The Positive Plaza Alternative Challenge Virtual Tour
Though we recommend that everyone take an actual drive or walk around the proposed Plaza zone, we are providing this photographic look around for people who cannot get out, or want to get a preview. That's right, on one little web page we're going to show you pictures of every property in this "massive" zone. But remember, the pictures only approximate the impact. Come to the corner of 10th Ave and Pine Grove in Port Huron to start your tour and see the properties for yourself.
Corridor Properties
Some of the properties will be taken by the expansion of the I-94/I-69 Corridor. This project is currently bundled with the Plaza as one project. The need to expand the expressway and to replace the aging, decrepit bridge over the Black River has never been disputed - partly due to the dismal condition of the bridge. Therefore, these 42 or so properties will be taken no matter what happens with the Bridge Plaza.
These two buildings contain 24 condominiums. Several of these have already been purchased by MDOT as hardship buyouts.
These properties along southwest Scott Avenue and northwest Riverside will be taken for the Corridor. A couple of these have already been purchased as hardships.
These properties at the end of north Scott Avenue will be taken by the Corridor.
These properties along Mansfield Street will be taken for the Corridor. Some hardship buyouts in here as well.
South Zone Properties
The properties to be taken by the Plaza proper are along the north side of Scott Avenue, both sides of Mansfield Street, and a few houses on 11th and 12th Avenues. These lie to the south of the current Bridge Plaza.
These six pictures represent all the properties along north Scott Avenue that lie within the Zone. We don't mean to pirate other people's phrases, but these houses represent a "substantial portion" of the properties to be purchased - and again, several of these have been purchased as hardship buyouts. The last picture includes one of the businesses in the zone.
The picture on the left shows rental properties are along 12th Ave between Scott and Mansfield. The picture on the right is properties on south Scott that would be taken.
Here you've got the residences along 11th Avenue.
Both sides of Mansfield between 11th and 12th Avenues.
Moving west along Mansfield, south on the left and north on the right.
There you have the properties south of the current Plaza to be taken by the planned expansion. This is the largest residential section. Again, decent neighbors and decent neighborhood, but well short of a "massive chunk" of the city - and clearly not high value property.
Northeast Zone Properties
Since the Plaza expansion would extend to the corner of 10th Ave and Hancock, there are a few properties northeast of the current plaza that would be taken. Most of these lie along 10th Avenue, but there are a handful along south Hancock, Church, and Elmwood. Local media refer to this as the second "neighborhood" to be "destroyed" by the expansion. We'll let you judge whether these few houses constitute a neighborhood.
These are the properties along Elmwood just east of Pine Grove. Most of these are already owned by MDOT. Total properties: 4
These houses are along south Hancock between Pine Grove and 10th Ave. Total properties here: 2
This is along the west side of 10th Avenue south of Hancock.
This is west 10th Avenue south of Church. Total properties along 10th Ave: 8
These properties lie along the south side of Church Street.
These are on the north side of Church. Total Church Street properties: 8.
There you have it: the residences in the northeast corner, all 22 of them. Even if you wanted to stretch it to call this area a "neighborhood", it isn't a large one, and the properties are hardly new.
The E.C. Williams house, a historical site, would not be torn down, but relocated to another site within the city.
The First Free Methodist on the corner of Elmwood and 10th Avenue would be bought out. I've spoken to members of their congregation who can't wait for it to happen so they can move on, though I imagine some want to stay.
Businesses
That covers the residential neighborhoods within the Zone. That leaves the businesses, so let's look at them:
This small plaza will be taken.
This gas station and doctor's office as well. The doctor's office is already vacant.
The mattress shop on the south side of Scott would be taken. Here's a look at the west side of Pine Grove looking north from the 10th/Pine Gove intersection. Three small businesses here.
This small cluster of businesses is near 11th Avenue and Mansfield.
Now let's look at the businesses north of the Plaza - undeniably the busy section of the planned expansion:
Some of the biggest businesses displaced would be Cawood Auto and the Holiday Inn Express.
But a McDonald's, Wendy's, and Port Huron Lanes would also be taken. The hotel that used to be attached to the Lanes was torn down years ago.
Two gas stations at the corner of Pine Grove and Hancock, a BP and a Speedway.
Two other properties to be taken would be the long-defunct Sunshine Foods and the recently closed (again) Mini Mart.
So those are the businesses. No question that some of them are thriving, but it's hardly Port Huron's entire business base. What is being done doing to entice those businesses to stay in the city once they're displaced?
So, there it is, folks. The whole smash, all nine yards, the full, as it were, monty regarding the properties displaced by the Plaza expansion. Every property within this "substantial portion" of Port Huron, all on one moderate sized web page. You can see why we've been wondering why all this fuss about a few blocks of aging neighborhood and a handful of businesses. But again, don't take our word for it - come see for yourself.
Bridge Condition
One of the reasons why the Plaza project needs to be moved quickly is the condition of the expressway bridge crossing the Black River. The only direct high-speed feed to and from a border crossing that handles 14% of our trade with Canada, it is also one of the most decrepit bridges in Michigan. The pictures below were taken by an amateur from the area of Riverside Drive where it cuts under the I-94 bridge (who knows what could be seen under the full span?) Even a layman can see that the project needs to move quickly, or we're going to have a bridge collapse here like they had in Minnesota.
As the concrete roadbed deteriorates, debris falls from underneath onto whatever is below (picture on left). Where people might be traveling, they install planking between the support beams to contain the falling debris. If you look up as you drive on Riverside beneath the bridge, you see almost nothing but planking. You have to wonder what is being held up - and hidden - by those planks.
If you're wondering why MDOT is pressing to hasten this process, there's your reason. This bridge is beyond simple maintenance - it needs to be rebuilt. That rebuilding is part of the Plaza project. We need to get moving on this.
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