Fenton City Council: Streetscape Project Will Be in 2014

Change in federal grant program delays project; council and DDA members believe splitting project over 2013 and 2014 would harm businesses.

It’s official — Fenton’s Streetscape project will begin in early spring 2014. City council approved the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) recommendation, to have the construction take place over one season instead of two, and to wait until 2014 to try to secure up to $1.5 million in grant funding. DDA Director Michael Burns, also assistant city manager, said the DDA has been working on Streetscape since 2010. It intended the project to begin this spring and for construction to take place in 2013, but the federal government changed how a grant program Fenton applied for is set up. Fenton has support for up to $500,000 through the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) through this grant program, which it applied for in April, Burns…

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$4.5 Million Fenton Streetscape Project Could be Delayed

Issues include two construction seasons (in 2013 and 2014) or one (2014) and up to $1.5 million in grant funding for waiting until 2014, DDA director says.

The Fenton Downtown Development Authority (DDA) could pay $500,000 to $1.5 million more for the Streetscape project, if construction begins in spring 2013, DDA Director Michael Burns told city council on Monday. Because of changes in federal funding, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has been delayed in confirming a $500,000 grant for Fenton, as MDOT explores how the new grant program works. In addition, while the city is waiting to begin Streetscape, it could apply for up to 80 percent of Streetscape road construction funding from the 2014 Genesee County Transportation Improvement Program, Burns said. This is the program that funded Silver Parkway improvements three years ago, North Leroy Street construction and part of …

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Fenton DDA Says Building Doesn't Fit Cornerstone Vision

Property could qualify for state economic development assistance, if obsolete building remains, DDA director says.

Last fall, the Fenton Downtown Development Authority (DDA) purchased 111 S. Leroy St., for development near the future Cornerstone Building. The DDA board has decided to hold off on demolishing the building at 111 S. Leroy, and review the issue in six months, said Chairman Craig Schmidt. The building at 111 S. Leroy, former location of Hometown Computers and Tack 'Em Up, doesn't fit the DDA's vision. The vision for Cornerstone, on the southeast corner of Silver Lake Road and Leroy Street, is to have three mixed-use, zero set-back buildings on Leroy Street, said DDA Director Michael Burns. Parking will be behind the buildings, and plans are for Caroline Street to continue east on Leroy to Walnut Street. Looking at the master plan, the type …

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Fourth Floor Planned for Fenton's Proposed Cornerstone Building

Developers say there was a large demand for lofts.

"Iconic" Building Proposed for Downtown Fenton

City officials announce plans for a 30,000 square foot building on southeast corner of North LeRoy Street and Silver Lake Road.

The Fenton Downtown Development Authority and the Fenton City Council announced Wednesday night that they are going ahead with plans for a 30,000-square-foot building at the southeast corner of North LeRoy Street and Silver Lake Road. The building would be named "Cornerstone," for its prime location at the corner of two of Fenton's main downtown streets. The proposed project would be a three-story building with restaurant and retail space on the first floor, office space on the second and loft apartments on the third. "This is an iconic development," said Jerry Mansour of Mansour Realty, who has been working with the DDA on everything from the acquisition of the property to finding an architect and tenants. "We'll be bringing people …

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