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During
a strategic planning
session of the Gaylord Downtown Development Authority Board of
Directors in
February of 1999, a suggestion was made to develop a protected area
within the
DDA district to be used for community events.
The thought was that if we could build a covered area
within the DDA
district that would provide shelter for different events, but that
would still
be open for vehicular traffic during non-event times we would attract
visitors
downtown while still providing for our local merchants and
residents. While the idea
was initially considered to be
a pipedream, the concept of an area dedicated to special events
targeted to
draw additional visitors to the downtown area was one that had solid
merit in
the eyes of the 13 DDA board members.
To
transition the pipedream
into reality the board first scheduled meetings with various public
sector
entities within the community to discuss the potential uses for such an
area. It became apparent
that many people
would meet this type of venue within the downtown area with great
enthusiasm.
Following meetings with the
City Council, DDA board of directors, Bond Counsel and
Financial
Advisors the DDA in conjunction with the City of
Gaylord outlined a means to pay for the project
through a
City issued limited tax development bond.
The City was prepared to pay for the street improvements
and
infrastructure while the DDA would pay for the pavilion structure, site
elements and sound system.
Total costs
for the improvements were $885,000.00.
The DDA
board of directors
and City Council worked with a local engineering firm and
architect to
design a structure that would fit into the Alpine motif that is used
throughout
the City. The purpose of
the structure
was to provide a sheltered area for seasonal events, as well as,
concerts,
trade shows, farmers markets and art/antique shows. The design allows for the street to
be open
to vehicular traffic while not in use for an event. The structure itself is 150 feet
long and is
75 feet wide. The lowest
point of the
structure is 14’ 6” and at its highest point is 32 feet. Dormers are placed throughout the
roof of the
structure to provide natural light in the structure as well as a means
of
preventing ice and snowfall from the roof.
Decorative brick pavers are used in the street as well as
on the
sidewalk for the entire block providing a unique and quaint
atmosphere.
The
pavilion structure has
its own sound system that is used for events held under the
pavilion. The system is
linked to the sound system that
the City currently uses throughout the downtown to play background
music on a
daily basis.
While
the structure may have
its few critics it seems to have generated a true “community spirit”
enthusiasm
during weekly concerts. The
structure
also provided a great place to enjoy our annual Alpenfest as well as
the local
Gus Macker basketball tournament in June.
The City of
Gaylord is truly fortunate to have a progressive
thinking DDA
board of directors and City
Council that were
willing to take something of a “pipedream” and make it a
reality!
Sherrie Burns
Schuster
Executive Director, Gaylord
DDA
225 West Main
Street
Gaylord, MI
49735
Phone…989.732.6073
Fax…….989.732.8266
Email…..gaylorddda@hotmail.com
Photographs by Bradley Butcher
& Associates,
P.C.
Technical Assistance by Karen
Kramer Clark | 
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