A City Council vote on rezoning the First Ward’s North Washington Avenue corridor to allow “light industrial” uses is postponed until at least the end of summer.
This isn’t the first time the governing body has decided to avert an immediate decision, but in this case the effect is longer-term and delay will make less immediate impact.
The prior two instances were on tighter timelines. First, a council majority placed Ojibway Island’s fate in the hands of City Manager Tim Morales, who last summer cited safety concerns in closing the park to motorists. More recently, creation of an ARPA Advisory Committee has for now temporarily cooled the hot seats in deciding how to spend an historic, one-time $52 million in the name of anti-poverty pandemic relief.
In contrast, the First Ward’s dilemma is historic and slow-paced. Blight and white flight abandonment began in the 1920s, a century ago, with the arrival of trainloads of prospective black labor, many for the auto plants. By the 1970s a stream of thought took root that the First Ward had become a drain on newfound federal urban aid, “too far gone,” and that the funds would be better invested in neighborhoods deemed still possible to preserve.
After the millennium’s turn, this outlook took deeper roots. “Green Zone” joined the lexicon with plans to allow forests to return.
Brenda Moore raised protests during her first 2013 campaign to win a council seat. When her peers appointed her mayor in fall 2020, her concerns carried more weight. Planners persuaded the mayor and a majority of other members that an infusion of light industry, including small parts-makers and warehouses, could light a long-latent candle along North Washington Avenue between North Third and North Tenth streets.
The border on the other side of North Washington is Farwell, creating a narrow strip for rezoning. However, impact could spread deeper into the First Ward’s side streets.
City planners have reported a population drop of 78 percent during the past four decades. Protesters counter that green zone restrictions on home improvement permits and purchases of adjacent lots are part of the cause.
No proposals for First Ward economic development are on the table, which reduces any push for immediate action on zoning. As one reason for seeking the postponements, council members said they wish to wait and see what will occur with ARPA funding decisions later this coming summer and fall.
Meetings in May that possibly will move closer to budget decisions are:
- ARPA Advisory Committee, 5 p.m. May 12 and 19 at City Hall (Other sessions may be slated at neighborhood sites, but a listing was not made available in time for The Banner’s May 1 online publication.)
- City Council, 6:30 p.m., May 9 and 23
- County Board of Commissioners, 5 p.m. May 17
- School Board, 5:30 p.m. May 18
- City/School/County Liaison, 5:30 p.m. May 19 at school board host site
For updates, check saginaw-mi.com, spsd.net or saginawcounty.com.
