$40 million upgrade planned for downtown Plymouth
The Plymouth Downtown Development Authority (DDA) presented a $40 million plan for the makeover of Main Street during an open house meeting May 20.
The 7-year plan has been in the planning stages for more than a year, officials said. The DDA hosted three public open house meetings to encourage public input into the design plans Main Street. Construction is not scheduled to begin until next year, officials said, while final designs and more community input are sought. The project continues in the design and planning phase, with concepts actively under review, officials noted.
The plan is an effort to refresh the downtown area and includes wider sidewalks, curbless spaces to better accommodate the multiple festivals in the city throughout the year and some measures to slow traffic flow through downtown. Included in the plans are new trees and improved “walkability” in the downtown area.
The plan has been compared to the ongoing construction in downtown Northville where the city square is being replaced during a multi-year $3.3 million "Town Square Refresh" and infrastructure upgrade project. The goal in Northville is to modernize the historic downtown and improve pedestrian safety, according to officials. That plan includes reconstructing the Clock Tower "Brick Island" into a raised speed table, refreshing the water fountain, and adding new plantings.
The ongoing disruption in Northville has prompted criticism from local businesses, residents and those attempting to navigate the city. The construction in Northville is expected to continue for several weeks but be completed this year.
In Plymouth, however, officials from the DDA noted that a 2025 survey identified the streetscape upgrade as a top priority of respondents. The original streetscape was designed and completed in 1995, and refreshed in 2010, about 16 years ago. The proposed upgrades and refreshment of the area were included in the five-year strategic action plan approved by the DDA board members in August of 2024.
The project, called DTPForward, was initiated in 2025. “While we celebrate our historic downtown area, it is important that we plan for future challenges by making sure Downtown Plymouth's infrastructure is ready to serve future generations. We invite the community to include their voices as we reimagine downtown Plymouth's streetscape,” noted a statement on the DDA website and Facebook page.
Design updates, architectural concepts, and public input surveys are available on the official DTP Forward webpage, officials said.
