- Holland, Michigan
- changethewaveholland@gmail.com
Make a splash and shift the tide—we’re on a mission to create a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable shoreline
in Holland, Michigan.
Make a splash and shift the tide—we’re on a mission to create a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable shoreline in Holland, Michigan.
Change the Wave is a passionate and driven initiative that seeks to challenge the Waterfront Holland proposal approved on the May 2nd, 2023 ballot. With a deep-rooted commitment to making a positive impact, Change the Wave aims to raise awareness and engage the community in meaningful discussions regarding the proposed development.
By encouraging open dialogue and presenting alternative viewpoints, this initiative strives to foster a more inclusive decision-making process. Through various advocacy efforts, Change the Wave hopes to inspire citizens to actively participate in shaping the future of their beloved waterfront.
We are Hollanders who actively seek feedback from the front lines.
As residents of the Southside, we have a special interest in these initiatives because they directly impact our neighborhood. To fill our community with valuable engagement and collaborative decision-making, we must first listen to the diverse perspectives of our people. By pairing these perspectives with the right strategies, we can use them as a tool to shape the direction of change.
Our vision is to create a waterfront that serves as a source of pride and connection for the community. We envision a coast that is accessible to all, offering a range of recreational activities, preserving the natural environment, and celebrating the heritage of our city.
Through collaborative efforts, we aim to foster a deep sense of community ownership by establishing a continual feedback loop and engaging empathically with the public.
It’s a tale as old as time—much of Holland’s waterfront has been privately owned for decades. Gated communities, corporations, and factories line the beautiful waters of our town, with no intention of sharing. Unfortunately, residents and visitors of Holland no longer have access to the Southside coastline of Lake Michigan.
Moreover, the city currently lacks a continuous access point to the Lake. This absence of access has substantial implications for marginalized communities, as it deprives them of the same resources, opportunities, and experiences available to those who can afford access. It’s imperative to tackle this issue using empathy to ensure equal access to natural resources for all city residents (not just our Florida snowbirds ☻).
Beginning in 2018, the City of Holland and the Holland Board of Public Works initiated an exploration of redevelopment options for the James DeYoung (JDY) coal-fired site, which sits on the coastline of Lake Macatawa. This effort, involving community stakeholders and consultants, resulted in the adoption of the “Waterfront Holland Initiative” by City Council in December 2020.
The city relied on an urban planning and placemaking firm called Hitchcock Design Group, Inc./S.B. Friedman to assist in the initiative and in May 2021, a developer solicitation package was released. Geenen DeKock Properties (GDK) emerged as the sole substantive responder, leading to exclusive negotiations throughout 2022. The proposal involves a strategic ‘land swap,’ relocating the Verplanks plant to the JDY site and utilizing additional city-owned spaces for a mixed-use development aligned with their waterfront vision.
In May of 2023, Holland voters approved the sale of the JDY site catalyzing the land swap. We believe this was due to the public’s lack of education on the topic, poorly developed user recruitment methods, and disproportionate feedback loops.
The Holland Sentinel writes “Organizer Stacy Hurd said residents are concerned with the proposal, which includes public waterfront access, condos, a restaurant, an ice cream shop, a hotel, a cruise ship dock and boat slips. Hurd said residents want more public space and argues the proposal doesn’t do enough to align with the years of feedback gathered from community members.”
Although Holland is making significant progress in the right direction, we propose adopting a more comprehensive approach to address the issue.
Currently, the city is primarily concentrating on a limited area that already possesses many of the suggested features and amenities. However, just beyond this area, there are several miles of houses inhabited by lakeside residents who lack access to the beach or lake.
The land is being sold to developers who will be constructing additional private properties, hotels, and restaurants along the waterfront or marinas, with high entry prices. While the idea of a bustling waterfront with more tourists, shops, and cafes may sound appealing in theory, these solutions do not address the genuine desires and needs of the residents of Holland.
Some of the solutions implemented will benefit our city’s natural ecosystem, while others will only serve as a band-aid for the issue. The current plan to relocate the Verplanks plant to the JDY site does not consider the environmental implications of keeping the plant on the waterfront. Additionally, it creates complications for any future attempts to expand access to the full length of the waterfront.
Want to voice your opinions in person? We’re all ears! Join our growing list of sign-ups to be a candidate for an ethnographic interview.
In 2023, we initiated a phased approach to capture community feedback through strategic surveys. You still have the ability to participate!
Fill out the survey and we will get in touch with you if we need your assistance in additional phases.
Volunteer to be part of the research. We’ll be holding a total of 4 focus groups to understand the true needs of the Hollanders.
