US-12 Heritage Trail Heritage Route Application and Corridor Management Plan prepared for the US-12 Heritage Trail Council by SmithGroup JJR and Michigan State University Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources December 2003 Executive Summary Historic Route designations within the City of The Heritage Route application and Saline, Saline Township (pending), the Village of management plan described in this report is a INTRODUCTION Clinton, Clinton Township, and the Coldwater cooperative effort between the US-12 Heritage Historic District. Trail Council, the Michigan Department of The US -12 Heritage Trail Council is seeking Transportation (MDOT), the Southwestern designation as a Michigan Historic Heritage During the late 1990's, a consolidated effort Michigan Commission, SmithGroup JJR (SG Route for the State trunkline US -12 under the began to investigate the feasibility of nominating JJR), and Michigan State University’s name US-12 Heritage Trail pursuant to the the entire US-12 corridor as a Michigan Heritage Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. Heritage Route Act, Public Act 69 of 1993. The Route. In early 2002, following the guidelines of It is the responsibility of the US -12 Heritage Trail purpose of this study was to develop a Corridor P.A. 217 of 1957, an Intergovernmental Council to lead the study effort and to implement Management Plan (CMP) that supports the Committee was formed which appointed a the recommendations suggested in this report. application regarding this designation. Heritage representative(s) from each Michigan county Route designation will help preserve and protect through which US -12 traversed. Named the US- the many historic, cultural, and recreational REPORT ORGANIZATION 12 Heritage Trail Council, this committee has resources found throughout the US-12 corridor. The report is organized into seven sections and assumed the task of seeking designation of US - several supporting appendices. The first three 12 as a Michigan Heritage Route. The Council Beginning in Detroit, US-12 spans approximately sections include data provided by the US-12 meets regularly to promote, educate and 212 miles in southern lower Michigan. It passes Heritage Trail Council. Sections 1 and 2 (Trail coordinate studies and plans regarding the through eight counties and several cities Overview and Goals and Strategies) provide an future US -12 Heritage Trail in Michigan. including Ypsilanti, Clinton, Jonesville, overview and outline the goals and strategies for Coldwater, Sturgis, Edwardsburg, and New this application. Section 3, US-12 Heritage Trail In June 2003, SmithGroup JJR was hired to Buffalo before passing into Indiana. It is, or has Cultural, Recreational, Natural and Physical prepare a Corridor Management Plan supportive been, known by several names including Resources, provides a county-by-county list of of US -12’s designation as a Historic Heritage Michigan Avenue, the Chicago Road, Sauk Trail, historical features and landscapes with Route. The study included field review of the and US-12. supporting narratives, as well as a discussion of 129 historical and natural features assembled by roadway features and current traffic volumes. the US-12 Heritage Trail Council that are BACKGROUND described in the management plan. The Prior to this study, several groups of citizens, The majority of the information presented in purpose of the field review was to photograph Sections 4-7 is a result of studies/analyses local agencies, and elected officials have and record observations related to the existing collaborated to promote and preserve the performed since June 2003. This component of conditions and context of the sites as well as the application represents the CMP. Section 4, historic, cultural, and recreational resources assess way-finding issues and vehicle- along portions of the US -12 corridor. Smaller in US-12 Heritage Trail Resource Analysis, pedestrian conditions. In addition, SG JJR analyzes corridor resources for each county. It scope relative to US -12 than the current study, considered the general landscape character these efforts have been successful in receiving also addresses potential traffic and wayfinding crossed by US-12 relative to its contribution to issues and includes data from the MDOT some level of historic designation. These the value of the road as a Historic Heritage include, but are not limited to, the Automobile Aesthetic Project Opportunities study. The Route. section concludes with a discussion and Heritage Designation within Wayne County, the Ypsilanti Historic District, and the Heritage Trail analysis of the historic themes represented by the corridor resources outlined in Section 3. US-12 Historic Heritage Trail Application & Corridor Management Plan ES-1 Section 5, Corridor Improvement and · Prioritization criteria: developed to guide o Social, Political, and Institutional History; Enhancement Recommendations, outlines prioritizing sites at a county or corridor level and specific strategies targeting suggested for preservation or enhancement o Transportation Developments. architectural and landscape improvements for recommendations. Criteria include an sites along the corridor. assessment of a sites’ relative risk, Section 5, Corridor Improvement- Enhancement documented history, funding availability, or Recommendations includes eight Sections 6 and 7 are closely related because physical condition. recommendations graphically presented that are they provide recommendations and strategies to targeted to building or landscape (four each). help market the US -12 corridor. This information is summarized in Section 4 in Each recommendation includes suggested sites the Historical Theme and Prioritization tables along the corridor where the recommendation Section 6, US-12 Heritage Trail Marketing Plan, compiled by county. may apply. The four architectural presents a comprehensive plan to promote US - recommendations target 12 to both internal and external customer Graphic products provided in this section in · Façade improvements; markets. Internal marketing is focused on 11”x17” format include: · Maintenance and conservation; strengthening communication within and · Cultural and Historic Features: a mapped · Residential recommendations; and between municipalities, organizations, and overview of historic and cultural features for · Policies and guidelines. agencies directly involved with the US-12 effort. each county including approximate External marketing focuses on product locations, representative photographs, key Landscape recommendations seek to improve development and promotions to attract residents transportation nodes, historic designations the appearance or context of the overall property and visitors to US-12. (State or National Register), important excluding any structures. They include: views, existing natural features, and primary · Site Improvements; Communications Support (Section 7) presents or secondary destination points; · Visitor Enhancements; graphic design and content suggestions for a · MDOT Aesthetic Project Opportunities: a · Streetscape Improvements; and US-12 Heritage Trail newsletter, and web site. summary of US-12 data compiled during a · Access Improvements. In addition, a completed production-ready Michigan Department of Transportation promotional brochure is also presented. (MDOT) 2000 study involving a statewide Section 6, US-12 Heritage Trail Marketing Plan, inventory to objectively identify key scenic provides a clear breakout of marketing REPORT GRAPHICS assets along State trunklines; campaigns and activities for internal and In addition to a field review to assess context · Historic Themes: communicates historical external customer markets. and general conditions, each site was context for each site, demonstrates a site’s characterized according to: potential for association with multiple Section 7, Communications Support, includes · Background data: physical data such as themes. The seven themes used to graphic representations of the structure name, construction date, statement characterize and map the sites are: · Promotional brochure; of significance; o Agriculture and Industry; · The newsletter design layout; and · Historical theme: evaluated relative to seven o Art and Architecture; · Sample web pages. First, Most, or Unusual; historical themes selected to be inclusive of o historical context, time period, and o Migration and Settlement; architectural styles; and o Recreation and Tourism; US-12 Historic Heritage Trail Application & Corridor Management Plan ES-2 Table of Contents Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................ES-1 1. US-12 Heritage Trail Overview............................................................................................................. 1-1 US-12 Heritage Trail Corridor .............................................................................................................. 1-1 US-12 Heritage Trail Nominating Committee ........................................................................................ 1-2 The US -12 Heritage Trail Story ............................................................................................................ 1-3 Benefits of US -12 Heritage Trail Designation ........................................................................................ 1-6 Local Support ....................................................................................................................................