Grosse Pointe adopts new DDA, puts it to work

Grosse Pointe’s City Council found a new downtown development authority on its door step this winter and adopted it. City officials now plan to use the quasi-municipal arm to help them attract more developments. They are already pointing toward potential projects to turn surface parking lots into a new hotel and mixed-use buildings as reasons why the DDA will benefit the city’s downtown.”This tools gives the City an extremely important economic development tool to enhance the Village business district,” says Peter Dame, city manager for Grosse Pointe. DDA’s are a common tool used by most communities in southeast Michigan, however, until now, Grosse Pointe has gone without one. That’s put the city at a disadvantage when it comes to attracting developers, according to Peter Dame, city manager for Grosse Pointe.The DDA’s jurisdiction would encompass the village district of the city along its main drag, Kercheval Street. It would finance public improvements, including the construction of a new parking structure on St. Clair Street that would facilitate further development. Potential development projects include a 48-unit, mixed-use condominium/retail complex on St. Clair across the street from the proposed parking structure. Source: Peter Dame, city manager of Grosse PointeWriter: Jon Zemke