DOWAGIAC — After hosting three community open houses available to residents, Dowagiac’s City Council and planning commission now have a better idea of what residents want for the city’s four priority redevelopment projects.

The three open houses were each hosted in a different ward and discussed a number of items, including housing initiatives, the master plan and the city’s four priority redevelopment projects: Former Harvey’s/McKay at 143 S., Front St.; ICG Building, Franklin and Paul Streets; Lincoln School, 407 E. Division St., and former Division Tire Building, 315 E. Division St.

Assistant City Manager Natalie Dean said the goal of the open houses was to let residents know what kind of housing resources are available to them. Per the city’s master plan, there is a statutory requirement to also hold a meeting for public citizens.

“We didn’t have to hold three meetings, but I’m glad we did,” Dean said. “We took it to each of the wards, so people felt like they were meeting in their own neck of the woods. We didn’t make them come to city hall. We were coming to them.”

As the meetings continued to be hosted, public attendance increased by about 10 people per meeting. Energy Efficiency United was also available to residents to talk about rebates for certain energy purchases, including windows, appliances and doors. The company also signed up people for free home and energy audits.

As residents made their way around the meeting spaces, they had the opportunity to vote and suggest ideas for the city’s four priority redevelopment projects.

Starting with Lincoln School, Dean said community members overwhelmingly wanted to see apartments and condos.

“We had a lot of people say this would be perfect for a day care,” Dean said. “Whatever this is, it will be a planned unit development, meaning it will be mixed use. Whether that’s a brewery and upper scale apartments, or it’s a distillery, and lower scale apartments. We just don’t know what that will be yet. It’s under private ownership right now.”

A second board dedicated to the ICG Building asked residents if they agreed to demolish the building and build a better-looking parking area for the school’s campus. Dean said everybody in every meeting filled up the agreed side. Ideas from residents also suggested the location could be used as a restaurant for the community before a football game. Another suggestion was adding flower beds.

The former Division Tire location is tied to the downtown and aligns with the city’s plan to bring more people to our downtown, Dean said.

“This building had a lot of uses suggested,” Dean said. “A lot of what we heard was some kind of public recreational use or child care. That seemed to be the two most popular things.”

The last of the four priority redevelopment projects, the former Harvey’s/McKay in downtown, is now owned by the city.

“People wanted a typical downtown use with residential on the top and retail or restaurant on the bottom,” Dean said. “The same sort of use we are seeing downtown. It needs some facade work. The city is looking to put a roof on that right now.”

The city also plans to put out a request to accept proposals for somebody to take over the building and do something with it. There will also be money available through the rental rehabilitation program to renovate apartments in the upper level.

Dean said community members saw the master plan draft, but had limited comments.

“My goal was to let people know these are the four areas where we are looking at immediate development,” Dean said. “You always want your community to be behind you on that. We want to daydream community uses. When a developer, if a developer comes in, that person knows the community is behind them.”

At the first meeting, Dean said the city also heard comments from community members about a lack of activities for families and teens in Dowagiac. The city brainstormed activities geared towards youth on a board and then asked the public what else was needed.

On the board, the public had written a number of ideas, including a movie theater, bowling alley and tutoring center.

“We were trying to say, ‘if there is something you are suggesting that you could actually help get started, do it,’” Dean said. “Partner with us and let’s get it started.”