In an ongoing tussle over Northville's street sovereignty, a judge has recently decided to tip the scales back in favor of pedestrians and local businesses. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Charlene Elder has ruled that two streets can be closed for seasonal festivities. Elder overturned an earlier injunction after a reconsideration request, meaning Main and Center streets will again be pulsing with foot traffic rather than the hum of car engines. According to a report on hometownlife.com, the closures will last from May 1 to Nov. 1, a verdict resonating with triumph for some, despair for others.
Residents like Jeffery Philippart and business owners such as William Hundley, who owns Tuscan, a Deli and Cafe, have expressed their backing for the closures through testimony to WXYZ. "We feel like there's a better climate for business, for the community, so that's why we're in support of it," Hundley hailed.
On the contrary, Dennis Engerer, a local physical therapist raised concerns to CBS News Detroit about his patients' access due to diminished parking spaces and further traffic complications.
The city of Northville has decided to forge ahead with its plans to close streets downtown after the new ruling, asserting its mission to bolster local commerce and enhance the pedestrian experience. City Manager George Lahanas told WXYZ of the court's decision, "We’re happy to receive this good news." Lahanas stressed the city's stance to vigorously oppose the lawsuit that had led to the initial injunction.
Yet, the street closures are not without their dissenters, "Let's Open Northville" is a faction firmly aligned against the verdant pedestrian oasis sprouting in downtown's asphalt lots. One member of the group, Cindi Brazen voiced her frustration about the traffic inconvenience caused by the closures in her conversation with CBS News Detroit, she lamented that while people can relish downtown's closed streets, her grandchildren are displaced from their neighborhood. Another resident, Steve Pichan raised concerns of increased traffic in residential areas as a consequence of the street closures, a sentiment echoed by other Northville inhabitants.
Despite the polarized views, some are calling for a vote to settle the matter. Mayor Brian Turnbull, according to a report by hometownlife.com, has considered putting the question on November's ballot. With the closures already green-lit for the summer and the option for an appeal looming, Northville's streets have become a theatre of public opinion, with both sides waiting in the wings for their next cue.
