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Ornamental Street Lighting

Over the past year, the DDA Design Review Committee has researched catalogs and companies, met with lighting reps, and viewed samples of various street lighting designs. Given the fact that three upcoming development projects will require new lighting, now seemed the appropriate time for a decision to be made regarding city-wide decorative street lighting. The Design Review Committee recommended a combined historical and nautical style offered by the Holophane Company. Their recommendation was

approved by City Council on March 15, 2004. The Design Review Committee's recommendation was chosen based upon these factors:

1) The 2002 MSU study results recommend a “historical/nautical” theme.
Through “visioning sessions”, the MSU Staff asked the community for assistance in developing an image and character for the Downtown area. All citizens were welcome and invited to attend and to express their thoughts. The study results are based on input from the sessions. The Design Review Committee feels that their lighting choice follows the “historical/nautical” theme and addresses the citizen’s feedback.
2) The Dept. of Public Works purchases electrical supplies through Reed City Distributors. By choosing lighting through one of their companies, the city can get the best price possible. Holophone Lighting offered a design combining both nautical and historical elements.
3) Maintenance is an important issue. The Design Review Committee met with the Electric Dept. to discuss maintenance issues. The Electric Dept. approved the Committee's choices based on ease of maintenance.
4) The lighting style that the Design Review Committee recommends also corresponds with the “nautical” style that has been discussed for the North Beach project.
5) The Holophane Company offers a complimentary calculation service as well as general lighting consulting to insure a well-lighted, aesthetically attractive, and environmentally friendly streetscape.
The decorative lighting that has been approved will be incorporated in upcoming city development projects and eventually will replace the current street lighting used throughout the Central Business District.

Downtown Trash Receptacles

Downtown South Haven has new trash receptacles! Thirty-four receptacles have been placed in the downtown. A local business has crafted the receptacles from steel and Powder Pro of South Haven has powder-coated them. The receptacles are black and have some scrollwork to incorporate a historic style. While making the receptacles, the crafters realized how heavy the liners could become when full.

With that in mind, they custom built a removeable panel so that the parks crew can easily slide the trash liner from the receptacle. Many compliments have been heard about our one-of-a-kind trash receptacles. We are very proud of them and thanks go to Butch and Tony for their craftsmanship!
Directional and parking lot Signs

One of the projects listed in the Year 2000 DDA Development Plan & Tax Increment Financing Plan is “Streetscape Improvements” including signage. During DDA meetings over the last two years, business owners have expressed concerns that improved signage is needed downtown, especially directing people to side streets. It was stated that due to the lack of vacant retail space on Phoenix Street, many businesses have located to secondary streets in the CBD. Also, both business owners and citizens have raised concerns regarding parking in the downtown. Suggestions were made to place proper signage at the parking lots to address some of these concerns. The August 2004 parking study supported this suggestion by indicating that signage was a deficiency that needed to be addressed.

Discussions and review prompted the DDA Board of Directors at their July 2004 meeting, to direct city staff to proceed with estimates, sign design and place directional signs and parking lot signs by early 2005.
Also of note, the February 2005 planning/zoning workshop conducted by a community planning consultant pointed to the importance of signage to “help people find their destination.” Signage was also a concern listed in the Cultural Tourism Audit Pilot Project initiated by the State of Michigan History Archives and Libraries Department.
The Design Review Committee has met over the past several months and with the assistance of a graphics designer, approved a design. The graphics designer created the design keeping important elements in mind: 1) a nautical/historical theme (as suggested by the MSU study and other past studies); 2) incorporate the style of the decorative lighting adopted by City Council last year; and 3) safety issues. It was also suggested by the committee that the street names be incorporated into the sign. By doing this, the green street signs can be removed allowing for less clutter of signs.