BROADWAY CENTRAL BACK ON — AS HYBRID
By popular demand, commissioners compromise and rethink decision to cancel downtown setup
Downtown Mt. Pleasant’s Broadway Central is back by popular demand — but this year, it will be a bit different.
In a compromise to please both residents who want the annual summer activities and business owners who didn’t like the inconvenience of a block of Broadway Street being closed, city commissioners approved a “hybrid” version of Broadway Central that will include new amenities with limited closure of parking areas.
Last month, commissioners opted to cancel Broadway Central, which closes the street between Main and University to create open space for dining and events like the Saturday farmer’s market, after some downtown business owners complained that the closure impedes their customers and clients.
After getting input from residents and business owners, city staff came up with a compromise that will keep Broadway Street open while at the same time allow outdoor dining at picnic tables placed in six parking spaces.
Seating and dining will be allowed in those spaces, some of which were planned to be used by adjacent businesses, Mt. Pleasant Community Services and Economic Director William Mrdeza said in a memo to City Manager Aaron Desentz.
Seating will also be allowed in several underutilized spaces, Mrdeza said in the memo.
Other aspects of the compromise include physical barriers between picnic tables, market umbrellas, artificial turf, Edison lights strung above the picnic tables, and the Saturday farmer’s market being held in Town Square.
Before commissioners approved the new Broadway Central and its $41,040 price tag, Desentz explained the work city staff put into the project to accommodate residents and businesses.
Commissioner Maureen Eke was concerned that some of the parking places that some business owners were concerned about losing were being used by the owners, not customers.
Commissioner Liz Busch was concerned about cleanliness, and Desentz assured her city staff would be on hand, and that extra trash receptacles will be provided.
Broadway Central was created two years ago to take place between May and October in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on indoor business activities, and was intended to provide additional outdoor dining capacity; during 2020 and most of the 2021 summer season, large gatherings were discouraged in the space in accordance with health guidelines, according to a memo from Mrdeza to Desentz.
After nixing Broadway Central in early April, commissioners asked city staff to come up with other plans that would be beneficial to residents and businesses.