The History of the Asylum Lake Preservation Association

Mark Hoffman, Past President and Founding Member of ALPA

On April 27, 1990, the WMU Board of Trustees approved a proposal written by Hammer, Siler, George, and Associates (HSGA) for a business, research, and light industrial park to be built on 319-acres of land south of Parkview Ave. (Lee Baker Farm) and west of Drake Road (Colony Farm Orchard). The Asylum Lake parcel, north of Parkview, was to be considered for future use as a foreign trade zone. 

After calling knowledgeable people at WMU, I learned that some of the property might be protected by legislative land conveyance stipulations. I received no further information from the University, and I searched for the deeds on all three properties. I found that the Asylum Lake parcel and the Colony Farm Orchard were transferred from the Dept. of Mental Health to WMU by Rep. Robert Welborn in 1975 and 1977, respectively, with the following restrictions: "The conveyance shall provide that WMU may utilize the property solely for public park, recreation, or open space purposes, except that the legislature, by statute, may authorize WMU to utilize the property for some other public purpose." The Lee Baker Farm was transferred to WMU in 1959 with no stipulations. It is zoned single-family residential. The HSGA report states clearly that the two properties north of Parkview are restricted. They recommend relocating the DNR on the Orchard to fulfill the "public purpose" clause and convince the State Legislature to remove the restrictions from the 54-acre parcel. 

The press soon became interested, as did the area neighborhood associations and local environmental groups. A few individuals began a door-to-door petition drive with me and worked throughout the Summer of 1990 to inform area residents. Public forums were held by Kalamazoo's Environmental Concerns Advisory Board (Summer/Fall 1990), the Parkwyn Village Association (Sept.), Oakland Drive / Winchell Association (Oct.), and the Oakwood Neighborhood Association (Nov.). The public did not buy into Western's proposal, and it was soundly rejected at all of the presentations. In addition to concerns by area residents, reports of research park failure rates were astounding citizens, representatives, and economic leaders. By December 1990, Oakwood's Neighborhood Association, Western's Student Association, the City Environmental Concerns Committee, and Senator Welborn publicly opposed WMU's proposed business, research, and industrial park. Eventually, Western withdrew the proposal to include a Foreign Trade Zone and promised that the Asylum Lake parcel was to be left out of the plan altogether. 

After the November 1990 Oakwood Neighborhood forum, residents pushed for an organized grass-roots opposition force. In early December, 1990, a group of citizens from different parts of Kalamazoo united to form the Asylum Lake Preservation Association (ALPA). 

Our mission was to maintain the integrity of the area, focusing on the theme was that it is totally inappropriate to put an industrial park in a residential area.

ALPA was very active during the Winter and Spring of 1991:

1. We conducted a massive petition drive and printed a newspaper ad displaying over 110 names of residents living on Parkview Ave., Darmo and Tamsin Drives, Crest Drive, and residents of Parkwyn Village. All were opposed to aspects of Western's proposed research park. A second ad was printed that displayed over 275 names of Parkview Hills' residents who were also opposed.

2. The coalition attended the City Commission meeting on February 18, 1991. Over 100 residents showed to support the opposition. ALPA submitted over 1500 petition signatures. The Woods Lake Neighborhood Association stated their opposition. 

3. Two additional meetings were held (March and April) where we discussed our concerns with the Kalamazoo City Commission Special Task Force.

4. Monty Piercey, Nick Kogon, and I made a presentation on an hour-long Cable Access television program, aired in April 1991.

5. Our force showed at the WMU Board of Trustees meeting on April 26, 1991. Petitions signatures (2224) were presented to the Board, and individuals spoke in favor and against the proposal. The Board voted to proceed with the proposed research park. Five points of opposition: the plan included industry, the area could not be stressed with additional traffic and trucking, environmental issues were left unanswered, the inclusion of legislatively restricted properties, and the ominous 75% failure rate of university-sponsored research parks.

6. During the Summer of 1991, ALPA members conducted a City-wide telephone survey. Results showed overwhelming opposition to WMU's research park. The survey was an important instrument because it affirmed the need for ALPA to continue its efforts.

7. By the Fall of 1991, ALP A had studied design standards, covenants, and restrictions of research parks across the country. We wrote a proposal for a WMU "research-only" park that would be more appropriate for the area. This was ALPA's proactive approach to counter Western's aggressive development plan, while promoting research as the park's primary activity.

8. ALPA members reviewed its proposal with each City Commissioner, the Kalamazoo City Manager the area neighborhood associations, and WMU project designers William Johnson and Associates from January through March, 1991. Results of all were favorable

9. On April 27, 1992, the ALPA coalition lead its forces to the Kalamazoo City meeting to express endorsements for its proposal. The three associations (Oakland Drive / Winchell, Oakwood, and Parkwyn Village) and over 100 residents showed to express their support.

10. In June 1992, Detroit News and Kalamazoo Gazette reports disclaimed the success of the much touted Oakland University Research Park, Auburn Hills, Michigan.

WMU continued to push forward. It formed a Community Input Committee. As a representative of the City Environmental Concerns Committee, I was given the opportunity to participate in Western's committee. We met throughout the Spring and Summer of 1992, and emerged in July with a development scheme. Several members of the Community Input Committee suggested that this committee was merely "window dressing" Members were never asked to vote on specific proposals, nor did the committee formulate its own concensus plan. The final plan suggests standards below those of most university research parks. Manufacturing operations are permitted. There are no bans on truck traffic. Multi-storied structures are allowed. Land setbacks are extremely small. Land use ratios far exceed the 10-15% limits enforced in many other parks. To date, no performance standards have been published. The July proposal calls for development of 30-acres of the protected Asylum Lake property which Western repeatedly promised would not be included.

The Asylum Lake Preservation Association is continuing its work with City and State leaders, neighborhood, and environmental associations. More activities lie ahead, and we encourage your active participation.