Discovering and applying new and innovative economic development tools, models, policies, and programs
Creating Jobs and Wealth in Distressed Michigan Communities
Student-Led, Faculty-Guided Project - 2025
Authors: Eli Flikkema, Cassidy Roberts, Quinton Blanks, Melanie Montalvo, Kaisen Mo
City officials raised concerns about underutilization of available parking spaces, threats to physical property and pedestrian safety from parking lot misuse, and the fear that unused, unoccupied parking spaces were taking up valuable land that could instead serve the community through more efficient, desirable, and productive land uses. The data gathered by Michigan State University’s Spring 2025 practicum team validated many of the points raised by the City of Beaverton. The team gathered and analyzed parking-related case studies from similarly sized communities, surveyed the business owners and operators of the Central Business District, and reviewed Beaverton’s existing parking ordinances. Based on those considerations, the team presents a variety of recommendations within this report. Most importantly, the recommendations incorporate community feedback from business owners, a group identified as a crucial stakeholder within the city’s downtown area. Overhauling how the city manages its public parking will reduce stress on city officials, increase accessibility for pedestrians, protect physical infrastructure, and mitigate the effects of underutilized space in a valuable area, ultimately building a better, brighter Beaverton.