Positive Plaza Alternatives
Which would be worse?

     Port Huron getting stuck with an expanded Bridge Plaza?

     Or Port Huron getting stuck with an expanded Bridge Plaza while reaping no benefit from it?
Positive Plaza Alternatives

A serious discussion about how the Plaza Expansion Project can benefit Port Huron and the Blue Water Area.

Take a look at our enhanced Articles page to see some thinking that defies the conventional wisdom about the Plaza and economic opportunity in the County.

Like to think for yourself? Positive Plaza Alternatives Challenge to see what you haven't been being told!

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Positive Plaza Alternatives

The Positive Plaza Alternative Challenge:


Look for yourself

Judge for yourself



Take the virtual tour

"...the project's massive size ... Expanding the plaza to 65 acres would destroy substantial portions of north-end Port Huron..."
Times Herald editorial, 23 Mar 2008, emphasis added

"Huh?"
Plaza zone resident
In all the hype surrounding the Plaza expansion, one of the biggest disjoints is the gap between the actual reality of the project's size and the perception created by local media reports. To hear some describe it, the expansion is a gargantuan project that will gobble up vast expanses of Port Huron, gutting the city and leaving wasteland on all sides. Local media and community leaders throw around bombastic phrases like the one quoted above, leaving people with a vague impression that the Plaza expansion is only a step short of a nuclear detonation within the city limits.

Many of us who live in the Zone are amazed by this perception of our neighborhood. We live here, so we know that that these images are blatantly false. The residential areas being taken by the Plaza expansion are neither large nor extremely valuable. Half of one street, a few blocks of another, and a handful of houses in another corner. A smattering of businesses - a few prominent ones, but mostly small, old shops. A very small area that can be walked completely around in less than 40 minutes and driven around in less than 10.

But don't take our word for it. Regardless of your opinion of the Plaza expansion, we challenge you to see for yourself. If your only perception of the Plaza Zone has been from the media or statements by local officials, we urge you to drop in and take a look around. We've put a virtual tour of the Zone on the website here, but we encourage you to drive through it personally. The directions below give you a nice, quick tour.

The important point is to look for yourself. We're recommending you not take the local media's word for about the size of the Zone; we also recommend you don't take ours. Drive (or, better yet, walk) around and come to your own conclusion. And as you're passing the old homes in the Zone, ask yourself: does this look like a "substantial portion of north-end Port Huron"? Is it worth sacrificing an opportunity to boost the area's economic future just to preserve these?

Driving directions for the PPA Challenge:

Primary Residential:
Next time you're traveling Pine Grove just south of the current Bridge Plaza, turn west on Mansfield just north of Troy Cleaners and stop at the yield sign by the credit union. Look right, look left, look straight. There: you've now seen the majority of the properties to be taken by the expansion. To see a few more, take a left on 11th Ave and go to the stop sign. Look to your left; most of the properties on both sides of Scott will be taken that way. Turn right on Scott and examine the houses on your right as you travel west: these will be taken as well. The houses on your left will remain.

At this point, you've seen nearly all the residences to be taken by the Plaza expansion. There are only a few more in the northeast corner of the Zone. A decent neighborhood with decent neighbors, but neither "massive" nor the high rent district.

Corridor Properties:
As you approach the west end of Scott, the last four houses on both sides will be taken for the Corridor expansion. Rounding the end of Scott and keeping right on Riverside, you'll see four houses on your left, on the east side of Riverside - those will also be taken by the Corridor. Duck under I-94 on Riverside; on the north side you'll see two condo complexes to your right (these can also be seen from I-94). The Corridor project will take these - and in fact, many of these condos have already been purchased as hardship buyouts.

Business District:
The businesses impacted by expansion lie almost exclusively along Pine Grove. You can see almost all of them from one of two vantage points: Pine Grove and 10th Ave south of the current plaza, and Pine Grove and Hancock to the north. It's a two-minute drive. At the corner of Pine Grove and 10th, the mattress shop on the west and the small plaza on the east will be taken, as will all the businesses along both sides of Pine Grove as you travel north. Hardly a bustling business district. There are also four small businesses on 11th Ave between Scott and Mansfield, and they're all cut from the same cloth: old, small stores and offices.

As you travel north and come out from under the Bridge, cast a quick glance to your right along Elmood. Those four small, tattered looking houses are part of the northeast corner of the Zone. You'll see the remainder of them presently.

As you come to Hancock Street, look on both sides of Pine Grove. You're looking at most of the businesses to be displaced by the Plaza. Cawood's to the east; the BP, McDonald's, Wendy's, and Blue Water Lanes to the west. The Speedway on the northwest corner, Buff's Car wash beside that, and the Holiday Inn Express over your left shoulder. A busy area, but not even the majority of businesses within sight. You've now seen the businesses to be displaced by the Plaza.

Secondary residential:
Along Elmwood, you caught a glimpse of some of the houses in the northeast coner of the Zone - let's look at the remainder. From the intersection of Pine Grove and Hancock, turn west along Hancock. There are two houses to your right; those would go. When you arrive at the intersection of Hancock and 10th Ave, turn right. The houses on your right will be taken, on the west side of 10th Ave between Hancock and the current Bridge Plaza, with the exception of the dentist's office, which is a historical site and will be relocated. As you pass by Church Street, glance at those few houses down there - those would also be taken. When you come to the Free Methodist Church at the corner of 10th Ave and Elmwood, that's the final property that will be taken.

Now we ask you:
If you take this tour, ask yourself: have you just seen a "substantial portion" of Port Huron's north end? Does this seem like a massive chunk of real estate to you? And the properties themselves - nothing against the residents (I'm one of them), but do they look like upscale, high-value residences? Is this what all the fuss is about? You may end up thinking so, but we challenge you not to come to any conclusions until you've seen it with your own eyes.