On Tuesday and Wednesday, the city of Kalamazoo Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED) Department held a downtown Kalamazoo Placemaking Concept Design Workshop & Open House at Kalamazoo Public Library's Central branch.
After Wednesday evening's open house, I asked Assistant City Manager Rebekah Kik about any plans for 24/7 available, public restrooms downtown, in addition to the single existing Portland Loo on E. Water St., behind KVCC's Center for New Media. She said that the manufacturer has cut the price in half and the city plans to order two more units for $104,000, pending approval from the City Commission. In May 2019, the Kalamazoo City Commission approved spending $107,440 for the first one. It wasn't installed until October 2020.
The first of the new Portland Loos is proposed for installation near E. South St., in the walkway between the Epic Center parking ramp and Burnham & Flower Insurance Group. The second one is planned for the W. Lovell St. side of City Hall, near the City Clerk's ballot drop box. Locations were selected in part based on current underground paths of water and wastewater pipes, as well as where the city owned property.
Manager Kik said the new Portland Loos could be installed as soon as this spring. One or two more Downtown Ambassadors may be hired to maintain the new units.
UPDATE: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - WOOD TV-8 reporter Madalyn Buursma has picked up on my story: Kalamazoo to add two 24/7 downtown bathrooms.