WYANDOTTE, Mich. – Downtown Wyandotte is undergoing a $12 million transformation.
“The storefronts in the downtown look beautiful. Going behind the buildings, that’s what we are trying to address,” said Wyandotte Mayor Rob DeSana. “The alleys and the parking lots in this city downtown are 70 to 90 years old. There are in dire need of a facelift.”
Construction crews are reconstructing public parking lots and alleys and relocating utility lines underground.
“Aesthetically, it is going to look fantastic. When you remove all the spaghetti strings overhead, it really opens the area,” Downtown Development Authority Director Joseph Gruber said.
The Downtown Infrastructure Project also includes adding stormwater control systems, new landscaping, bicycle racks, and benches.
The project began last July.
The city is funding the project with help from grants from Wayne County and the state of Michigan.
Wyandotte native Joshua Cade owns three restaurants and a music venue downtown.
He said downtown Wyandotte has a lot to offer.
“It is one of a kind. It really is the downtown of the downriver area,” Cade said. “There is really nothing you can’t do here.”
He believes upgrading the infrastructure downtown will drive more development.
“Without a doubt, the investment is huge. I know nobody likes big-dollar projects like that in downtown. It gets a little scary. The payoff is going to be phenomenal,” Cade said.
The project’s completion date is July, before the annual Wyandotte Street Art Fair, one of the largest art fairs in Michigan.