Bay City, Michigan 48706
Front Page 03/28/2024 07:25 About us
www.mybaycity.com February 24, 2013
(Prior Story)   Community ArTicle 7933   (Next Story)


The Bay City program has been touted as a way communities can respond to the home foreclosure crisis and longer term population decline.

RENAISSANCE: Bay City's Front Porch Project Makes National Study

Midland, East Lansing Programs Also Noted by NLC for Communication

February 24, 2013       1 Comments
By: Dave Rogers

Printer Friendly Story View

The National League of Cities (NLC) has used a Bay City program as a case study in research on cities hardest hit by job and real property losses during the past decade.

A Midland program to engage citizens in discussion of community issues also is cited by NLC.

The Bay City program has been touted as a way communities can respond to the home foreclosure crisis and longer term population decline.

A Midland program called "Meeting in a Box" is cited by NLC as a meaningful way to engage residents. That program provides a creative approach to public comment.

The box, which could be picked up at city hall, contained all the supplies needed to host a gathering of six to eight neighbors. Included were background documents on the issue to be discussed and a series of questions for citizens. The city even includes a bag of microwave popcorn in meeting supplies.

The University Student Commission in East Lansing is noted by NLC as a standing board of the city, demonstrating that students are an important audience with opinions carrying weight and having credibility.

The study includes the Front Porch Renaissance Group in Bay City, headed by Dr. Steven Ingersoll.

"In searching for a more intensive sense of community spirit, Dr. Ingersoll developed a historic properties restoration program called the Front Porch Renaissance Group," states the NLC study report.

"The primary purpose of the organization is to protect the unique design of historic structures and neighborhoods and preserve their value to the Bay City community."

The restoration projects enhance educational opportunities, nurture and grow business and support the unique character of the community at large, according to NLC. The first project initiated by the Front Porch Renaissance Group was renovation of the Madison Church into what became the Bay City Academy. After considering the needs of the community and exploring an action plan, project implementers found that education was the most important need in this restoration project. The centerpiece of this project became the revitalization and transformation of the Madison Church into a K-6 arts and visual therapy charter school. Bay City Academy's construction period was completed within eight months and opened on September 6, 2011, with 165 students. "The school utilizes the unique studio model to educate students through themes and interaction," explained Front Porch CEO Tim Hunnicutt.

The opening of the academy not only offers innovative educational opportunities in a struggling neighborhood, but it also allows Front Porch to become a contributing member of the community and to be part of decisions about future community needs.

Dr. Ingersoll has since expanded the Bay City Academy to the old YMCA building at Madison and Columbus, installing a higher grade level charter school that recently initiated an athletic program for students.

The second area of focus for the Front Porch Renaissance Group is business development. Bay City has multiple business districts that represent different areas of business markets, such as retail and office. Each district embodies varied interests and has specific needs for restoration.

Vacant properties have been purchased in each district and have been assessed accordingly for what types of businesses would be most successful there. Front Porch is assisting in the construction and beginning development phases of the business plans. Once the businesses can sufficiently manage themselves, Front Porch will depart from extensive involvement. The goal for business development is to create independent districts with self-employed managers.

Community strengthening is the final distinguishable trait of Front Porch. Investing in the people and reinforcing human capital is the most important component of building and strengthening the community.

Front Porch is making improvements to the community by providing various volunteer opportunities and offering certain home improvement projects as free services.

Many Front Porch employees have used the last minutes of their shifts and some of their personal time to work on certain home repair projects for various members of the community. Roof repairs and porch renovations for senior citizens have become common activities for employees.

Following the example of its employees, Front Porch developed a Time Bank. This creates opportunities for neighbors to exchange services like babysitting for fence painting toward the goal of engaging and uniting neighborhoods.

Front Porch employs 32 full time staff to carry out Dr. Ingersoll's vision and consistently coordinates volunteer efforts that engage the entire community. There are numerous supporters of this initiative throughout Bay City. Tim Hunnicutt commented on the overall support of the projects from the community. "There isn't really one individual supporter who stands out more than any other. The entire community has really adopted the group and all of the projects we are pushing forward."

The primary funds for projects like these come from the Front Porch operating budget. Dr. Ingersoll personally made some early investments. Revenue generating projects and grant funds allow the organization to leverage its resources and continue reinvesting into the development of the city. As properties are purchased and rehabilitated, they begin generating revenue that is then turned over to purchase new properties in a process of continuous investment and reinvestment.

Contributing funding sources include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority office of Community Development, Historic Preservation tax credits, the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

The underlying concept is stated by Dr. Ingersoll: "Numerous grand front porches dot the landscape of Bay City, Michigan, as part of the majestic Victorian architecture for which the city is known. Sadly, those front porches now stand mostly empty as social interaction has moved from front porches to backyards to, most recently, electronic devices. The social glue that held our neighborhoods together has disintegrated.

"The Front Porch Renaissance Group is taking steps to change that. We believe in Community Through Restoration. We have committed to bringing new life and energy to our community via traditional social networking. We provide leadership in community enhancement projects, and are taking action to enhance the quality of life for Bay City by:

  • Embracing the rich historic architecture

  • Combining new uses for existing structures with green development initiatives

  • Creating attractive, dynamic neighborhoods
  • Helping residents embrace the arts, live healthy lifestyles and find meaningful local employment

  • Providing educational opportunities

    "Improving Bay City requires three key areas. We must learn to appreciate our unique attributes, believe in ourselves and build community esprit de corps; we must educate our children and adult citizenry far more effectively; and we must improve our local economy," he concluded.

    For more detailed information about the Front Porch Renaissance Group, or any of the above listed projects, refer to the following webpage: http://www.mifrontporch.com/. Contact information: Tim Hunnicutt CEO Front Porch Renaissance Group thunnicutt@mifrontporch.com



    Printer Friendly Story View
    Prior Article

    February 10, 2020
    by: Rachel Reh
    Family Winter Fun Fest is BACC Hot Spot for 2/10/2020
    Next Article

    February 2, 2020
    by: Kathy Rupert-Mathews
    MOVIE REVIEW: "Just Mercy" ... You Will Shed Tears, or at Least You Should

    "The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

    Agree? or Disagree?


    Dave Rogers

    Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
    respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
    (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

    More from Dave Rogers

    Send This Story to a Friend!       Letter to the editor       Link to this Story
    Printer-Friendly Story View


    --- Advertisments ---
         


    0200 Nd: 03-24-2024 d 4 cpr 0






    12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm

    SPONSORED LINKS



    12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm


    Designed at OJ Advertising, Inc. (V3) (v3) Software by Mid-Michigan Computer Consultants
    Bay City, Michigan USA
    All Photographs and Content Copyright © 1998 - 2024 by OJA/MMCC. They may be used by permission only.
    P3V3-0200 (1) 0   ID:Default   UserID:Default   Type:reader   R:x   PubID:mbC   NewspaperID:noPaperID
      pid:1560   pd:11-18-2012   nd:2024-03-24   ax:2024-03-28   Site:5   ArticleID:7933   MaxA: 999999   MaxAA: 999999
    claudebot