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North Boardman Lake Business District, 8th Street, Traverse City, MI (2026)

01/13/2026

Coming to the NOBO District --- Venues include Silver Spruce, Alluvion, Elev8, TADL, Right Brain, TC Whiskey co, Up North Pride Center.

https://freshcoastfilmtraversecity.ludus.com/

Now in its ninth year, the Marquette-based Fresh Coast Film Festival has announced it is collaborating to extend a local version of its multi-day festival – which celebrates the
outdoor lifestyle, water-rich environment, and resilient spirit of the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest – to Traverse City April 30-May 3, 2026.

Filmgoers will enjoy both short and feature-length films featuring vibrant stories of outdoor adventures, recreation, conservationism, and advocacy – with guest artists in
attendance for audience Q&As at most screenings.

09/16/2025

TC Mural Festival Closing Parade
Wednesday, September 17 | 4 PM | Start at Oryana 10th Street, Finish at The Filling Station

Join the North Boardman Lake District and the Traverse City Arts Commission for a vibrant parade down 8th Street! We'll gather at Oryana before making our way along the corridor, stopping at each mural to hear directly from the artists about their work and their festival experience. The parade will conclude at The Filling Station, where we’ll celebrate the newly completed murals with a festive happy hour.

We encourage multi-modal transportation to this event! Walk or bike if you are able. If driving, please park at the Filling Station and walk to Oryana. Parking lot parking is limited.

09/11/2025

Inaugural Traverse City Mural Festival
Seven walls. One creative week.
Friday, September 12 - Wednesday, September 17, 2025

The TC Mural Festival, led by volunteers from the Traverse City Arts Commission, aims to enhance the vitality of the Grand Traverse region through artful placemaking that builds on the community’s cultural resources. The inaugural festival will take place in the NoBo neighborhood’s Eighth Street corridor, from Lake Avenue to Barlow Street.

Artists will be working on their murals each day, beginning Friday, September 12 with the goal of completing their work by Wednesday, September 17. Wind your way through the NoBo visiting each mural site and watch these works come to life! We recommend biking, walking, rolling or strolling if you’re able. If you’re driving into Traverse City, the Old Town Parking Garage is conveniently located near the mural corridor.

Join us for the following programs during the inaugural TC Mural Festival:

Everyday Acts of Art Opening/TC Mural Festival Kickoff Celebration
Friday, September 12 | 5 PM | Commongrounds

Celebrate the beginning of the mural festival with an exhibition opening at The Alluvion! Everyday Acts of Art brings together a series of intimate interventions—drawings, sculptures, wheatpastes, and more—woven into the shared spaces of Commongrounds. Created by past exhibition artists and muralists, these works are tucked around corners, above doorframes, or underfoot, encouraging visitors to slow down and discover art where they least expect it. By embedding creativity into the rhythms of daily life, this exhibition honors how small gestures of art can shape, uplift, and connect our community.

Color the Corridor: A Community Art Adventure on 8th
Sunday, September 14 | 12 - 3 PM | North Boardman Lake District

Join the Traverse City Arts Commission, the Traverse Area District Library, and Old Town Playhouse for family-friendly art activities inspired by Traverse City’s first-ever mural festival. Start your creative journey at one end of 8th Street, explore the murals in progress along the corridor, and make your way to the other end to add your own artistic touch.

At the Traverse Area District Library, make your own mini print, ink it, and mark our “wall.” Take your mini masterpiece home to print again. Meet us on the front lawn, or inside in the MacGuire room in case of rain. This drop-in program is free with materials provided.

At Old Town Playhouse, join in creating a vibrant, collaborative masterpiece. Pick up some chalk and make your mark, then take a moment to explore the artwork on their building and learn the story behind it.

Artist Panel | Every Day Acts of Art
Tuesday, September 16 | 6 PM | The Alluvion

Join us for a dynamic artist panel featuring six innovative artists whose work transforms public space through large-scale mural installations. Moderated by curator Jessica Kooiman Parker and Arts Commission vice chair Caitlin Early, this conversation will delve into the powerful intersections of art, environment, and community, exploring how each artist approaches the act of making art that exists beyond the walls of traditional galleries.

