Downtown Public Restroom Project Faces Construction Delays and Budget Overrun
A new public restroom is being built on Water Street in downtown Kalamazoo. The Portland Loo will be installed next to an existing unit at the city-owned parking lot at 108 E. Water St. Portable toilets are currently in place until construction completes.
The project aims to meet high pedestrian demand in the downtown area by expanding facilities at a site already familiar to residents and visitors. Operations and maintenance efficiency drove the final site selection. Placing the two bathrooms together allows the city to service both units in a single stop, improving overall maintenance speed.
Budget Has Climbed From Original Plans
The total project cost has climbed by an estimated $70,000 compared to the installation of the first Portland Loo in Kalamazoo. The new Portland Loo costs approximately $237,524. The city spent roughly $167,000 on the first unit in 2020. This total for the new Loo includes a purchase price of nearly $197,000 and over $40,000 specifically for installation.
The city originally approved spending $107,440 for the first Portland Loo in May 2019. That unit was not installed until October 2020. The manufacturer reportedly cut the price in half, though this new unit still costs more than double the original first installation.
Location Decision Minimizes Construction Impact
After exploring several downtown locations, officials chose to install the new bathroom within a few feet of the original Water Street unit. Other options included 140 S. Edwards St., 252 N. Kalamazoo Mall and 126 E. South St. These alternative locations were bypassed in favor of the Water Street site.
The decision was made in part to minimize construction impacts and leverage existing infrastructure. Public Services Director James Baker noted that operations and maintenance efficiency drove the final site selection. Placing the two bathrooms together helps meet heavy demand while keeping long-term operational costs lower than at separate sites.
Timeline Pushed to Summer Completion
Construction is happening now, following delays. While originally planned for completion by the end of 2025, winter weather forced the city to regroup and hire a contractor for a spring start. Both bathrooms are now anticipated to be operational by June 3.
The timeline aligns with the downtown June Jubilee. Public Services Director James Baker said the completion date should allow the bathrooms to be ready in time for that event. The city will provide additional portable restrooms at Burdick Street, Bronson Park and MLK Park through November while the new permanent units are being built.
Downtown Business Owners Support New Facility
Local business owner Jill Nance from the Mason Jar Plant shop expressed her support for the new amenity. People always ask to use business bathrooms during the day, but the Portland Loo provides a public option available 24 hours. Nance said being able to direct customers to a public restroom means she does not have to feel bad about declining their requests.
"Kalamazoo, like many cities, is a place that folks are in and around 24/7. There's not always businesses open. There's not always a restroom that's available for folks all hours of the day and night," James Baker, the Public Services Director for the City of Kalamazoo said.
Portland Loo Brand Established in Downtown
The Portland Loo is a public restroom designed to be robust enough for urban environments and available 24/7. The Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership recently decided to install a Portland Loo after receiving requests from residents for a public restroom option for years. The first unit was originally approved in 2019 but took until 2020 for installation.
The second Portland Loo will be placed just feet away from the existing bathroom. This decision was made in part to minimize construction impacts and leverage existing infrastructure. Both bathrooms are anticipated to be operational by June 3, in time for the downtown June Jubilee.