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

Description

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 t