Consultant for Downtown Pontiac Public Spaces and Placemaking Plan per SEMCOG Planning Assistance Program

The City of Pontiac, in partnership with Main Street Pontiac, is seeking support to create a Downtown Pontiac Public Spaces and Placemaking Plan, a coordinated strategy to enhance downtown walkability, connectivity, and public realm vitality utilizing the SEMCOG Planning Assistance Grant. This proposal targets the planning for key nodes in the downtown for placemaking improvements such as the West Alley which intersects with the future Clinton River Trail, Saginaw Green Maker Village and Hidden River Park. In addition, key transit locations throughout the district would also be studied and how to connect them via pedestrian connections.

Downtown Pontiac is undergoing a renaissance fueled by public and private investments. The proposed Clinton River Trail extension through the city will activate a critical mobility corridor terminating at the southern end of the West Alley. The planned conversion of the Woodward Loop to two-way traffic will dramatically improve urban circulation. At the southern end of downtown, the envisioned Oakland County government office campus will redefine the civic gateway. Simultaneously, the emerging Exchange Innovation District on the north end positions Pontiac as a hub for technology, advanced manufacturing, and creative enterprise. The Downtown Pontiac Public Spaces and Placemaking Plan will help bridge these investments through people-centered design and walkable infrastructure. This plan will support planning efforts to improve pedestrian mobility and safety, create cohesive and attractive public spaces, and activate underutilized areas for public use namely focused on the West Alley and enhancements to bus stops in the downtown district. The West Alley terminates to the south closely to the Water Street transit location.

This project directly supports SEMCOG’s priorities for equitable development, sustainable transportation, and regional vibrancy. It builds on the leadership of Main Street Pontiac and positions the city for future infrastructure and economic development funding. The Downtown Pontiac Public Spaces and Placemaking Plan is a foundational step toward creating a walkable, inclusive, and dynamic city center focused upon connecting central placemaking nodes such as the West Alley and intersecting nodes such as the Clinton River Trail and the public transportation hubs of the district. The selected consultant will use the recommendations of the Master Plan and the approved plans for current development within Downtown Pontiac to prepare the Downtown Pontiac Public Spaces and Placemaking Plan. The consultant will also work with the City’s legal consultants to get their input prior to adoption of the plan.