Through vibrant color, scale, and site-responsive practice, these artists reimagine public surfaces as spaces for storytelling, resistance, memory, and joy. From neighborhood walls to civic structures, they will share insights into the challenges and possibilities of working in public view—navigating collaboration, accessibility, and the unpredictable nature of community interaction.

TC Mural Festival Closing Parade
Wednesday, September 17 | 4 PM | Start at Oryana 10th Street, Finish at The Filling Station

Join the North Boardman Lake District and the Traverse City Arts Commission for a vibrant parade down 8th Street! We'll gather at Oryana before making our way along the corridor, stopping at each mural to hear directly from the artists about their work and their festival experience. The parade will conclude at The Filling Station, where we’ll celebrate the newly completed murals with a festive happy hour.

We encourage multi-modal transportation to this event! Walk or bike if you are able. If driving, please park at the Filling Station and walk to Oryana. Parking lot parking is limited.

THANK YOU TO THE 2025 MURAL FESTIVAL PARTNERS & SPONSORS

Art Opportunities About Town

Make a weekend of it! There are several other arts and culture events in Traverse City during the Mural Festival.

Downtown Art Fair | Saturday & Sunday September 13 & 14 | Beginning at 10AM | Rotary Square

Join us for a weekend of art, creativity, and community at the Downtown Art Fair, now taking place September 13 & 14 in Rotary Square at Union & State Streets, Downtown Traverse City. Explore dozens of artists & makers showcasing stunning handmade works and fine arts. Engage in a hands-on community mural! Join Crooked Tree Arts Center and Look Wonder Discover to contribute to a piece of Traverse City history. Enjoy snacks and beverages from Mundos and Meredith Kettle Corn at Rotary Square. Whether you’re a collector, a casual art lover, or just looking for a fun downtown experience, this event is a must-visit for arts & culture enthusiasts.

Traverse City PorchFest | Sunday, September 14 | 1PM | Central Neighborhood

Traverse City Central Neighborhood Association presents the Annual "PorchFest" music festival. The 2025 PorchFest will be take place September 14th from 1-5 PM.

08/12/2025

TC Mural Festival
Inaugural Traverse City Mural Festival
Seven walls. One creative week.
September 12-17, 2025

The TC Mural Festival, led by volunteers from the Traverse City Arts Commission, aims to enhance the vitality of the Grand Traverse region through artful placemaking that builds on the community’s cultural resources. The inaugural festival will take place in the NoBo neighborhood’s Eighth Street corridor, from Lake Avenue to Barlow Street.

This week-long public art event will reflect community values, foster dialogue across all ages and abilities, inspire creativity through unexpected aesthetic experiences, and enrich the visual character and vibrancy of this well-traveled area.

Join us for the following programs during the inaugural TC Mural Festival:

Everyday Acts of Art Opening/TC Mural Festival Kickoff Celebration
Friday, September 12, 5 PM at Commongrounds

Celebrate the beginning of the mural festival with an exhibition opening at The Alluvion! Everyday Acts of Art brings together a series of intimate interventions—drawings, sculptures, wheatpastes, and more—woven into the shared spaces of Commongrounds. Created by past exhibition artists and muralists, these works are tucked around corners, above doorframes, or underfoot, encouraging visitors to slow down and discover art where they least expect it. By embedding creativity into the rhythms of daily life, this exhibition honors how small gestures of art can shape, uplift, and connect our community.

Color the Corridor: A Community Art Adventure on 8th
September 14th | 12 - 3 PM, North Boardman Lake District

Join the Traverse City Arts Commission, the Traverse Area District Library, and Old Town Playhouse for family-friendly art activities inspired by Traverse City’s first-ever mural festival. Start your creative journey at one end of 8th Street, explore the murals in progress along the corridor, and make your way to the other end to add your own artistic touch.

At the Traverse Area District Library, make your own mini print, ink it, and mark our “wall.” Take your mini masterpiece home to print again. Meet us on the front lawn, or inside in the MacGuire room in case of rain. This drop-in program is free with materials provided.

