COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The proposed layout for future downtown Coldwater festivals was discussed at length during Wednesday’s Downtown Development Authority Board meeting.
A different layout was used for last September’s Apple Fest. Vendors were located south of U.S. 12 as well as on South Hanchett, South Monroe and in the Tibbits Plaza parking lot in an effort to provide more room.
Julie Santure, who is the Community Enrichment Director for the City of Coldwater, told the Downtown Development Authority Board on Wednesday that a majority of the 48 vendors who responded to a survey liked the new layout.
Santure added that the new layout was favored by 80 percent of community residents who took the survey.
The changes they plan to make for the 2023 downtown festivals include not having any sidewalk vendors or businesses on the north side of U.S. 12.
Michael Caywood was among the D.D.A. Board members who expressed their concerns about not allowing businesses to set up on the north side of West Chicago.
After further discussion, it was decided to have a three person committee look into the issue further before a final decision is made.
It seems to me that cars CAN NOT park on the sidewalks and vendors can, that should be the place to put the the Vendors and in our new parks! That would include all the downtown businesses that pay taxes and need to stay open with the extra customers. The parking lots should be used for Cars. When the parking lot is used for Vendors, those vendors have to park in nearby parking lots, taking space that should be used for customers. People walking downtown is a good thing because there are new businesses that don’t get much exposure because when people are driving thru the downtown, they don’t get a chance to see what stores are here unless they are the passenger. Cars and trucks seem to think our main street is a racing strip much of the time and no one knows why the metal bikes are at the corners because there are no signs telling them not to ride their bikes on the sidewalk. They still do and it’s still dangerous!!! Thanks for your hard work on this issue. Vi Garman