The Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved a $174.5 million budget for the county’s transformative Downtown Pontiac revitalization project, which will include financing through bonds. This once-in-a-generation investment will redevelop and reconnect the city’s core, positioning Pontiac for a resurgence after decades of disinvestment.
“This is more than a construction project, it’s a commitment to revitalizing Pontiac’s future,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “We’re bringing 700 county employees downtown, improving infrastructure, expanding green space and making the heart of our county seat more walkable, vibrant and connected.”
The approved budget covers the full renovation of 31 East Judson and two floors of 51111 Woodward Ave., incorporating the project’s tariff-related costs. The investment is backed by $50 million from the State of Michigan, with the remaining costs financed through the issuance of bonds. Thanks to Oakland County’s AAA bond rating, financing will be secured at the lowest possible interest rates.
This initiative is also projected to generate approximately $80 million in cost avoidance over the next decade by eliminating operations and maintenance at aging and outdated county facilities, savings that do not include potential revenue from the sale of existing county buildings.
The impact, however, goes far beyond bricks and mortar. Key elements of the Downtown Pontiac revitalization project include:
• The relocation of 700 county employees to Downtown Pontiac, increasing foot traffic and economic activity.
• Major infrastructure improvements including the realignment and reconnecting of Saginaw Street and enhancements to Orchard Lake/Auburn Road, all while the Michigan Department of Transportation reconfigures the Woodward Loop to enable traffic to flow downtown.
• Creation of walkable green spaces and public amenities, including two acres of open space conveyed to the City of Pontiac for public use.
• A surge in private development interest, with nearly a dozen downtown projects in motion or in the planning stages.
The project is expected to support hundreds of jobs across sectors such as construction, skilled trades, architecture, engineering and real estate development. It also reflects community input, and resident engagement to ensure the revitalization meets local needs around commerce, housing, workforce development and livability.
Structural demolition of the Phoenix Center began Monday, April 21. Another key milestone in 2025 will be the start of interior demolition at 31 East Judson this summer. Downtown streets will reopen as they are realigned and reconnected, restoring traffic flow. Major construction is expected to continue through 2026 and 2027, culminating in the move of county employees downtown.
The project is made possible by a collaboration among Oakland County, the City of Pontiac, the State of Michigan and a team of design, construction and planning experts, serving as a model for how public investment can spur private development.
“This is more than a construction project, it’s a commitment to revitalizing Pontiac’s future,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “We’re bringing 700 county employees downtown, improving infrastructure, expanding green space and making the heart of our county seat more walkable, vibrant and connected.”
The approved budget covers the full renovation of 31 East Judson and two floors of 51111 Woodward Ave., incorporating the project’s tariff-related costs. The investment is backed by $50 million from the State of Michigan, with the remaining costs financed through the issuance of bonds. Thanks to Oakland County’s AAA bond rating, financing will be secured at the lowest possible interest rates.
This initiative is also projected to generate approximately $80 million in cost avoidance over the next decade by eliminating operations and maintenance at aging and outdated county facilities, savings that do not include potential revenue from the sale of existing county buildings.
The impact, however, goes far beyond bricks and mortar. Key elements of the Downtown Pontiac revitalization project include:
• The relocation of 700 county employees to Downtown Pontiac, increasing foot traffic and economic activity.
• Major infrastructure improvements including the realignment and reconnecting of Saginaw Street and enhancements to Orchard Lake/Auburn Road, all while the Michigan Department of Transportation reconfigures the Woodward Loop to enable traffic to flow downtown.
• Creation of walkable green spaces and public amenities, including two acres of open space conveyed to the City of Pontiac for public use.
• A surge in private development interest, with nearly a dozen downtown projects in motion or in the planning stages.
The project is expected to support hundreds of jobs across sectors such as construction, skilled trades, architecture, engineering and real estate development. It also reflects community input, and resident engagement to ensure the revitalization meets local needs around commerce, housing, workforce development and livability.
Structural demolition of the Phoenix Center began Monday, April 21. Another key milestone in 2025 will be the start of interior demolition at 31 East Judson this summer. Downtown streets will reopen as they are realigned and reconnected, restoring traffic flow. Major construction is expected to continue through 2026 and 2027, culminating in the move of county employees downtown.
The project is made possible by a collaboration among Oakland County, the City of Pontiac, the State of Michigan and a team of design, construction and planning experts, serving as a model for how public investment can spur private development.
