History of the Traverse City DDA

1979          DDA established by the Traverse City City Commission

1982          DDA sponsors first phase of river walk along the Boardman River

1984          Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market founded by the DDA

1985          City establishes TIF 2 Development Plan for redevelopment of the Ironworks property

1986          DDA recieves Coastal Zone funds for riverwalk project

                  DDA receives funds for Pedestrian Bridge over the Boardman River in the 200 block of Front Street

1988          DDA works in conjunction with Traverse City Light & Power and Chamber of Commerce to bury

                  power lines in the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of Front Street

1989          Front Street streetscape and parking project approved by DDA and City Commission, and bonds

                  issued for implementation

1990          DDA and DTCA sign joint management agreement for marketing promotions and special events

                  Wellington Street project completed

                  DDA agrees to manage City Opera House

1991          DDA commissioned Hyett-Palma, Inc. Downtown Retail Market Analysis completed

                  DDA contracts with City to manage parking system.

1993          $10,850 in improvements made to the Farmers Market

                  DDA makes parking lot and signage improvements

                  DDA reveives grant for acquisition of land for Visitor's Center

1994          $833,301 Union and Cass streetscape project awarded, $224,823 of TIF funds pledged by the DDA

1995          DDA establishes the Union Street Sidewalk Art Project

                  DDA sells land to Traverse City Convention and Visitor's Burea for Vistor's Center for $1

1996          Additional bike racks and benches purchased and installed

                  Eighth Street project, Union to Lake Street, completed, funded by TIF

1997          TIF 97 Development Plan approved by City Commission

                  River's Edge development agreement approved

                  Evaluation of the Park Street Deck project begins

1998          DDA provides analysis of riverwalk wall and alley extension for State Theater project

                  Initial utilities work completed for River's Edge project

                  $37,400 authorized for design and engineering work related to the alley behind the State Theater

                  project

                  City Center streetscape improvements completed

1999          Rivers Edge West Riverwalk and Cass Street Streetscapes

2000          Much of the downtown is designated as an Historical District, preserving the character of the area

2001          Third major street overhaul for DDA - State Street Streetscape, funded by TIF and a grant from MDOT

2002          Farmers Market Plan adopted; new rules for farmers market include emphasizing area growers

2003         Completion of $8.3 million in parking deck and utilties improvements in 540 space Larry C. Hardy

                 Parking Deck.

2004         Merchant Directory signs installed

2005        "Your Bay, Your Say" waterfront master plan planning process involves the community in connecting

                the downtown to the waterfront

2006       TIF 97 Plan amended to help fund City Opera House renovation

2007       Downtown Market Analysis completed assessing retail, office, and housing markets

2008      After 18 years of managing the City Opera House, the DDA "spins off" responsibility to a non-profit, the

              City Opera House Heritage Association

              DDA replaces holiday lights with energy efficient LED lights

2009     Old Town Deck design under way