At Old Town Playhouse, help transform an old piano into a collaborative community mural. This repurposed instrument will be a canvas for your imagination. Grab some chalk and make your mark! Your contribution will become part of a living artwork that will evolve throughout the week.

Artist Panel | Every Day Acts of Art
Tuesday, September 16, 6 PM at The Alluvion

Join us for a dynamic artist panel featuring six innovative artists whose work transforms public space through large-scale mural installations. This conversation will delve into the powerful intersections of art, environment, and community, exploring how each artist approaches the act of making art that exists beyond the walls of traditional galleries.

Through vibrant color, scale, and site-responsive practice, these artists reimagine public surfaces as spaces for storytelling, resistance, memory, and joy. From neighborhood walls to civic structures, they will share insights into the challenges and possibilities of working in public view—navigating collaboration, accessibility, and the unpredictable nature of community interaction.

TC Mural Festival Closing Parade
Wednesday, September 17, 4 PM Start at Oryana 10th Street, Finish at The Filling Station

Join the North Boardman Lake District and the Traverse City Arts Commission for a vibrant parade down 8th Street! We'll gather at Oryana before making our way along the corridor, stopping at each mural to hear directly from the artists about their work and their festival experience. The parade will conclude at The Filling Station, where we’ll celebrate the newly completed murals with a festive happy hour.

We encourage multi-modal transportation to this event! Walk or bike if you are able. If driving, please park at the terminus of the event and walk to Oryana. Parking lot parking is limited!

08/07/2025

NOBO Meeting 8/11/25 8am

Our next North Boardman Lake District meeting is Monday, August 11 at 8am at West Shore Bank. Please join us as we will be planning our contributions to the NBLD Inaugural Traverse City Mural Festival from September 11-17.

We’d love for all businesses to be involved somehow, so please attend the meeting on the top floor of the bank and help us plan the best way to support our neighborhood and businesses - and the Mural Festival!

See you August 11 at 8am. West Shore Bank - Traverse City Office
400 E. Eighth Street, Traverse City, 3rd floor

06/20/2025

SAFE HARBOR COMMUNITY MEETING (from City of Thanks Traverse City-Bay Brief)

Safe Harbor will host its quarterly community meeting on Monday, June 23, 2025. The meeting will take place in the McGuire Room at the Traverse Area District Library, Main Branch from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. The public is welcome

06/02/2025

From Traverse City Ticker

More Public Parking on Eighth Street? Early Discussions Focus On Vacant Lot
By Art Bukowski

A large private lot along Eighth Street that until recently served as an informal public parking lot may eventually be leased by the city for that purpose, providing a parking boost to an increasingly busy corridor.

Blarney Castle Oil owns the roughly half-acre space on the south side of Eighth Street at Wellington. Company representatives have allowed people to park there for some time, and the lot grew busy in recent years with the opening of the mixed-use Commongrounds Cooperative about 50 yards to the west.

But city officials, citing zoning rules, recently shut this de facto public lot down. The space is now cordoned off, with several signs indicating that parking is not allowed.

“That district doesn't allow for private surface lots with parking as the principal use. As an accessory to a building use, it's fine, but not as the principal,” City Planning Director Shawn Winter tells The Ticker. “So eventually we had to…stop that.”

Not long after the lot was closed, leadership at Commongrounds approached the property owner and then the city about finding a long-term solution to the lot. Although discussions are preliminary, the current thinking is that the city would lease the lot from Blarney Castle, adding to several other privately owned lots that the city leases for parking.

“Even though private standalone surface lots are not allowed, public ones are,” Winter says. “So we started exploring that with the owner of that lot and representation from Commongrounds to see if there’s a path forward where we could get a lot constructed that the city would lease and operate.”

While Commongrounds is an increasingly busy attraction in the Eighth Street corridor, it would be far from the only operation to benefit from a new lot there, Winter says.

