In the News for November

by | Nov 23, 2020 | Monthly Newsletter

All the news from the Director Report presented at the DDA November meeting…

Downtown Business Updates

  • Construction moves forward for Broadway Square (ACE Development) with the installation of underground utilities, new drive entrances on Bowers and façade changes to the ACE building (new entrance on the west side
  • Construction continues for the Weiss Distillery, 34 E. 14 Mile with steel framing
  • Façade improvements still underway for 133 W. 14 Mile
  • Demo of the single family homes within the Clawson Lofts townhome project is complete
  • A ribbon cutting for Sabbath Coffee Roasters, 24 E. 14 Mile, was held on Friday, November 20
  • Building plans have been submitted for 84 W. 14 Mile, the former Lim’s Palace and the project is scheduled for site plan review with the Planning Commission on November 24
  • A new business, Green Light Body Piercing, is scheduled to open at 259 E. 14 Mile in early December

COVID Updates

  • New Emergency Order was issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) placing new restrictions businesses, gatherings and schools. The information was sent to all businesses via email, put it in the News Update section of the Downtown Clawson website, posted in the closed Clawson Merchants Facebook group and on several other Clawson news FB pages
  • Placed new information in the website regarding quarantine requirements and procedures

Other Updates

Alley update; Project is on hold for winter

Zoning update; The Downtown zoning updates will be on the next Planning Commission meeting, November 24 which is the next step in the process to adopt the three zoning areas identified in the Downtown Master Plan. Full agenda, discussed but no action

TIF & Development Plan update: A presentation was made at the Council meeting on Nov. 17 with the first reading of the ordinance update. Second reading with adoption is scheduled for the Dec 1 Council meeting

Clawson Can Do: Main Street Oakland County received a $10,000 donation to the Patronicity campaign that will be split among all participating communities for approx. $500 each. This will raise our Clawson Can Do fund to nearly $13,000

Main Street: Due to COVID the Shop-Text-Win contest usually held for Small Business Saturday has been cancelled

Promotion/Business Development

  • Yiftee E-gift Card Program. Downtown Dollars program to encourage downtown spending
    • Cost to merchant is the cost to run a manual credit card transaction which is .5% over a physically swiped card transaction
    • Cost to customer is $1 per card plus 5% of face value of the card purchased unless the DDA chooses to cover these fees.
    • Incentive dollars may be added to increase card value. We propose using Clawson Can Do funds. We are proposing
      • Spend $25 Get $5 in bonus money
      • Spend $50 Get $10 in bonus money
      • Spend $100 Get $25 in bonus money
    • Distrx Mobile App
      • It is a mobile business directory and promotional tool
        • Complete business listing with photos, menu, specials
          • Businesses can easily change and update information as easily as a Facebook post
        • No cost to businesses
        • Consumers place the app on their phone they can search or scroll through the directory for all the latest news or specials from a business
        • Business info including names, address, phone, website have already been entered. Businesses now need to sign in and claim their site with a username and password