Downtown Development Authority

About the Downtown Development Authority


The DDA was established in 1982 and is overseen by the Mayor and a ten member board appointed by the City Commission. It is the responsibility of the DDA Board to define the downtown district and provide for all other matters within the district.

Focus: Infrastructure & Marketing


The DDA’s main focus is to facilitate economic development for the downtown district.
The DDA engages in building and maintaining:
  • Parking lots
  • Street lighting
  • Traffic signals
  • Parks
  • Other streetscape features
Projects to facilitate economic development in the DDA district are not limited to physical improvements and upkeep. The DDA also engages in marketing activities such as the development of this website, social media accounts, the creation of walking maps and the perennial favorite, Music In the Air Concerts, on Friday evenings during the summer.

DDA Board Members


  • Mayor Oliver Wolcott, CEO
  • Adam Covington, Chairperson, resident
  • Kerri Pollard, Vice Chairperson, owner Spa Agio
  • Ellen Elliott, executive director of Friends of the Penn, resident
  • Maura Hynes, owner of Plymouth Coffee Bean Co., resident
  • Dan Johnson, owner Ironwood Grill and Park Place Gastro Pub
  • Robert Parent, owner Sun & Snow Sports
  • Kari Poirier, manager Westborn Market, resident
  • Michele Potter, resident
  • Brent Rieli, resident and owner Plymouth Yoga Room
  • Frank Yaquinto, owner Compari's, Fiamma and The Sardine Room
If you are interested in serving on this, or any other board, please complete a Volunteer Resume and submit it to the City Manager’s Office.

Meetings


DDA meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall, 201 S. Main St.

Recent DDA Accomplishments

  • 2017 revamp of downtownplymouth.org to a mobile/tablet friendly format.
  • 2016 reconstruction of the Fleet Street Alley that included award winning recognition from the Michigan Concrete Association.
  • Doubled the amount of bike parking downtown in 2016.
  • Continued production and coordination of the Friday night "Music in the Air" concert series in Kellogg Park.
  • Addition of several dozen businesses in the downtown area to give the city of Plymouth one of the lowest vacancy rates in Michigan.
  • Annual coordination with the Salvation Army and local retailers to produce the Main Street Boulevard Tree Lighting and Salvation Army Red Kettle Kick Off.
  • Annual Adopt-a-Planter flower box program.
  • Continued matching grant program to expand the holiday street lights.
  • Coordination of sidewalk snow and ice removal every winter to keep downtown a safe and comfortable place to dine and shop.
  • Digital media expansion including a new mobile friendly website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Downtown Plymouth events can also be found on the Pure Michigan page and the LocalHop smartphone app.
  • Continued upkeep of the Central Parking Deck.
  • 2011 Completion of two-year $2.1 million dollar Streetscape project.

Future DDA Projects

  • Development of the property commonly referred to as the "Saxton's Property."
  • Upgrade of the Kellogg Park fountain.
  • Improvement of parking lots and alleys.
  • Downtown tree replacement program.
  • Increase public parking inventory.
  • Increase bicycle parking downtown.