Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. says, 'Can we talk?'

Kathy Jennings | Thursday, September 19, 2013

As Downtown Kalamazoo Incorporated goes through a strategic review of programs and services, Steve Deisler, its president, will be available to answer questions about the future of the organization that serves downtown.

Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. was created 25 years ago to meet long-standing needs in the Central Business District--planning, development, marketing, parking, and facilities maintenance.

Four boards, each with a distinct mission, were formed to work together. Downtown Kalamazoo Inc., the Downtown Development Authority, Downtown Tomorrow Inc., and Downtown Kalamazoo Association Charities work as a cohesive group to coordinate services to the downtown.

The current strategic review is precipitated by major cuts to DKI's budget that came about after a significant decline in the amount of tax revenue captured to pay for debt, maintenance and special programs in the downtown. The cuts come after the Michigan Tax Tribunal ruled in favor of the owers of the Radisson Hotel, which had argued its assessment on the property was too high and it had therefore been paying too much in taxes. Those captured funds now are $2 million below what they were five years ago. Already, DKI has cut its staff from nine to six.

A strategic review process to study DKI's organizational structure and its funding sources that began in April 2013 is expected to be completed by the end of the year and has been funded by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation.

"There is a great deal of speculation about DKI’s plans for 2014," says Robert Doud, DKI board chairperson. "There will be changes, that is certain, but DKI will be better positioned for the future by going through this process."

Beginning the week of Sept. 23, Deisler will hold open office hours at various businesses in downtown Kalamazoo to answer questions regarding the process and DKI’s future. Office hours and locations will be posted on its website here and Facebook.

"We know there are many questions to be answered and frankly DKI needs to do a better job collaborating with our constituents,” says Deisler. "We may not have all of the answers at this point but I want to hear the concerns."

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Downtown Kalamazoo Inc.