For Joe Lindsay, the colorful character who co-owns David’s Delicatessen in downtown New Buffalo with Emma Brewster, the real beauty of the newly completed Whittaker Street project isn’t the outstanding landscaping, or the street lights, or the benches and other amenities. It’s the pipes under the ground.
Lindsay, cited by Downtown Development Association Director Robert Kemper as “the funniest, most creative, passionate, and smartest guy on Whittaker Street,” says “the real story is under ground. That’s the infrastructure.”
The businessman, who also happens to live on North Whitaker, told Thursday afternoon’s ribbon cutting ceremony, “This two blocks of roadway has sustained life, business and community for almost 200 years. It has seen wars and peace, it has seen recessions and prosperity, and yet every day the folks who run businesses on Whittaker Street, who work here, and who live here on the street, open their doors, get in their car and go about their day, and I think that’s amazing, and what we’ve done here today by replacing the pipes, the sewers, and the storm drains, has guaranteed that this street can survive for another 200 years, and to be a part of that is something really special.”
It was truly a special day for the community of New Buffalo, cited by State Senator John Proos as the Gateway to Michigan. The much anticipated streetscape makeover wrapped up late last month and was ceremonially christened with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony complete with a brass band parade, unveiling of a significant new sculpture honoring the Pokagon Band for their substantive donation to the project and the opening of the Thursday night Farmers Market along the newly paved route.
Kemper kicked things off welcoming a sizable crowd that showed up for the ceremonies. He told the crowd, “Back in 2003 we started talking about the need to improve downtown infrastructure and accessibility. It was made clear to me by the city engineer that we had a one hundred year old, failing system.” He noted that as each group advanced the project, they all “remained focused on improving the downtown from 20 feet below ground to 20 feet above ground,” adding, “We did a lot of things to make that happen, and many people helped create and live the dream. To make it a place for residents to gather, shop, dine, we wanted the charming small town feel that was missing. A safe place was our main thing, where we are lucky to live and work, while supporting a year round business economy.”
Kemper admitted he knew it would be a long road, “but I had no idea how long, and I’m glad we finally made it. It was much longer than I expected.”
Language and Culture Director of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Marcus Winchester shared the history of his tribe and sang a song in honor of the sculpture Enduring Spirit as the Amtrak train to Chicago rolled into the station.
The Patriot Brass Ensemble led a short parade right down the center of the farmers market on Whittaker street and folks reconvened at ribbon cutting space.
Mayor Lou O’Donnell thanked the citizens of New Bufffalo, the city council, city staff , the DDA , the resident group Forward New Buffalo, and the engineering team at Abonmarche of Benton Harbor who spearheaded the long project.
Joe Lindsay, the deli guy, said of the the project, “One of the greatest privileges of my life was watching the construction crew demolish, remove and rebuild a nearly 200 year old street. It was absolutely incredible what these guys were able to do in a monumental job.” He says, “The legend of this street will live on, for years to come, not just with the adults that remember it, but with the kids, too. You guys were super heroes to the kids,” and then concluded, “We can’t wait for you to fall in love with the new street just as we have.”
The goal of the more than $5.6-million, two phase, investment was “A visually appealing place for residents and visitors alike to safety access by walking, bicycling, or driving to create memories and build bonds.” It replaced functionally obsolete water and sewer lines and enhanced the commercial viability of the communities downtown businesses, increased the overall number of parking spaces available, improved accessibility for persons of all abilities, and creates a space for the community to gather and celebrate.
Mayor O’Donnell and DDA boss Kemper cut the ribbon, opened the market, and wished everyone a great evening on the town.
Funding for the ambitious project was multi-faceted with $4-million coming in a bond issue approved by New Buffalo voters in November of 2016 side by side with a $1.6-million grant from the Pokagon Fund.
The first phase was completed a year ago when the underground infrastructure of water and sewer lines, drains and such went in. The second phase included resurfacing, landscaping and above ground amenities for the people. The summer of 2018 should be a winner thanks to the polished new streetscape being enjoyed by everyone with merchants among the happiest of all to have their streets back.
