Q&A with Ron Campbell on the Oak Street Fair
Source: metromode, 5/6/2010
Preserving and improving existing building
stock will be a central theme to this year's Oak
Street Fair in Hazel Park. The event will focus on helping Oakland
County's urban stakeholders revitalize their neighborhoods through
sustainable rehabilitation and playing to the area's strengths, such as
its local character.
The free event will be held in Scout Park
from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Ron Campbell, a principal
planner/preservation architect for Oakland County Planning &
Economic Development, is helping organize the event and Oakland County's
Oak Street program. He agreed to answer a few questions over email
about the event and preservation of the region's housing stock.
In
a sentence or two, could you sum up what people attending the Oak
Street Fair could come away with in regards to improving their home and
their neighborhood?
Oak Street and the Oak Street House is a
generic term that we are applying to any house built before 1960. We
want these home owners to realize that their homes are unique. The issue
of keeping and maintaining a house built in 1890 is going to be
different than it will be for a house built in 1930, which will be
different than for a house built in 1950. Homeowners should come away
understanding that maintenance and repair can be very cost effective and
there are resources available from experts who understand and have
worked with older homes, which is far different than new
construction. We want to build a resource bank of knowledgeable and
skilled people to share with homeowners.
Metro Detroit's urban
housing stock is aging and in many cases crossing the century mark, but
many of its building and housing policies, practices, and even
conventional wisdom are geared toward new housing. Could you name one
policy or idea that either already is or could help bring more of a
focus on making the most of the building stock that we have?
A
good example that comes to mind is Oakland County's Oak Street program.
The primary purpose of Oak Street is to make homeowners and local
officials more aware of the economic and social value embodied in
established neighborhoods. Also, there are many existing
programs/movements focusing on the existing housing stock. The Community
Development Block Grant Funding under the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act has also provided focus to the importance of existing
neighborhoods and homes. But by far the best-known one is the green
movement or sustainable design. If it makes sense to recycle soda cans
and bottles, how much more sense does it make to recycle our buildings.
The greenest house in America today is one that you don't have to build
–because it already exists. Building green is more than using Energy
Star appliances and bamboo flooring. It is far more environmentally
friendly to repair than replace. Fairgoers will find exhibitors to show
how you can be green, save money, and have curbside appeal for your
home.
Historic preservation is a term that everyone in Metro
Detroit seems to easily identify with but is not the best at when it
comes to practicing its ideas. The state also recently passed enhanced
historical preservation incentives. How much of an impact could these
incentives have on making local stakeholders more preservation inclined?
There
are various incentives for historic homes, including tax credits, which
are effective for those stakeholders, but those incentives apply only
to a very small percentage of the existing housing stock. While historic
preservation is a component and tool within the Oak Street program, Oak
Street is more of a smart rehab program than a historic preservation
program. We would certainly advise homeowners to the principals of
historic preservation when they repair and remodel their homes; but it
would be more with an eye to the economic and environmental sense it
makes. The more we can help people realize the extent of the investment
our neighborhoods represent and the benefit that we all receive when
that investment and unique character that distinguishes their house or
neighborhood from others is protected, then the more new and innovative
programs will be available to help this larger population.
Name
an idea, policy, or mindset from elsewhere that you would like to see
this region adopt?
We don't have to go too far to find
examples of strong and vibrant neighborhoods. They are sprinkled
throughout this region. What helps neighborhoods stand out comes from
the housing stock being maintained and the intrinsic character of the
houses and neighborhood being preserved. Recognizing what the important
features and character are is difficult to put a finger on, but it
includes everything from architectural style to walkability. Oak Street
is envisioned to help homeowners and neighborhoods discover theirs and
provide the means to protect it.
Source: Ron Campbell,
principal planner/preservation architect for Oakland County Planning
& Economic Development
Writer: Jon Zemke
Main St Oakland County marks $540M in investment
Source: metromode, 3/4/2010
For those who think of sprawlville
development in Sticks Township when Oakland County comes is mentioned,
keep the county's main street program in mind.
Main Street Oakland County recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with some impressive numbers in its 11 downtowns.
- $540 million of investment
- More than 4,000 jobs created
- 407 new business established
- Over 2.7 million square feet of floor space (primarily retail) constructed
- $6 million-plus in cash sponsorships for events and programs
- More than 129,000 volunteer hours
And
those downtowns don't include two of the county's most vibrant –
Birmingham and Royal Oak. Main Street Oakland County includes downtowns
in Farmington, Ferndale, Franklin, Highland, Holly, Lake Orion,
Ortonville, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester and Walled Lake.
It's all
part of Oakland County Executive L Brooks Patterson's vision of
diversifying the economy so it can become more resistant to economic
downturns.
"In his (Patterson's) mind he calls it balance," says Bob Donohue, program director for Main Street Oakland County. "In my mind it's called the right focus."
He
adds that developing and redeveloping property and businesses in the
county's urban centers is a "key part" of its overall economic policy.
Accomplishing this includes creating a sustainable environment that
emphasizes making the most of a downtown's assets through practices
like historic preservation.
For instance, Main Street Oakland
County communities generated $19 million in new investment and
attracted 19 businesses that created more than 300 jobs last year.
Although the construction of 11 new buildings played a part, the
renovation of 237 others proved to be the main driver of that economic
opportunity.
Source: Bob Donohue, program director for Main Street Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke
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
Main Street Oakland County brings in AIA Michigan for workshops
Source: metromode, 6/18/2009
Main Street Oakland County is bringing in a big gun to help keep the investment in its downtowns going - the American Institute of Architects Michigan.
The renowned association for architects is helping Oakland County with issues vital to vibrant city centers, such as sustainability, revitalization, and preservation. AIA Michigan members will provide advice about how to best take advantage of tools and opportunities that spur growth and development.
"The idea is to help businesses understand what is going on," says Ron Campbell, principal planner/preservation architect of Oakland County and president of AIA Michigan.
The first workshop will be held Friday, June 19 and will focus on dealing with and taking advantage of today's economic situation. It will also take a macro view of development in downtowns, including how to find the best design and identify financing.
The downtowns present opportunities for all sizes of projects and firms," Campbell says.
The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph Road, in Waterford. Architects, planners, preservationists, Main Street staffers, developers, business and building owners, community officials, and downtown stakeholders and activists are invited. For information, click here.
Source: Ron Campbell, principal planner/preservation architect of Oakland County and president of AIA Michigan
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
Main Street Oakland County hosts downtown preservation workshops
Source: metromode, 5/28/2009
Oakland County's downtowns have spent
decades turning themselves into some of Michigan's most vibrant urban
centers, and the county isn't going to allow a few bad economic years
to retard that progress.
That's why Main Street Oakland County
is being proactive this summer, with three workshops aimed at helping
keep these downtowns thriving and continuing their development
momentum. And this is while those downtowns are in slightly better
shape than the overall state economy.
"The whole thing is about how to make it in a tough economy," says Bret Rasegan, planning supervisor for Oakland County.
The
workshops will feature local, state, and national experts for a range
of urban issues, such as preservation and obtaining grants. The idea is
to help downtown stakeholders get new perspectives on these topics and
see how they can help each different downtown.
The first
workshop, set for June 19, will tackle issues like dealing with
declining property values in a down economy and financing projects in a
tough credit market. The second (July 17) will examine how to encourage
new economy development in the downtowns and take advantage of historic
assets. The last one (August 14) will tackle sustainability issues like
LEED architecture.
All will be held at the Oakland County
Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road in
Waterford. For information, call (248) 858-1848.
Source: Bret Rasegan, planning supervisor for Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke