Downtown Development Authority (DDA)

DDA Director

Vacant

Board Members

Doug Heins

Doug Heins, Chair

Lesley Van Leeuwen Vega
Lesley Van Leeuwen Vega
bruce callen

Bruce Callen, Member

Sandy Parker

Sandy Parker, Member

joe stalec
Amanda Pauli, Member
joe stalec
james willison
Michael Weiss, Member

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The role of the Director of the Downtown Development Authority is critical to the management and administration of downtown services and infrastructure.

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The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was established by the Village Council on September 15, 1980 in an effort to “halt property deterioration and increase property tax valuation where possible in the Village of Spring Lake’s downtown business district, to eliminate the causes of that deterioration and to promote economic growth of the Village of Spring Lake’s downtown business district.”

While the Downtown Development Authority Act of 1975 gives the Authority broad powers with regard to planning for economic development of the downtown district, the Village’s DDA has been charged primarily with the mission of constructing public improvements required to attract private investment and promote retail, commercial and industrial business activity in the Village of Spring Lake Central Business District development area.

The DDA is responsible for the maintenance of the Village of Spring Lake Development Plan and Tax Increment Financing Plan and the use of tax increment financing revenues on projects identified in the Development Plan. Projects completed under the guidance of the DDA include the construction of Lakeside Trail Linear Park (1991), the Savidge Street Corridor Beautification and Improvement Project (1995) and the West End Community Boardwalk Project (2000), Village Hall Renovation (2004), Safe Routes to School (2010-12), Buchanan St. Reconstruction (2017), Lighting Improvements to the Lakeside Trail (2018), Street Banner Program Introduced (2018), Savidge St. Lights Updated to LED (2019), Exchange St. Paving (2019), the Art in the Park Project (2019), Crack Seal and Stripe East Jackson Public Parking Lot (2020), Sparkle (2020), and North Jackson Parking Paved (2021), Verplank Sculpture for Tanglefoot Park Created by Metal Artist Steve Anderson (2021).

 

Meetings

The DDA meets at 12:00 p.m. the second (2nd) Thursday of the month for their regular meeting and at 12:00 p.m. the fourth (4th ) Thursday of the month for their Work Session to discuss the constructing of public improvements, attract private investment and promote retail, commercial and industrial business activity in the Village of Spring Lake Central Business District Development area. The DDA is also responsible for the maintenance of the Village of Spring Lake Development Plan and Tax Increment Financing Plan.

2023 Meeting Dates

    • January 12, 2023

    • January 14, 2023

    • February 09, 2023

    • March 09, 2023

    • April 13, 2023

    • May 11, 2023

    • June 08, 2023

    • July 13, 2023

    • August 10, 2023

    • September 14, 2023 – CANCELED

    • September 28, 2023 – CANCELED

    • October 12, 2023

    • October 26, 2023

    • November 09, 2023

    • November 16, 2023

    • December 14, 2023

    2023 Work Session Dates

      • January 26, 2023

      • February 23, 2023

      • March 02, 2023

      • March 23, 2023

      • April 27, 2023

      • May 25, 2023

      • June 22, 2023

      • July 27, 2023

      • August 24, 2023

      • December 21, 2023

      Agendas & Minutes

      Design Manual

      Design Guidelines

      The Design Guidelines were developed to guide the design and redevelopment of the Downtown Spring Lake Village. It is intended for use by businesses wishing to locate or improve properties in the downtown.

      Downtown Development Plan

      A subarea plan that focuses on the M-104 corridor (Savidge Street) and the Village of Spring Lake’s downtown.

      Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Programs

      Marketing Grant

      It is a fundamental goal of the Village of Spring Lake and Village of Spring Lake Downtown Development Authority to promote economic growth and vitality in the downtown. To that end, the Village of Spring Lake Marketing Grant Program has been created to assist business and property owners with the marketing and promotion of their business and to strengthen the positive image of downtown Spring Lake. Businesses can apply for up to $1,000 in matching grants.

      DDA Marketing Grant Application

      Commercial Facilities Exemption District Tax Incentive

      The Village of Spring Lake Commercial Facilities Exemption Tax Incentive Policy has been created for businesses located within the established Commercial Facilities Exemption (CFE) District in the Village of Spring Lake. All properties located within the CFE District may be eligible for the tax incentives allowed by the policy approved by the Village of Spring Lake on March 18, 2019. Applications will be accepted and reviewed by the Spring Lake Downtown Development Authority Board (DDA). The applicant may be required to give an oral presentation to the DDA a Board meeting. Typically, the DDA meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 a.m. in the Spring Lake Village Office.

      Commercial Facilities Exemption District Tax Incentive Application

      Downtown Facade Grant Program

      The Downtown Façade Grant program is a 50/50 matching grant of up to $5,000 per building for improvements to the exterior of the building that enhance the aesthetics of the principle building and contribute to the overall aesthetics of the downtown district. The grant may be used for such things as architectural improvements, new entryways, masonry work, brick restoration and window repair or replacement.

      Facade Grant Application

      Fire Suppression and Elevator Assistance Program

      The DDA offers a Fire Suppression and Elevator Assistance Grant. This is a 50/50 matching grant, up to $15,000, that is intended to provide an incentive for downtown business owners who own existing buildings, to invest in older facilities within the DDA District by providing matching grants to businesses to make these improvements (elevators and fire suppression systems) that give existing significant buildings new life and/or allow for a change of use. The state building code often requires upgrades to buildings, such as elevators and fire suppression systems, when the use of the building is changed. These improvements can be very expensive. With the help of the grant a downtown business owner can extend the life of the building with a new or different business and thereby help to retain the character of the downtown.

      Fire Suppression and Elevator Assistance Grant Application

      Commercial Rehabilitation District

       

      For more information about any of the programs listed above, please contact at Bill Cousins at 616.842.1393.