The City of Niles and Niles Charter Township, in cooperation with local business owners and the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance, have initiated a strategic planning process to establish a new vision and plan for the 11th Street Corridor from Main Street to the Indiana state line.

Initial discussions among local officials and business owners revealed some interest in providing for more pedestrian accessibility, aesthetic improvements, linkages to the surrounding neighborhoods and methods to increase the number of customers to corridor businesses from the larger regional area. In addition, local officials hope to better capitalize on the corridor’s “gateway” experience.

These are just a few ideas that will be discussed at a public meeting Tuesday at the Ring Lardner Middle School. The public meeting will provide an opportunity to learn more about the corridor planning project and share ideas about how the community can help improve the corridor. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria.

Juan Ganum, the community development director for the City of Niles and a steering committee member, says that the direction of the plan will be largely shaped by the citizens of the greater Niles community and the business owners along the corridor.

“We are taking every measure to be sure the plan will address the concerns of local residents and the business community,” Ganum said.

Peg Hartman, a member of the Niles Charter Township Planning Commission, hopes citizens will use the public meeting to tell the steering committee their vision for the corridor.

“We believe public input is a vital component of the planning process and we invite everyone to share their ideas,” Hartman said.

Hartman went on to note that in addition to Tuesday’s public meeting, citizens are welcome to attend monthly meetings hosted by the project steering committee. The project steering committee meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.

Assistance with the development of the corridor plan is being provided by Land Information Access Association, a non-profit community service organization based in Traverse City, Mich. LIAA’s support is provided under a service grant from the Partnerships for Change Sustainable Communities Program.

Harry Burkholder, a community planner for LIAA who is assisting on the project, said the corridor plan will help guide cooperative efforts for improving the corridor.

“There are many other communities across the state working together to establish a more dynamic sense of place along their transportation corridors,” Burkholder said. “We are delighted that the Niles community recognizes how important this corridor is to local and statewide transportation and economic development. We look forward to working with all citizens to craft a well-informed corridor plan that will serve the Niles community for years to come.”

For more information on this project, visit the project website, www.planfor11thstreet.info; or contact Joe Sobieralski, project manager, Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance, 683-1833; Juan Ganum, community development director, City of Niles, 683-4700; or Harry Burkholder, community planner II, Land Information Access Association, (231) 929-3697.