Oakland County has ignored downtown Pontiac for too long. We're reinvesting in it. | Opinion
For too long, Oakland County and state leaders have turned away from our county seat. The county courthouse and its hundreds of employees were moved out of downtown Pontiac, the Clinton River was paved over, and Woodward Avenue was diverted to avoid the city. A parking structure was placed right in the middle of Saginaw Street, further limiting access to the downtown.
As the county executive, I am turning county government back towards Pontiac.
A vital part of Oakland County’s vibrancy is our thriving main streets and historic downtowns. Since 2000, our planning division has assisted communities in creating unique gathering places for dining, entertainment, shopping and more. Whether the northern Village of Holly, the western downtown of Milford or my hometown in the south, Ferndale, our county is blessed with multiple bright spots. And now comes Pontiac’s turn to shine.
In a historic opportunity, through a partnership with the city and state, we are re-investing in downtown Pontiac. The county has purchased two buildings, the Phoenix Center parking garage and pavilion, and surrounding land for re-development. The state provided $50 million towards this project, which includes demolishing the parking deck and relocating it to a more appropriate location. The county will refurbish the former GM building and relocate employees to it, re-open Saginaw Street and leave many acres in the pavilion area for green space activities — including transferring at least two acres to the city, which Pontiac will own, and will determine how it can be best used for its residents.
The convergence of several important factors made this transformational investment possible.
Local, county and state elected officials have a shared vision. We are not doing this alone. We have committed partners in Mayor Tim Greimel, the Pontiac City Council, Chairman Dave Woodward, and our county Board of Commissioners. Residents and businesses will be asked to come forward with their ideas for this site.
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The availability of COVID relief dollars at the county and state levels: In addition to the state’s $50 million, the county will invest $10 million in American Rescue Plan dollars in this project. The county has used these funds wisely to ensure that residents, businesses and communities can thrive coming out of the pandemic. And we are working with the Whitmer and Biden administrations to secure support for the project from other state and federal funding sources, including transformational brownfield redevelopment credits, community revitalization grants and credits and the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program.
This investment also helps the county avoid deferred maintenance costs on current county buildings. Unfortunately, when I became county executive, a lack of adequate investment over decades had left the county with more than $550 million in critically needed repairs. By relocating 600 employees to downtown Pontiac and consolidating three existing buildings into one, the county will avoid up to $54 million in costs required to make current buildings safe and up-to-code for continued occupancy.
And the county’s outstanding financial reputation — my administration prides itself on preserving the county’s AAA bond rating, while tackling our challenges and creating opportunities for the future. I am not in the business of taking Oakland County’s strength for granted, or kicking the can down the road. We believe in our brand, All Ways, Moving Forward.
Leadership is about the decisions you make when you are at a crossroads. At those times, you have the facts as well as your values and your principles. More than 20 years ago, the county used a similar amount of money in today’s dollars to purchase and renovate the current Executive Office Building, moving many employees across the street — and out of Pontiac. Today, as we look to the future, I have decided to put the county squarely back on the side of Pontiac and its residents.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Investing in Pontiac downtown development is vital for Oakland County
