360 view: Explore these Michigan towns
Residents and business owners committed to saving Charlotte's downtown say Mason, Lansing's Old Town and Portland are examples of successful small downtowns — vibrant, healthy and thriving.
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Charlotte
A 360-degree video of Charlotte's downtown shot from South Cochran Avenue captures the promising changes and some of the challenges. Residents will tell you the Eaton Theatre, an old-fashioned movie house built in the 1930s that still shows first-run films in the 200 block of Cochran Avenue, is a gem. There are niche shops, including quilting store The Hen House and plus-size consignment store Bella Grande. The Dolson, a joint restaurant effort between Dutch Brothers Development Group and the Potent Potables Project, will replace The Gavel in the 100 block of Cochran Avenue. Windwalker Underground Galleries offers a one-of-a-kind performance venue and show space for artists. But the view also shows some of the vacancies on both main blocks of downtown, both on first and upper floors of historic buildings, and it illustrates the noise and congestion that comes with truck traffic downtown.
Mason
In Mason the video highlights the investment the city's Downtown Development Authority and business owners have made in the aging buildings on Jefferson and Ash streets, which surround the historic Ingham County Courthouse. There are about 75 apartments above businesses in Mason's downtown, and 55 of those were "rehab" projects that wouldn't have happened without local and state grant funding. The people who live there frequent downtown businesses like Kean's Store Co., Bestsellers Books and Coffee Co. and BAD Brewing Co.
Old Town
The sidewalks in Old Town Lansing are decorated with flowers, benches and colorful signage. On nice days and evenings people fill them, waiting in line for a table at one of the popular restaurants along East Grand River Avenue and Turner Street. Meat, The Creole, Pablo's and Zoobie's Tavern all offer something different. Art galleries and clothing stores and boutiques round out the offerings there. In Old Town the summer brings plenty of events to the neighborhood, including jazz and blues festivals.
Portland
Portland, the city of rivers, capitalizes on its position by the Looking Glass and Grand rivers with a boardwalk behind historic buildings in the downtown along the water. Nine miles of finished river trails run through the downtown, where 25 building facades have been improved in recent years. At The Gallery Brewery, in the 100 block of Kent Street, 15 to 20 different craft beers are brewed on site and local art have a place for gallery space.
Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at (517) 528-2075 or rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ.