All the news for May

by | Jun 6, 2023 | Monthly Newsletter

All the news from the DDA monthly board meetings and more…

Downtown Businesses

  • Grand River Brewery, 1 E. 14 Mile and Downtown Charlie’s, 28 S. Main, are awaiting Michigan Liquor Control Commission final approval on their licenses.
  • Exciting news. 38 S. Main, the former Lucky Duck, has been leased to the owners of O’Connor’s Public House a very popular Irish pub in Rochester.
  • 14 E. 14 Mile, former Avery-Hasler Insurance, has a new owner and renovations to the building are being planned.

Commercial construction projects continue in and around the downtown

  • Broadway Square; work progressing on interiors of apartment units
  • 400 S. Main
  • 76-84 W. 14 Mile (former Lim’s)
  • 516 N. Main; townhome development
  • Clawson Manor, 255 E. 14 Mile; senior high rise; interior & exterior renovations. Plan to have exterior cladding completed late summer/early fall
  • 436-456 W. 14 Mile submitted plans for an apartment development. These were formerly single family residential sites

Main Street
There is a grant opportunity available to businesses in accredited Main Street downtowns through a partnership with Main Street Oakland County and Genysis Credit Union.

Grant follow ups

  • The E. 14 Mile HAWK signal grant remains on schedule with installation to be this summer.
  • Update on the Oakland County Sustainability Grant: Committee questioned some of the plants suggested as they were for wetlands. Explained to the landscape designer that the site has no water runoff and plant changes were made. Design contractor is purchasing plants and will install in June. Oakland County will do prep work on the islands in the next few weeks.
  • We received notice on the MSOC/Flagstar Bank submission for planters and banners. The DDA has been awarded a $2300 matching grant. The banner expense approved at the last meeting will count as our match and planters can now be ordered

Other Updates

  • The new downtown branded trash containers have been delivered to DPW. When DPW is ready we will walk to mark locations.
  • The new banners have also arrived and are with DPW for installation.
  • Sunnyside Landscaping completed the clean up of the planting beds, replaced plants and did repairs as needed. (This work does not include the pedestrian island plantings)

Committee News

Alley

  • The heart artwork was completed and ready for install, however adjustments needed to be made since changes are now under consideration for the building 14 E. 14 Mile which affect the art placement. The committee met to consider options and the artwork has been moved to the metal fabricator for modifications. The good news is we will end up with two separate art pieces to decorate the alley.

Events & Dine Clawson

  • The May 20 Open Air Faire had good attendance despite less than stellar weather. Sidewalk vendors, downtown businesses and food trucks all reported good sales.
  • Cinema in the Street is scheduled for Saturday, July 8. Family friendly movie choices can be emailed to ddadirector@cityofclawson.com
  • ClawsonFest returns on Saturday, August 26 even bigger and better for its 3rd year

Other News

At the May 17 DDA meeting the City Manager introduced members of the Board of Directors of the Clawson of Chamber of Commerce which he has charged with being champions of a new public art installation intended for the downtown. A proposal was placed before the DDA for an art piece titled “The Big Shiny Heart” with three potential downtown locations identified. The City Manager explained his intent to request Council approval for the $90,000 art project to be funded entirely through the federal government American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Clawson received 1.2 million dollars in ARPA funds for projects to assist with economic recovery following COVID.
DDA input nor approval was requested or given for the art project.
The DDA meeting and plan proposal presentation may be viewed on the City YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtR0EOdea0w