City Commissioner· 2023-2027
Chris Praedel
Kalamazoo
No biography on file yet.
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Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 26
- Total speaking time
- 3:19:30
- Avg per meeting
- 7:40
- Segments
- 2000
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The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Praedel said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)(Development)
Duplex development on steep wooded Cork Street parcels
The project shrank from a potential 35 units to 10 rental units because of slope constraints, reducing housing the lots could provide.
Rebuild of storm-damaged historic porch at 704 Oak
Covered by the homeowner's insurance, per the contractor.
Downtown pedestrian wayfinding and signage master plan
The contract costs up to $62,990 — about $12,000 less than budgeted.
Rezoning of 4301 Stadium Drive Adjacent to Asylum Lake
Keeping the land residential forecloses commercial tax revenue on the parcel, but no city money is committed either way.
Accessory dwelling construction at 1417 Academy
Possible ZBA variance costs and any redesign if the variance is denied.
Kalamazoo Sports Facility on track for fall 2027
Hotel guests countywide pay an incremental 4% assessment funding the facility's bonds.
Zone 32 Phase II affordable housing and NEZ district
Over $1 million in city deferred loans and grant funds committed toward supportive housing.
Gas station redevelopment at Stadium Drive and Drake Road
Avoiding a retaining wall and tree removal saves the applicant significant construction costs on a 30-foot stretch of sidewalk.
Brownfield redevelopment at 111 Portage Street
Grant project progress: Kenek chimney work and Disability Network
Taps previously awarded O'Connor Fund grants that are part of the $35,000 in undisbursed commitments.
Student recovery housing siting in Fraternity Village
Water Street Placemaking Project
A $40,000 grant plus up to $33,083 in DEGA dollars for design — construction funding comes later.
Historic District Commission membership
Kalrecovery Affordable Housing Development
About $1.6 million in forgone DEGA capture through 2048 in exchange for a property projected to be worth $4.1 million in taxable value afterward.
830 W Vine basement egress window replacement
Cost is borne by the homeowner.
Street lighting upgrades in residential neighborhoods
CIP dollars are budgeted in local and major street funds for lighting improvements; individual change order amounts were not itemized.
Proposed data center at former Harbor Farms facility
Speakers warned utility infrastructure costs could be passed to residents through rate hikes and property values could drop.
New QuikTrip fuel station at 3810 E. Cork Street
QuikTrip estimates each store generates about $1.3 million annually in state and local taxes.
Renters' rights initiatives: right to organize, just-cause eviction, right to renew
No direct fiscal impact to the city was stated.
Bell Library Foundation downtown renovation
Decisions during term (16)
Recorded while Praedel was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Transfer and development agreement — 116 W. Cedar / 427-433 S. Rose (H.1)
Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) new certificate application for a new mixed-use development in the Park-Cedar-Burdick-Lovell NEZ District.
Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving the Project Plan for the Heritage Community expansion project and granting consent to the project jurisdiction of the Kalamazoo County Economic Development Corporation for the portion of project in the…
First reading of a Transfer and Development Agreement for the acceptance and dedication of land for public right-of-way at 116 West Cedar Street and 433 South Rose Street by warranty deed.
Approval of the minutes from the meeting of the Downtown Development Authority Board on June 15, 2026.
Adoption of a RESOLUTION authorizing the Community Development Manager as the City's official representative and certifying officer for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant documentation through June 30, 2027, the…
Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving a request from the Downtown Development Authority to levy a tax rate of 1.9638 mills.
Adoption of a RESOLUTION authorizing the Community Planning and Economic Development Director as the City's official representative and certifying officer for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant documentation.
Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving the Act 381 Brownfield Plan for the B on Burdick Redevelopment Project located at 802 S Burdick Street.
Approval of a Housing Development Fund deferred loan in the amount of $350,000 to Kalrecovery I Limited Dividend Housing Association Limited Partnership to construct a new 48-unit housing project to include 46 permanent supportive housing…
Acceptance of a Redevelopment Ready Communities technical assistance grant in the amount of $25,000 through the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan, and approval of the grant terms and a sole source agreement with MDDL…
Approval and acceptance of a public utility easement with Green Development Ventures, LLC for water main installed as part of the West Ridge Site Condo Development.
Approval and acceptance of a public utility easement with SHOJ, LLC for water main installed as part of the Sunset Point Development.
Approval of the proposed FY 2026 Brownfield Redevelopment Authority budget.
Approval of the FY 2026 Downtown Development Authority Operating Budget and the existing two-mill DDA Tax Levy.
Approval of the proposed FY 2026 Economic Development Corporation budget as submitted by the EDC Board.
Voting record (0)(Development)
No votes found matching Development.