Downtown Plaza Design
The portion of W. Fifth Street, between S. Center and S. Washington has been closed since the onset of the COVID-19 health emergency. During the closure the space was used to host street patios for adjacent restaurants, and as a result the conversation began on what this space could be if it was solely designated as pedestrian space.
Years prior, a portion of what was formerly W. Fifth Street, between S. Washington and S. Lafayette, was closed and converted to mainly pedestrian traffic when The Fifth condominium project was being constructed. This already converted area serves as a pipeline from the South Lafayette parking structure to our shopping corridor on S. Washington. With the addition of Baker College on Lafayette, this area is even more crucial to pedestrian traffic and leading college students to the retail corridor.
Royal Oak DDA was awarded a Placemaking & Revitalization Grant from Main Street Oakland County in the sum of $311,751.61 for the completion of this project!
Final Concept Drafts
Final Concept Draft - Boardwalk East Portion - Approved by DDA 11/18/2024 & City Commission 01/27/2025
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Final Concept Draft - West Portion - Approved by DDA 11/18/2024 & City Commission 01/27/2025
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3D Rending Examples
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Archive Drafts
Design Concept Draft - (1/5/2024)
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Design Concept Draft - (10/2/2023)
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Topographical Survey of Proposed Plaza Area
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30% Design Draft Concept
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Notes from Engagement Sessions:
Click Here to View - Session One Notes
Click Here to View - Session Two Notes
- June 2022 - DDA solicited bids from the City of Royal Oak's precontracted Engineering and Architecture firms.
- October 2022 - DDA approved the bid from Fleis & Vandenbrink as the design partner.
- February 2023 - DDA's design committee (Infrastructure) outlined process with Fleis & Vandenbrink
- March 20, 2023 - First Engagement Sessions Held
- Adjacent Property Owners
- Business Owners
- City Staff
- General Public
- April 19, 2023 - 30% Designs shared with DDA Board and discussed
- April 20, 2023 - Second Engagement Sessions Held (Part 1)
- Adjacent Property Owners
- City Staff
- May 10, 2023 - Second Engagement Sessions Held (Part 2)
- Business Owners
- General Public
- May 17, 2023 - DDA approved the purchase of bistro tables and chairs to temporarily placemake the area being discussed for plaza development.
- May 19, 2023 - Both a Visual Preference Survey and Priorities Survey open to the public to collect feedback.
- July 20, 2023 - Both surveys close for data to be analyzed by the contractor and design committee.
- September 20, 2023 - DDA reviewed updated concept plans and provided revision comments.
- October 18, 2023 - DDA expanded design scope to include 3D visualization and rendering services.
- January 17, 2024 - DDA reviewed updated concept plans, provided revisions, and approved staff to move forward with finishing concept placement, seek City Commission concurrence, and instruct F&V to begin construction drafts and pricing once City Commission concurs.
- February 12, 2024 - City Commission reviewed concept plans and appointed City Commissioners Douglas, Herzog, and Kolo to meet with DDA representatives to compromise on various details.
- November 18, 2024 - DDA approves final concept design.
- January 27, 2025 - City Commission approves final concept design.
- July 2025 - Bid Documents Anticipated Completion, Project Bidding tentatively planned.
- August 2025 - Bid Awards to be Considered by DDA and City Commission
Request for Bids Process
The contractor Fleis & Vandenbrink is anticipated to complete construction documents and bid advertisements in July 2025. Bidding will occur in line with the City of Royal Oak Finance Department's standards and procedures.
Awarding of Construction Bid(s)
Results of the bidding process are anticipated to come before the DDA and City Commission in August 2025.
In addition to the engagement sessions, public meetings, and continued conversation about the plaza project, two public surveys were conducted to gather community input into the project. These surveys identified priorities of the community, as well as, visual preferences for design elements that provide the priority items.
Survey Results: