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Traverse City Today
By the People, for the People
Traverse City DDA Calls for Study on Downtown Retail Landscape
Officials cite recent wave of property ownership changes that could reshape the city's commercial core
Published on Feb. 20, 2026
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The Downtown Development Authority in Traverse City, Michigan is proposing a formal study on the future of small business retail in the city's downtown area. The DDA is concerned about the impact on locally owned businesses as commercial buildings change hands and operating costs increase under new ownership. The authority wants to understand the market for small businesses downtown and update economic data from a previous market analysis.
Why it matters
Traverse City's downtown is said to carry more retail than comparable communities, a distinction the DDA wants to protect. The proposed study aims to examine the sustainability of small businesses in the face of shifting property ownership and rising costs, in order to maintain the city's vibrant downtown retail landscape.
The details
DDA Executive Director Harry Burkholder raised the issue during a recent board meeting, noting that buildings held by the same owners for over 50 years are now going up for sale. The DDA is exploring a partnership with Traverse Connect to help fund the retail sustainability study, which would update data from a previous market analysis conducted as part of the DDA's Moving Downtown Forward plan.
- The DDA is expected to revisit the proposal as part of its upcoming budget discussions, with a finance committee meeting and subsequent board action anticipated in the coming weeks.
- The DDA's next subcommittee meeting is scheduled for the first week of March.
The players
Harry Burkholder
The executive director of the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority.
Traverse Connect
A potential partner organization that the DDA is exploring to help fund the retail sustainability study.
What’s next
No timeline has been set for the retail study. The DDA is expected to revisit the proposal as part of its upcoming budget discussions, with a finance committee meeting and subsequent board action anticipated in the coming weeks.
The takeaway
The Traverse City DDA is proactively addressing the shifting retail landscape in the city's downtown, recognizing the importance of supporting locally owned small businesses and maintaining the area's vibrant commercial core. The proposed retail sustainability study aims to provide critical data and insights to help the DDA and community stakeholders navigate the changing property ownership and rising costs that could impact the future of downtown retail.
