Redevelopment sets Pontiac up for its next act

By Candice Williams, cwilliams@detroitnews.com

Kyle Westberg and his brother by no means got down to function a theater.

However that’s the place they discovered themselves years after redeveloping the historic Flagstar Strand Theatre in downtown Pontiac.

Westberg and his brother Brent started restoring the ageing venue at 12 N. Saginaw St. in 2013, main a $20 million renovation that added house for a restaurant and workplaces earlier than the theater reopened in 2017. A nonprofit initially ran the theater, however when that group turned inactive in late 2018, the Westbergs stepped in to maintain it going.

“It wasn’t our desire,” he stated. “We had been looking for an operator to do it, each restaurant and theater. … We’re actual property builders, contractors, architects.”

And after eight years, the Westbergs have determined the theater is prepared for its subsequent act with a brand new proprietor. The choice to promote the theater comes as Pontiac is seeing a surge of funding — from the county’s renovation of a downtown workplace constructing to new residential developments just like the 28N mixed-use constructing and roadway enhancements on Woodward Avenue designed to make navigating into downtown simpler for motorists.

“We now have much more to go, however we’re seeing some optimistic momentum undoubtedly proper now,” Westberg stated. “It’s thrilling.”

Bringing the curtain again up

The Strand Theatre opened in 1921, designed by Pontiac architect Leo John Heenan. On the time, the three-story Renaissance-style constructing had 1,200 seats, later decreased to 885 to accommodate wider seating.

It started as a vaudeville home, internet hosting silent-era performers, selection acts, music and comedy — much like “Saturday Evening Stay”-type performances, stated Alex Resnick, the theater’s managing director. However as cineplexes started changing ornate city-center theaters, the Strand’s fortunes declined, leaving it largely vacant for the reason that Nineteen Eighties regardless of efforts to revive it.

The Westbergs, Pontiac-based builders and homeowners of West Building Companies, bought the property from the town in 2013 as Pontiac was transitioning out of monetary state oversight. The constructing was in respectable form and dry, Westberg recalled. The brothers additionally bought the adjoining three-story constructing at 8 N. Saginaw so as to add a restaurant.

When it reopened in 2017, the theater obtained a 10-year sponsorship with naming rights from Flagstar Financial institution, therefore its present identify, Flagstar Strand Theatre. Along with 885 seats, the venue options two bars, a restaurant house and assembly rooms. The total restaurant doesn’t at the moment have an operator.

Throughout a current tour, Resnick highlighted upgrades, together with new lighting and a everlasting projector system. The ornate rosettes within the ceiling are a part of the historic air flow system, with a number of replicated throughout renovation. The dressing rooms had been expanded from two within the basement to trendy rooms on the primary degree with loos and showers.

The constructing’s format permits for versatile programming, from reside performances and personal occasions to catering and group gatherings, Resnick stated. A cause: they need to make everybody really feel comfy within the house.

“So both a ticket holder coming in by way of foyer doorways, or a tour supervisor and their band coming in by way of the again alley, we would like them to really feel like, ‘Hey, that is the place we may be,’” he stated.

Restoring the theater was a ardour mission for Westberg, however working such a venue isn’t his specialty. He stated they’d been in talks with others about buying the theater prior to now, however nothing has panned out but.

Since taking up, the Westbergs have managed ticketed reveals, concessions and particular occasions. They plan to maintain the theater energetic by way of its transition. Amongst its upcoming reveals are a live performance by southern rock band Sister Hazel on Dec. 4 and ZOSO: The Final Led Zeppelin Expertise on Dec. 5.

“What we’re doing is setting a stable basis,” Westberg stated. “So after they are available in, they will simply construct upon that basis and add their aptitude to it.”

Different redevelopment efforts

Pontiac’s mayor-elect, Mike McGuinness, has lengthy been linked to the town’s historical past and landmarks. A longtime resident and present metropolis council president, McGuinness beforehand served as govt director of the Oakland County Historic Society and gave a presentation in 2021 marking the Strand Theatre’s a centesimal anniversary.

“It’s attractive,” he stated. “It’s alive. It’s a vacation spot. And I’ve an excessive amount of hope that it will possibly proceed to search out its groove and absolutely flourish and be a sizzling draw for Pontiac.”

Past the theater, McGuinness famous a string of initiatives reshaping downtown Pontiac, together with the conversion of the previous Pontiac State Financial institution constructing into 114 residential models at 28 N. Saginaw, the redevelopment of the previous Oakland Press constructing at 48 Huron St. and Oakland County’s transformation of a long-vacant former Basic Motors Co. workplace tower right into a county workplace anticipated to carry a whole bunch of staff.

There are additionally upcoming infrastructure enhancements, together with a $20 million mission connecting the Clinton River Path by way of downtown and making the world extra pedestrian-friendly.

There are additionally new companies on the town, he stated, together with Membership 49 nightclub and EveryBody Inc. espresso store, each on Saginaw, with extra on the way in which, corresponding to ladies’s clothes retailer Divine 26, which expects to open a retailer on Saginaw in December.

“As mayor, it’ll be my thrilling activity and alternative to assist join companies, regional companies, with the historic storefronts which might be persevering with to come back an increasing number of on-line,” he stated. Downtown Pontiac is anticipated to see extra employees and elevated foot visitors within the coming years.

Past non-public redevelopment initiatives, Oakland County is remodeling the long-vacant former GM workplace constructing at 31 Judson right into a county workplace. It’s a part of the $174.5 million Pontiac Redevelopment Mission, which incorporates constructing renovations, demolition of the Phoenix Heart, new parking garages and infrastructure enhancements.

