Oakland County Land Bank Gets $200,000 Grant to Rehab Homes in Historic District in Pontiac
(Oakland County, April 30, 2023)
Pontiac, MI – The Oakland County Land Bank Authority (OCLBA) Board of Directors announces the receipt of a $200,000 grant from the State of Michigan Land Bank Authority Blight Elimination Program. The grant will stabilize three single-family residential properties in the GM Modern Historic District in Pontiac, Mich. The properties will be transferred to the Oakland County Land Bank Authority from the Oakland County Treasurer. A Request for Proposals for qualified developers to perform the stabilization work is available on the Bidnet Direct website and closes on April 26, 2023, at 2 p.m.
The GM Modern Historic neighborhood has received significant investments, and the rehabilitation of structures has contributed to increased property value. The GM Modern Housing Neighborhood Association has also been instrumental in community development activities, including placemaking, community events, engaging with city officials, tree planting and neighborhood cleanups.
“As the Oakland County Land Bank Authority’s first community development project, we are pleased to support the ongoing revitalization of the GM Modern Historic District,” said Robert Wittenberg, Oakland County Treasurer and the Oakland County Land Bank Authority Chairman. “We appreciate the partnership and support of the State Land Bank Authority in providing much-needed funding to address vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties and helping us stabilize the properties for future development.
OCLBA is committed to enhancing the county through innovative and inclusive economic and community development strategies while helping to facilitate the productive reuse of land. The grant funding will stabilize three single-family residential properties. The OCLBA is committed to providing thoughtful stewardship of all properties and is seeking partners who share the OCLBA’s mission and commitment to the City of Pontiac. In addition, partners must be willing to work within the guidelines of the Historic District Commission and the Pontiac Building Department.
“As the Chair of the Pontiac Historic District Commission, we are delighted that the Oakland County Land Bank Authority has chosen to stabilize these important houses in GM Modern Historic District,” said Rick David. “Preserving history helps provide that sense of place we are all hoping to call home. This neighborhood and the City of Pontiac have a very bright future.”
The Request for Proposals for qualified developers is active on the Bidnet Direct website and will close on April 26, 2023, at 2 p.m. All work must be completed with proper documentation submitted for reimbursement by December 1, 2023. Once stabilization activities are completed, the properties will be deeded through a quit claim deed to the selected developer for the continued rehabilitation of each structure.
A rehabilitation rendering has been prepared by Ron Campbell, AIA, principal planner/preservation architect, Oakland County Historic Preservation, and is available here.