“As we get more residential in that area and more commercial activity, there's more desire for people to be there,” he says. “And we strongly value being a walkable community, but the reality is we don't have the density yet where our businesses can solely rely on a walkable market. So people have to get into town, park and walk, and we need a place for them to land, and that's kind of what we're envisioning with this.”

Early conceptual designs show a lot with around 60 spaces that would be a mixture of permits and meters. No one involved, however, is particularly pumped about a simple surface lot. Covered parking for bikes, wayfinding signage, trees, a bike repair station and more could be components of any final design.

“We really would like this to be more of a mobility hub for different modes of transportation to intersect,” Winter says.

Paid parking would be a way for the city to cover costs and ensure that spaces turn over. Parking officials are fond of pointing out that “free” parking can often mean no or severely reduced parking, as spots without meters are often filled for very long periods by workers or visitors.

“If it’s free and convenient, you’re just going to leave your car there (indefinitely),” city Parking and Mobility Director Nicole VanNess tells The Ticker.

Meghan McDermott is executive director of Commongrounds, which has residences, offices, coworking space, a Montessori school, a performance arts venue (The Alluvion) and a coffee shop (NoBo). NoBo is planning to move its coffee operations to another spot in the building and begin offering lunch in its sizable current space, and McDermott says that could really create a parking pinch.

“The volume issue comes in when you’re talking about a 3,000 square foot restaurant space that’s trying to do a full lunch service,” McDermott tells The Ticker. “And when you’re in a market where everybody is used to rock star parking right out front of the building, that can be really hard.”

People who visit Commongrounds by vehicle were until 2023 able to park in the large lot nearly across the street at the Governmental Center, which McDermott says was “one of the things that made the concept of a restaurant in Commongrounds viable.”

But that lot is now permit only for city and county employees during the day time, in no small part due to increased use from Commongrounds visitors, Grand Traverse County Administrator Nate Alger tells The Ticker.

“We love the fact that Commongrounds and the bank have really started to revitalize that corridor, it’s just that we need to protect our assets for our employees and make sure they have a place to park,” Alger says.

McDermott stresses that Commongrounds initiated conversations with the city as an “ambassador” for all businesses and stakeholders in the Eighth Street corridor, and that (like Winter) she hopes for a “multimodal mobility hub” instead of a mere surface lot, which would be more fitting with earlier visioning sessions that called for a corridor that supports walkers, bikers and other non-motorized transportation.

And while she is a very strong component of smart commuting, McDermott is also realistic about the need for parking.

“Commongrounds is committed to the vision for 8th Street as a walkable, bikeable corridor, but we also want all of the businesses there to be vibrant and thriving, and we know that part of that is creating the public infrastructure that allows those businesses to thrive,” she says.

Due to funding and approval processes, a city-run lot at that location (if it were to materialize) is likely a few years off.

05/06/2025

May 5, 2025

Commissioners Unanimously Approve Safe Harbor Year-Round Permit; Pines Enforcement Starts Today
By Beth Milligan Image Image Image Image
Traverse City commissioners voted unanimously Monday to approve a special land use permit that will allow Safe Harbor to operate its emergency shelter on Wellington Street year-round. With the facility now available this summer to individuals experiencing homelessness, the city plans to start enforcing its no-camping ordinance today (Tuesday) – including at the Pines encampment off Eleventh Street, where individuals could face citations and eventually arrest if they don’t depart.
Safe Harbor’s new permit will allow the nonprofit to operate between May 15 and October 15, something it wasn’t able to do under its previous permit. To help address the city’s homelessness crisis, Safe Harbor raised $1.1 million in commitments from various community and municipal partners for each of the next two years to operate year-round. The expansion is being positioned as a pilot project to provide an immediate alternative to the Pines – which Mayor Amy Shamroe said Monday was “not livable” and “not humane” – while community leaders explore longer-term solutions, including a potential alternative shelter site and more permanent supportive housing options.
The provisional nature of Safe Harbor’s expansion was emphasized by leaders, particularly after Boardman Neighborhood residents objected Monday to the shelter operating year-round. Residents said they’d had numerous interactions with aggressive, drunk, disoriented, or confrontational shelter guests in their neighborhood and didn’t feel safe letting their children go outside unsupervised. Trespassing, loitering, and littering – including discarded needles and other drug paraphernalia – were cited as ongoing issues. Betsy Corbett, who sits on the Boardman Neighborhood board, said the city needed to “pair compassion with responsibility” by considering the wellbeing of neighborhood residents as well as the unhoused.
“Our children, our elderly, and our families are vulnerable, too,” she said, urging the city to explore options for a non-residential centralized location to establish a year-round shelter.
Grand Traverse County Commissioner TJ Andrews – who represents and lives in Boardman Neighborhood – noted that Safe Harbor’s expansion is intended to be neither “permanent nor sustainable by design.” That’s also true of the county commission’s recent funding commitment of $400,000 – $200,000 annually for the next two years – to Safe Harbor, which was approved with “strings attached,” Andrews said. Those conditions were designed to increase transparency on the pilot project and include required regular written reports to commissioners and data collection on guests by Safe Harbor. Stating that it was important for the community to act to address the crisis and “move this forward,” Andrews said that a local task force has been formed to explore more permanent solutions “in tandem with” Safe Harbor’s year-round expansion.
STATE SAVINGS BANK

Goodwill Northern Michigan
The Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness recently announced the launch of that initiative, called the Housing and Homelessness Task Force – a “collaborative, community-wide initiative designed to create a long-term, effective, and coordinated response to homelessness,” according to the organization. The leadership team is comprised of Coalition Director Ashley Halladay-Schmandt, Christie Minervini (Task Force Coordinator), Sakura Takano (CEO of Rotary Charities), Nate Alger (Grand Traverse County Administrator), Liz Vogel (Traverse City Manager), and Ryan Hannon (Director of Outreach at Central United Methodist Church). Public engagement sessions and stakeholder meetings – including input from a variety of community sectors – are planned as part of the project.
“The task force will focus its work from May through September 2025, during which time specialized work groups will assess gaps in current systems, identify effective strategies from other communities, and develop an actionable plan tailored to the unique needs of Northwest Michigan,” according to the Coalition, noting that the project is backed by grant funding from Rotary Charities. “These work groups will focus on three central areas: strengthening the safety net to prevent homelessness, improving emergency shelter and crisis response systems, and expanding long-term housing solutions. The resulting community action plan will serve as a roadmap to guide coordinated implementation efforts beginning in 2026.”
City commissioners expressed a willingness to explore options to help ensure Safe Harbor’s success – such as boosting neighborhood patrols by police officers or installing more trash cans – and to also look at funding commitments for longer-term options. Commissioner Mi Stanley asked whether the city could financially support a shelter facility if one opened in another municipality (some community members have been exploring options in Garfield Township, but nothing concrete has yet materialized there or elsewhere). City Attorney Lauren Trible-Lauch said she wasn’t sure but was willing to research options for the city. “I love creative solutions,” she said. “If there is a way to do that, we can try to find it.”
In the meantime, the commission’s Safe Harbor vote Monday means the city will begin enforcing its no-camping ordinance in city parks starting today – including at the Pines. Traverse City Police Department (TCPD) Chief Matt Richmond was at the Pines Monday with numerous other volunteers cleaning up abandoned campsites and reminding residents that enforcement would be starting soon. Many Pines residents had already departed or were preparing to relocate – some to Safe Harbor, some to homes of friends or family members, some to other communities. However, others were staying put with their belongings as of end of day Monday. Richmond estimates volunteers removed 10 dump trucks – or approximately 100 yards – of items from the Pines, but acknowledges more trash and several active campsites remain.
The TCPD and its Quick Response Team have been warning Pines residents for weeks of the looming no-camping enforcement, Richmond says. Starting today, any remaining residents would first receive a verbal warning to depart the Pines. They can then be issued citations if they don’t leave. If they continue to resist departing, they can be arrested for trespassing. That is a notable new development, as city commissioners recently declined to update the city’s park ordinance to allow police officers to make trespassing arrests in city parks. Had they approved that change, the TCPD could have made such arrests and submitted them to Trible-Laucht’s office, allowing the city to handle those internally.
However, because commissioners rejected the ordinance change, the TCPD is now working with County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg to process arrests under state trespassing laws. Both Trible-Laucht and Moeggenberg confirmed to The Ticker that is how such arrests will be handled going forward – which applies not just to the Pines but any other city parks where camping might occur. Arrests could result in a 30-day misdemeanor charge, according to Moeggenberg. She says she agreed to the enforcement measure because the Pines site has “become so unsafe.” However, Moeggenberg also emphasizes – as does Richmond – that the city is “doing everything possible” to warn individuals first and help connect them to support services, with arrest serving only as a last resort

01/16/2025

More details on the upcoming Mural Festival and Art in the North Boardman Lake District.

01/07/2025

Next Monday the 13th is our monthly NOBO meeting to be held at West Shore Bank at 8am.

Please try to attend to learn more about the Mural Festival and discuss next steps for strategic planning and visioning the corridor

NOBO Steering Group – Current Agenda

The Steering group is open to anyone interested in the Corridor and holds meetings to discuss and engage in the North Boardman Lake District. They are typically held 2nd Monday at 8am. Locations may vary. See North Boardman Lake District page.

Meeting Agenda

Date January 13th, 8am.

400 E. Eighth St., Traverse City, MI 49686-2203

ENTER – Front door and go up the elevator to top floor conference room.

· Attendees: Steering group and anyone interested in NOBO

Call to order – Debra Graetz, President

New Business

· Update –Safe harbor opened for season - City has committed funds for 2 years based onSLUP approval as its is still required
o Discussion?
o No Action Required
o
· Holiday decorations
o Plans to remove – Discussion.
o
· Strategic Visioning – Survey to be created by Nick Beadleston
o From past discussions – next steps proposed
o Launch email NOBO introduction to those on the data base; Include short intro on NBLD, Invite to join (include membership form or link, request they complete survey
o Timeline: January or February for facilitated Visioning session.
o Steering Group planning discussions took place at November 16th meeting

· Mural Fest – Arts Commission; presentation by Harry and Caitlyn

Old Business
· Magazine Article
o Traverse Bay Lifestyles – Winter has NOBO story by Steve and history of Boardman
· Trach cans – not being serviced – Steve

Next Meeting – should this be Strategic Planning meeting? Standard meetng date would be Feb 10th

12/20/2024

FYI -- fun coming to NOBO District in Fall 2025.. TRAVERSE CITY MURAL FESTIVAL

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ISSUED
The Traverse City Arts Commission is partnering with the North Boardman Creative Initiative to launch the inaugural Traverse City Mural Festival, a multi-year initiative to contribute to the sense of place of the newly established North Boardman Lake District (NOBO) through artful placemaking.

The NOBO District, centered around Eighth Street and the Boardman Lake Loop trail, will come alive with color and creativity during the festival, scheduled for September 12-17, 2025. The event aims to create a unique visual experience, enriching the vitality of the corridor through public art. It builds on the momentum of two transformative projects: the City's 2019 reconstruction of Eighth Street, which made the area more pedestrian-friendly and spurred new activity, and the City's completion of the Boardman Lake Loop, which has brought fresh energy to the district.

Recognizing the opportunity for further placemaking, the Traverse City Arts Commission launched the North Boardman Creative Initiative in collaboration with TART Trails and other partners. The Traverse City Arts Commission is a commission of the City of Traverse City and managed by the Downtown Development Authority. A request for proposals (RFP) has been issued. Art proposals are due February 7, 2025. Learn more about the initiative, timeline, and the RFP requirements on the Arts Commission website.

12/02/2024

Safe Harbor and Jubilee House are seeking winter donations to be collected at Jubilee House on Washington Street.

Thanks for your help as cold and snow has arrived.

North Boardman Lake Business District

01/13/2026

09/16/2025

09/11/2025

08/12/2025

08/07/2025

06/20/2025

06/02/2025

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01/16/2025

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12/02/2024

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