold up the traffic lights. The concept showed them inside the fenced in area of the new planters. Not one of them is inside the fenced in area. Perhaps a Main Street Makeover Critique article should be written for people to voice their opinions. At this point though, after all of the time, effort and money, I don't think the city is going to change anything any time soon. They should do something about the Right Turn Only sign that completely blocks the Wayfinding sign at Main and Second.

Marsha; You have a lot of posters that agree with you and your comments. Wait'll summer comes and we see more pedestrian traffic ... eh? What then?
Well ... at least they'll have a choice of approx. 30+ refuse containers to choose from. Talk about overkill! ;-)

Bonnie: I happen to live in RH (20+ years) and couldnt disagree with you more. The City administration and Council in RH don't have a clue on how to grow a municipality. They think tearing down historic homes and putting in more strip malls or neon signs at City Hall is progress. I wont even mention their fiscal management (ie..water tower).

Lets be candid, if RH looks like any other Detroit suburb, why would anyone want to drive the extra 20 minutes to get here. I saddens me to have watched the character of this city erode over the last 20 years. I only hope they preserve what they can going forward . That said, I agree that the two cities will never merge. The only thing they have in common is there name.

Both Bonnie and Doug bring forth good points regarding the City and the Hills.

Never the Twain should ever (meet) consolidate in my opinion.

However .... with regard to previous complaints when and who will ever start timing traffic lights to promote better movement of traffic?
I am aware that most of the signals we are talking about are determined by MDOT and not our local governing officials .... So .... who do we talk to?
One of my pet peeves is the extremely short time one has to turn East onto Main Street (Rochester Rd.) using the left hand green arrow.
Anyone else have Pet Peeves regarding our traffic signals?

David: When the Rochester Paper Mill was torn down the outfit that bought it and the vacant property across from the Fire Station? They had terrific plans to build Condos all along the Riverfront. It was great on paper and if the Housing Bubble had not collapsed the project would have been completed in a really nice way. I hope the same folks that started the project still own the property and will someday finish what the did start with the Rochester Paper Mill demolition. It would/may still be Terrific someday. :-)

I think we already have a community history Museum at the Van Hoosen Farm that does an exceptional job of preserving and interpreting the history of Rochester and Rochester Hills. But then again, I may be a bit biased. The Museum is always looking for ways to help improve our community by telling our stories - any suggestions?

Patrick McKay

Downtown has a grocery store: Hollywood! The best grocery store there is!

Jan, technically there are no grocery stores in Rochester. Hollywood is in Rochester Hills and so is Kroger. I live right down town and both grocery stores are 1 mile away from me. It is not that bad of a bike ride but both are about a 25 minute walk. I realize that both are only a few minutes away by car but it would be nice to have something in the heart of town within walking distance.

Hi Jill,
I have an interest on how our tax money is spent. Could you please tell me what few niche projects were done that only benefited the referred to "few main players" on the Rochester City Council? As Goals and Objectives is under way and so are budget talks, I would like to take a concurrent review of these as a taxpayer as I am unaware of any such projects.
Thank you

Jill P. you say ... "instead of a few nitch projects that only benefits the "few main players" on the Rochester council.' .... ? Perhaps you could be more specific?
I personally know most of the Council Members and I would take an oath that there has been nothing of the sort of activity you are suggesting.

We have made reservations on weekend nights and evenings around holidays where the restaurants may be more crowded--with that said perhaps the restaurants could just supply you with a pager as they do at Bravo. It works and we wouldn't be crowding the walkways with a kiosks as it seems there is a concern from a few individuals that our walkway is already too crowded....if not calling ahead on your cell phone would give you the information on wait time--I just don't know if the restaurants and bars would want the additional expense for something like this.
I am concerned and apprehensive as to what will eventually come into "Fire Brick". I really don't want to see a financial institution, bank, real-estate company or another beauty salon but footage makes it difficult t bring in the unique shops. We need more stores-not restaurants or bars. We need shopping if you want people downtown other than on the nights and weekends,

I am looking to move out this way in the Spring. I really like your ideas Josh. I have a family and like the small town/downtown feel. I would like a family friendly area with accessibility. We are moving from the country and do not look forward to increased traffic and a party atmosphere ( more bars). Your ideas makes sense.

Patricia, the problem with many of the pager systems is the limited range. If I have an hour wait, I could visit many stores. Perhaps the expense could be shared by restaurants and stores as both would benefit.

Kiosks, which could be as simple as a flat panel inside a store or an app on the phone, could be of benefit to lesser known restaurants downtown or restaurants that may have slow periods. If someone was able to sort restaurants by wait time and perhaps bring up a menu and reviews, they may consider a restaurant they didn't even know existed.

For some of us who only have nights and weekends available, the limited hours at the downtown stores make us seek out big box stores. This is a common issue for many small retailers. We stopped at two lighting stores on New Year's Eve and both were closed. I doubt we will make it back during their regular hours. To prevent bars and restaurants from overwhelming downtown, businesses will need to cater to the evening and weekend shoppers. Current bars and restaurants should do what they can to help the existing stores. More bars and restaurants means more competition for them.