Oakland Deputy County Government Sean Carlson stated the mission will transfer and consolidate a number of departments from its campus in Waterford Township, together with financial improvement, workforce improvement, human sources, fiscal companies, public communications and equalization companies, making a centralized hub of presidency companies within the coronary heart of the town.

The Board of Commissioners will even meet in downtown Pontiac. Close by, 51111 Woodward will stay residence to some state and county workplaces and can add Oakland County’s well being division.

Concerning relocating the employees, Carlson stated it is going to be “an amazing impression — an amazing impression for not solely the town of Pontiac, (however) for Oakland County, for southeast Michigan, for the state of Michigan.”

The constructing on Judson will even obtain a brand new look. “The façade goes to come back off of that constructing … there’ll be glass and new metal construction,” he stated. “Nearly appear to be a model new constructing, nevertheless it actually speaks to our perception in sustainability, too.”

The renovation at 31 Judson additionally comes because the razing of the Phoenix Heart is being accomplished. Carlson stated the demolition is sort of completed and anticipated to wrap up forward of schedule by December or January.

Following that, development will start on two seven-level parking constructions to serve county staff and guests. Work on the south deck, adjoining to 51111 Woodward, will begin in January 2026, with the north deck on Water Avenue following in April or Might, he stated. Building is anticipated to be full round February 2027 on the south deck and April 2027 on the north deck.

The county’s redevelopment coincides with plans to enhance downtown visitors circulate. Carlson stated the unique Phoenix Heart design created a one-way loop round downtown that lower off Saginaw Avenue and disconnected the north and south sections of the town. The Michigan Division of Transportation plans inside the subsequent couple of years to reconfigure the Woodward loop right into a two-way north-south route and rebuild Huron Avenue, also called M-59, he stated.

John Bry, program coordinator for Principal Avenue Oakland County, has been with the county for practically 10 years and in addition serves as volunteer chairman of Principal Avenue Pontiac. He stated the county’s efforts have been instrumental in attracting non-public funding, including that the town’s property, just like the theater, assist attract Pontiac residents in addition to guests.

“Some Pontiac residents really feel like, effectively, downtown … not for us, that we’re not welcome there,” he stated. “And I feel the Strand is a good instance of the counter to that feeling.”

“Kyle and people guys had been form of the primary ones into the pool, so to talk, when different individuals had been hesitant to take the step into Pontiac,” Bry stated, including that the humanities and tradition technique downtown has grown largely due to the theater, with extra venues just like the Treasury and the Pontiac Little Artwork Theater serving to to additional construct a efficiency and occasion district.

Bry additionally talked about the impression of residents quickly transferring into the 114-unit transformed Pontiac State Financial institution constructing, now often called 28N. It’s inside brief strolling distance of the Strand.

“Inside simply the subsequent 5 years, you’re going to see in a very totally different downtown Pontiac from the place it’s proper now,” he stated. “And documenting that course of as we go is vital, as a result of individuals will overlook and there can be people who find themselves new to Pontiac that by no means knew the again story of how the group obtained there.”

Companies transfer in

In 2021, Dalen Hanna, CEO of Southfield-based Blackacre Administration LLC, and his staff acquired the historic Twenties construction as soon as often called the Pontiac State Financial institution constructing and have been changing it right into a residential advanced that features penthouses, workplace house and retail. 28N is anticipated to open in mid-December.

“That constructing sat vacant for years,” he stated. “It wanted abatement, it wanted structural work, it wanted every thing. However we knew if we put the cash into it, we may carry it again and make it one thing the group may use once more.”

The mission has attracted practically 300 potential tenants on the waitlist, together with staff from the close by McLaren Hospital, county workplaces and United Wholesale Mortgage, he stated. Rental charges vary from $1,150 to $2,400 a month. About 40 individuals have put down deposits, Hanna stated.

Hanna credited the timing of the mission to a mixture of elements: a developer-friendly metropolis administration, office-to-residential conversions pushed by post-COVID market circumstances and main employers like Oakland County and close by well being and tech companies bringing employees into the world.

“It’s just like the hen and the egg with downtowns,” he stated. “Do you carry the individuals first or do you carry the roles? And in our case, we’re bringing lots of people in. So you may estimate roughly 150 individuals working and dwelling within the constructing every day. That, together with 700 staff on the county degree, we’re actually bringing an enormous inflow of individuals into downtown.”

Down the road, Lee Roumaya, proprietor of Fillmore 13 Brewery, stated he’s excited concerning the new residents and the enhance they may carry to native companies.

Roumaya has been a part of Pontiac’s downtown revival for practically a decade. When he and his accomplice opened Fillmore 13 Brewery in March 2017, the downtown was quiet, he stated: “It was a ghost city in right here. Let’s be the anchor right here. Let’s make a distinction. Let’s get the group collectively and have individuals come out, take pleasure in a pleasant beer and a pleasant meal.”

Throughout the road, the Strand reopened across the similar time as Fillmore 13. Roumaya stated he had hoped the theater would carry larger crowds, nevertheless it hasn’t but reached the extent he’d like. Now that the theater is on the market, he hopes a brand new operator will step in and guide extra reveals.

“I’m hoping that form of aggressive operator is available in and places their cash on the road,” he stated. “And it’s a ravishing theater. It’s positioned proper down in central Oakland County.”

Roumaya additionally continues to spend money on downtown, opening Kegger Burger subsequent door to Fillmore 13. He stated he hopes extra eating places and retailers be a part of him.

“Folks suppose I’m loopy for saying that, like, ‘Effectively, why would you like the competitors?’” he stated. “The competitors is sweet as a result of I need you to come back right here with your loved ones, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your husband, spouse, park your automotive and go to a little bit store and go have espresso someplace, and are available right here and have dinner, and go throughout the road and have a cocktail afterwards. What an amazing expertise that’s. That’s what I’m wanting ahead to.”