The closure of Main and Center streets in downtown Northville, Michigan, had both positive and negative effects on the community. The closures were initially enacted on a temporary basis in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and were made permanent in August 2022. However, the City Council recently voted unanimously to convert the permanent closures into seasonal closures, with the streets reopening to vehicle traffic in November each year and closing to traffic in May.
The closures were welcomed by some residents, who enjoyed the increased foot traffic, outdoor dining, and events in the area. However, they were also opposed by others who claimed that they made it harder to access businesses and reduced parking availability. The council received feedback from residents and reviewed additional data before making the decision to convert the closures into seasonal ones.
The closures also had financial implications for the city, as the Michigan Department of Transportation informed them that they could lose some Act 51 money if the roads remained closed. The city expected to lose state funding for the portions of the roads that are closed, and there was a risk of losing even more funding annually if MDOT classified Main and Center streets as local roads. Mayor Brian Turnbull expressed hope that state legislators could help prevent the loss of funding.
Recently, the City Council in Northville has decided to end the permanent street closures of Main and Center streets in downtown. The decision came after a five-hour meeting on April 3, during which additional data was reviewed, and input was received from residents. As a result of the vote, the streets will now be closed to vehicle traffic between May and November each year. The original closures were introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and extended to become year-round in August 2022. However, they have since become a contentious issue in the community, with the Michigan Department of Transportation warning that the city could lose funding if the roads remained closed.
Mayor Brian Turnbull hopes that state legislators will support the community if they lose funding. He emphasized that the council always intended to make the best decision based on available information and remain flexible in their approach.