There is actually, pardon the cliche, an "app for that". Some restaurants already use it (although I haven't seen it used downtown). The app allows the restaurant to tell you when your table is ready.

I don't think they would do that since they use the dam to control water flow to Yates Cider Mill still as well as regulate flow down river to Utica.

Bob, because the agencies that regulate the water won't allow it. I agree that the white water mill race in Ann Arbor is great. Research what is going on there now, with their Argo dam mill race. The EPA, DEQ, DNR and Huron Watershed council; all want the city on Ann Arbor to shut it down, fill it in. Have you been following what my neighborhood in Goodison (Oakland Township) has been going through to get our "promised" water back into the Paint Creek Mill race? Read the stories about it on the Oakland Township-Orion Patch. The Clinton River Watershed Council took the water from the historic Paint Creek Mill Race (water flowed since 1835), when they removed our small dam with a $704,000.00, EPA grant. We had no mill pond, just a small dam that forced water into the mill race. Seven residents had the mill race water flow through their yards. CRWC said water would still flow after dam was gone, nope nothing! So don't count on the white water! Fortunately our new township board is helping the community to get the water back down to the Paint Creek Mill again.

Plus Bob, if they take out Yates' dam what happens to the history? That dam creates the energy to turn the wheel at the mill, which in turn, turns their turbine. No dam no real mill, fake mill instead. Important to keep any of what is left of the community's history!

Jennifer, we have a farmer's market that runs every Saturday from spring to fall. It is on East Third Street. http://www.downtownrochestermi.com/events/farmers-market/

Laurie-
I don't know where you are getting your mis-information but no employee of Rochester Hills has gotten a 7.5% wage increase, even in totaling any increases they may have received over the past 3 years. As always you are entitled to your own .opinion but not your facts

Jim, you make a great point. In America we have been quick to throw out the old to embrace the new from technology to architecture to cities to suburbs. A city is a dynamic place where people live and congregate together. In Rochester people used to live on Main Street and there was a town center at 4th and Pine. Subdivisions were built and people spread out. The churches outgrew their capacity and with available land they built new ones outside of town. Grocery stores moved from downtown to the outskirts of town as well. There is now a renewed interest in downtowns from Detroit to Rochester, people are coming back. Royal Oak and Birmingham owe much of their success to being near main roads but not having them cut through their centers. We may not be able to reroute Main Street but we can start bringing back basic services to those who live and continue to move downtown.

James: the idea of a cicle road bypassing Main Street was discussed a few years ago. It was found to be far too expensive due to the many buildings that would have to be torn down.

Your idea of closing Main Street traffic on a Sat. or Sun would be nice but it is out of the question. Why you might say? Well ........... Traffic counters on Main Street have continuously been higher than 40,000+ cars daily. Where would you direct that number of vehicles? Take this fact into account .....they all come off and or are going/coming to & coming from the South Hill bridge. Oh well .....

Jim and Dave, I agree. Years ago we had a market and a grocery store in town Very convenient. Sadly gone Same thing with our theatre on Main. These kept people downtown. Now what is normal basic expectations in a city, we are lacking and are pushing people out of our city to go spend thier money elsewhere. If we go to see a film and dinner before--my money ends up elsewhere. I can remember having something to eat before or after the shown right in town. If you want to keep in town in the evenings you need some form of entertainment and not just food and drinks. We use to have a beautiful boulevard-gone, We need the affordable housing but we aren't seeing that either unless you make $62-400K a years and I see nothing in Rochester that will allow for our seniors on $22K a year to live--and many of these seniors built this city, worked paid taxes, volunteered and supported it all their lives. We need a bit more now and what some will consider "outside the box" to gently round out our city.
and

Thanks, Tiffany! I had no idea about that program. It's nice to see a comment that provides suggestions on what we as a community can DO to help support our wonderful city.

I agree with you Sheila. This area could definitely use someplace where jazz and the blues can be enjoyed. Currently you are heading to Detroit for those. There are young people who currently enjoy blues but I think this would increase if we brought it to the area. Lots of young musical talent out there in this area.

Chris have you heard of Callahan's over on Opdyke and Auburn? They are a pretty good blues venue. Something Western Michigan University did that I appreciated when I went there was to open a lounge in downtown Kalamazoo specifically for the WMU jazz band to perform at as well as other performers. I know that I am getting to the point where I don't always want to be out somewhere where I have to shout above blaring music.

The plans submitted by Oakland University for that site was just beautiful.

Sadly nothing came of it primarily because of the fact that from the Second Street Bridge and going North to the Rochester Elevator property... was declared a hazardous waste property.

That stopped the Oakland University proposal but also proposed plan of moving/saving the Rochester Elevator by moving it to a site near the South Hill Bridge.

Perhaps if we are lucky the polluted property will be declared clean .... the Rochester Elevator moved to a new site and everyone will be Happy.

:-)