Invest in Mt. Clemens

Mt. Clemens Invest

Mt. Clemens is seeing the type of investment that makes city officials lean back in their office chairs and smile. That’s because it is following a recipe that often results in success: increased downtown housing options plus strong arts, culture, entertainment and recreation opportunities plus an influx of public and private dollars.

Arthur Mullen, the Visit Guide for a run-down on annual events.)
–    There is momentum. “Two new bars and restaurants opened in the last quarter of 2006 and two new ones will open the first quarter of 2007.”

Residential Investment

Ted Schollenberger has found a warm reception from city bureaucracy and enjoyed steady sales of his lofts and townhouses he has developed in Mt. Clemens. He started back in 2000 with 13 townhouses just south of downtown along the Clinton River.

In 2005, he converted a nearby VFW hall into the 13-unit River Lofts I, which sold out in five months. He was floored at the response, which told him there was an underserved market of 20-somethings and empty nesters hungry for downtown Mt. Clemens living.

Buoyed by the interest, Mineral Springs is currently building River Lofts II, a 24-unit new construction loft building; 14 of the units, priced from $150-300,000, have sold.

All three of these developments, sited in close proximity to one another and the Clinton River, will soon be joined by River Lofts Phases III and IV for a total of 100 new units of housing in one block alone.

Schollenberger also plans to add another 62 units of housing built above ground floor retail right downtown, further adding to the city’s housing options.

He calls the city “very cooperative” and  “redevelopment-ready.” The fact that he is still the lone downtown residential developer in Mt. Clemens is something about which he is “frankly surprised.”

Cultural Economic Development

With a recent $1.6 renovation and addition the Anton Art Center is in great shape to be on the front line of Macomb County’s world of culture. Not satisfied with “just” its current offerings, which include art shows, classes, lectures and Art in Public Places, its downtown sculpture collection, the Art Center has lots more planned.

Executive director Michael Gilneak sees tons of potential in Mt. Clemens and is hopng to tap into that with the development of the Bath City Art Park, a changeable sculpture garden, on the grounds of the center. The art park will ultimately serve as a trailhead for the Bath City Art Walk, a walking path linking the Art in Public Places sites, as well as a node for planned bike paths connecting downtown to Metro Parkway.

Both of these have been planned in concert with the city of Mt. Clemens, which received a State of Michigan Cool Cities award for the art park plans. Gilneak works with Mullen and the city’s community development director, Denise Pike, on the project. He says of the team, “We are very excited about Mt. Clemens, and we’re all on the same page. We are interested in cultural economic development and the urban landscape.”

Gilneak regularly meets artists interested in affordable live/work space downtown and is currently working with a group of glass blowers interested in relocating downtown.

Mullen describes another project in the works that will involve the painting of downtown’s fireplugs by local artists. He says this is part of the city’s plan to “encourage the creative class to stay in Mt. Clemens. We want to extend the period of time that people want to be in Mt. Clemens and have things to do.”

The city has also prioritized infrastructure improvements. In 2008, construction will begin on a major streetscape enhancement project. The enhancements will improve Macomb Pl. between Pine Street and the Clinton River which Mullen believes will “reconnect downtown and the river.” The project includes a new fountain, street furniture, lighting and two outdoor self-cleaning public toilets.

In 2009, 2.5 miles of Main Street will get spruced up with an improved streetscape and a bike path.

All in all, there is room in Mt. Clemens for more housing, more arts and more entertainment. And if you’re considering investing in a community, you could not ask for a more accommodating network in place to help get you started.

Photographs Copyright Dave Krieger