Video: DDA Considers Purchase of Old Lake Orion Lumber Site, Multiple Uses Possible
(Orion ONTV, March 9, 2023)
Lake Orion, MI – The site of Lake Orion Lumber, at the corner of Atwater and Broadway, is up for sale, and the Downtown Development Authority is considering purchasing the space to add several amenities including parking, an event space, and potential collaborations that could bring more retail and residential to the space.
Orion ONTV’s Joe Johnson attended the recent public discussion meeting to get feedback on ideas, which are not set in stone.
“The parcel has not been purchased yet, but if the DDA buys it, it will allow them to control what will be developed,” said Lake Orion DDA Manager Molly LaLone. Other developers are eying the land as well, which would likely result in apartment buildings going in the space. One of the other proposals would use the land for three-story buildings that would add 94 apartments to the parcel.
“We want to change the conversation at that corner,” LaLone said. “We want it to be Lake Orion’s corner, not a developer corner. We want this to contribute to our downtown, and to our residents, we want to give them something they can use. And we’ve got several different uses planned.”
Among the ideas is a two-level parking deck that would add 73 more spaces to the area. A 2018 estimate put that part of the project at $4 million. The entire purchase and project would require the DDA to take a $5 million bond, which would cover some improvements to the site, but would still require partnering with private entities to construct retail or residential buildings.
The DDA has been hosting community discussions, and one popular idea, LaLone said, is having dedicated event space. Parking is also an often-cited concern in the downtown. Those who want to share input can reach out to office@downtownlakeorion.org.
Thank you to Orion ONTV for this story. Learn more at https://orionontv.org/.
