Historic district boosts traffic with new lighting
At the turn of the century, Grand Ledge, Mich., was popular as a health retreat for the nation’s elite. Thousands flocked to the spas and hotels located on the scenic seven islands in the Grand River, which flows through the town center.
Today, while the hotels have disappeared, Grand Ledge cherishes its rich history and the architectural reminders of its past. The downtown district is a blend of Italianate, Victorian and Craftsman architecture.
The focal point, however, is a turn-of-the-century opera house in the middle of town next to the river. The problem was that the one-mile stretch of roadway in the downtown district was poorly lighted with “cobrahead” fixtures.
In an effort to rejuvenate the downtown district, the Grand Ledge Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is undertaking a 20-year infrastructure project that includes streetscaping and lighting retrofits.
The lighting units selected for the project are “teardrop” fixtures manufactured by Newark, Ohio-based Holophane Corp. The 1920s style fixtures, originally developed to illuminate the streets leading to the Atlanta Olympics venues, use 175-watt metal halide lamps. They have a goose neck at the top and banner arms, with a glass reflector in the top and luminaire panels that allow them to maintain their appearance at night. Single-head fixtures are used along the street, and double-head fixtures are installed on street corners.
“The area is beautiful,” says Wayne Withers, former executive director of the DDA. “Business in the district has picked up, and people are definitely drawn to the area.”