Oakland County workshop focuses on green downtowns
Source: metromode, 8/13/2009
The last of three workshops aimed at the revitalization of downtowns in Oakland County is set to go down on Friday, August 14.
The
"Lead Your Downtown from Brown to Green" workshop will focus on
tackling sustainability issues, such as historic preservation and
eco-friendly development.
"As the title says, we're trying to
take downtowns from brown to green by letting them (local stakeholders)
know what they can do in this economy," says Bob Donahue, executive
director of Main Street Oakland County.
A
number of topics, including how to make best use of brownfield sites,
effective historic preservation, and how to incorporate green-building
practices, such as LEED standards, will be covered. Other subjects will
include tapping into farmers markets, the cost-effectiveness of LED
lights, and how best to employ urban forestry.
Main Street
Oakland County is encouraging local architects, planners,
preservationists, developers, city officials, and community activists
to attend. The cost is $75 per person. The workshop will be held
between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the Oakland County Executive Office
Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph,
in Waterford.
Source: Bob Donahue, executive director of Main Street Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke
Oakland County pushes for land bank to deal with foreclosures
Source: metromode, 7/30/2009
Oakland County is beginning to publish
its stock of foreclosed buildings electronically to prepare them for
auction. However, at least one Oakland County official would like to
see this process changed -- with a land bank.
Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner
sees a number of things wrong with the auction process. It's why he is
pushing for Oakland County to form a land bank, as many other Michigan
communities have done, to handle its problem properties.
"There are some perils with the auction approach," Meisner says.
For
instance, speculators are scooping up large batches of these homes and,
at best, turning them into rentals. More than people like to admit end
up falling further into blight and becoming eyesores, weakening what
were once otherwise strong neighborhoods. Meisner says this sort of
speculation is the junk food of the real estate market, supplying
short-term profits at the expense of long-term investment.
"We're rolling up our sleeves and trying to get families in those houses," Meisner says.
He
adds that a land bank gives local officials the power to package
parcels and sell them to a developer or even ensure that individual
buildings end up in the hands of local residents. Right now he is
trying to build up awareness about the idea, and hopes to begin a
legislative push for one later this year.
Source: Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner
Writer: Jon Zemke
Oakland County to hold workshop on zoning flexibility
Source: metromode, 6/4/2009
Oakland County officials want local
governments to become more flexible in their zoning rules and master
plans, and now they're ready to teach them how to do it.
The
county wants municipalities to be ready to welcome and facilitate
growth from new economy firms; hence, it will hold a Technology
Planning Toolkit workshop on Monday, June 8.
"We hope they can
use this as a basis when they update their own planning documents,"
says Bret Rasegan, planning supervisor for Oakland County.
It introduced this program
as a way of making local governments friendlier to knowledge-based
firms. By streamlining the old bureaucracy, the hope is to make these
cities more attractive for new economy start-ups and their new jobs.
For instance, buildings zoned for one purpose can be diversified to
include a number of uses.
"It's very important, especially with how quickly the market is changing," Rasegan says.
The
free workshop will be held at the Oakland County Executive Office
Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph
in Waterford. For information, call (248) 452-2166 or send an email to browningj@oakgov.com.
Source: Brett Rasegan, planning supervisor for Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke
Oakland County downtowns receive $67 million in investment
Source: metromode, 4/9/2009
Even though the real-estate market is
down, investment in some of Oakland County's most vibrant downtowns is
up significantly. New investment for 12 downtowns registered at $67
million in 2008 compared to $51 million the year before.
This investment came in downtowns that are part of the county's Main Street
program. Those downtowns include Rochester, Walled Lake, Ferndale,
Farmington, Keego Harbor, Pontiac, Lake Orion, Holly, Highland,
Ortonville, Oxford and Franklin.
More than 590 full-time and 291
part-time jobs were created through this investment. Another 29 new
businesses also set up shop in these downtowns. 200 buildings were
renovated and over 166,280 square feet of new space was created.
Downtown
Ferndale was a big winner of this investment. More than $19 million
came into the inner-ring suburb, creating 220 new jobs and 75,352
square feet of new space. Some of its big-ticket projects include the Lofts on the 9 and new offices for Foley Mansfield.
The
Main Street program started in 2000 and has helped usher in more than
$518 million in total investment in those 12 downtowns.
Source: Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke