>> NEW - DOWNTOWN TOURS EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND
The FREE What’s UP Downtown bus and walking tours will continue every Tuesday through November 13 at 9:30am and 12:30pm. Tours are 2 hours and begin and end at the Flint Farmers’ Market. Click here for more information...
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Work Finally Begins on Student Housing at UM-Flint
The University of Michigan-Flint began construction in August on the first student housing project on the campus. The 310-bed project will feature 2- and 4-bedroom suites and is expected to be open in August 2008. The $21.3 million project will be built at the corner of South Chavez and First Street in downtown Flint.
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Uptown Developments, LLC is Giving the “500 Block” in Downtown Flint a New Look
 The “500 Block” in downtown Flint has a new look as construction is in full swing with three major redevelopment projects – the Rowe Incorporated Headquarters, the Community Foundation Building, and the recently announced
Wade Trim project. All three projects are being developed by Uptown Developments, LLC a partnership between Uptown Reinvestment Corporation and local business owners. By the summer of 2008, the entire block located along S. Saginaw Street between First and Second Streets, will have a fresh look along with new restaurants, nightclubs, offices, a pedestrian plaza and increased traffic!
For more information about the “500 Block” redevelopment projects contact Uptown Developments, LLC at (810) 238-5555.
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Wade Trim Project
This spring demolition of the Wade Trim project, to be located on the east side of the block, began as the former Jewish Federation, NBD Trust, and Legal Services of Eastern Michigan buildings were removed. The $8 million project, being developed by Uptown Developments, LLC, in partnership with the Uptown Reinvestment Corporation (URC), Uptown Six, LLC and Baker College of Flint, will
be anchored by a new, mixed-use 27,000 square foot building with civil engineering firm Wade Trim as the primary office tenant.
The new office complex will have space for five entertainment-oriented restaurants or retailers on the ground floor, 8,500 square feet of office space for Wade Trim on the second floor, and four high-end lofts on the third floor. The construction is designed to blend with the historic architecture of downtown. The complex also will include an outdoor pedestrian plaza through the center of the block
that will provide a place for outdoor dining and small community events. The plaza will connect Saginaw Street to Brush Alley. Plans also call for complete interior and exterior renovations to the former Copa and Blackstone’s buildings. They will be marketed as “white box space” (an open space with no decorations, furniture or fixtures) to potential tenants. The expected completion
date of the Wade Trim building is August 2008.
For more information about the Wade Trim Project contact Uptown Developments at (810) 238-5555 |
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Community Foundation of Greater Flint Project
In mid-March, sounds of heavy machinery filled the air downtown as demolition work marked the start of work at the corner of First and S. Saginaw Streets on the new home of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint (CFGF). The $2 million redevelopment project includes the former Dale Health Foods and Bakers Drug Store. In addition to CFGF offices on the second floor, plans call
for the first floor of the building to be leased to commercial tenants and the third floor to be developed as two residential lofts.
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Rowe Incorporated Project
Construction activity is in full swing on the Rowe project located on the west side of the 500 Block of S. Saginaw Street. The second and third floors will be transformed into offices for Rowe Incorporated’s corporate headquarters while themed restaurants will be located on the main level, a nightclub will occupy the basement, and eight loft apartments will fill up the fourth
floor featuring lofted bedroom levels and game rooms.
The project, being developed by Uptown Developments, LLC, is partially funded by a $3.8 million federal loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is accompanied by a $1 million Brownfield Economic Development Initiative grant.
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Michigan Department of Transportation Spruces Up Entrances to Downtown Flint
The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the midst of a $3 million highway enhancement project along I-475 and I-69 in downtown Flint. The project will include dramatic landscaping along the highway featuring the Cultivating Our Community plants. In addition, service drives will be enhanced with historic and aesthetic treatments currently being featured along the Saginaw
Street corridor and bridge overpasses will receive new railings and lighting.
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Third Avenue Has Big Plans Riding on It
Construction will soon be completed on the Third Avenue enhancements which will turn this four lane road into a well-landscaped link between downtown Flint and Kettering University. Soon to be renamed University Boulevard, the project is a catalyst project for the renewal of the University District along Flint River. Grassy medians dividing traffic, wide lanes that will better
accommodate bicycles, improved crosswalks, new greenery and special lighting will help create a college-town ambiance between the University of Michigan-Flint and Kettering University campuses. The project complements the recent groundbreaking for UM-Flint’s first student housing and other cleanup and renovation projects in the area including Atwood Stadium, new in-fill
housing, renovation of the Berridge Hotel into condominiums, and the anticipated redevelopment of the Durant Hotel into housing for students. The Third Avenue project was funded with $2.4 million in federal money and enhancement funding through MDOT.
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U. S. Social Security Office Builds New Office in Downtown Flint
A new building is being constructed at the corner of Longway Boulevard and South Chavez in downtown Flint which will become the future home in Genesee County for the U.S. Social Security Office. Construction on the $2.5-million project began in April and is expected to be complete this fall. The 14,000 square foot building will include additional office space, improved parking,
and state-of-the-art computer and security features.
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New Look, Both Inside and Outside, for the Holiday Inn Express
The Holiday Inn Express in downtown Flint recently completed a major renovation. The first renovation since the hotel was built in the 1980s included an exterior renovation as well as complete update to all the rooms in the hotel. The hotel now offers free breakfast every day and during the mid-week offers free supper. A business center, as well as several conference rooms, was
added along with free high speed internet. As an introductory special, Holiday Inn Express is offering half off on meeting space. To book your meeting room call 810-238-9643.
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| Cultivating Our Community Project IS BloomING |
With the help of 40 businesses and organizations, fifteen public gateways, park entrances, and traffic triangles are now “blooming” as part of the Cultivating Our Community project sponsored by Keep Genesee County Beautiful, Ruth Mott Applewood, and the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Cultivating Our Community project is a collaborative effort to develop a planned
and coordinated approach to beautify Flint and Genesee County and set higher standards for the visual landscape of the community. Funded by the Ruth Mott Foundation, the project will "brand" beautification using a plant palette which will provide uniformity and year round color throughout the community. For more information on the project including the Cultivating Our Community
Plant Palette and "How-to" Manuals for businesses, residents, and neighborhood block clubs go to www.CultivatingOurCommunity.org
The sixteen gateways selected for enhancement in downtown Flint include:
- McFarlen Park (installation date May 8)
- Flint Farmers' Market (installation date May 11)
- M.L. King & Fifth Ave. (installation date May 14)
- Atherton & VanSlyke (installation date May 16)
- Harrison & Saginaw St. (installation May 18)
- Saginaw & Atherton (installation May 21)
- Fenton & Atherton (installation May 23)
- Miller & Hammerberg (installation May 30)
- Max Brandon Park (installation June 1)
- M.L. King & Oren Ave. (installation June 4)
- Court & Lapeer (installation June 6)
- Court & Ann Arbor (installation June 8)
- Longway & Chavez (installation June 13)
- Miller & Ballenger (installation June 15)
- Chevrolet & Marquette (installation June 20)
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For more information on the project including the Cultivating Our Community Plant Palette and "How-to" Manuals for businesses, residents, and neighborhood block clubs go to www.CultivatingOurCommunity.org |
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| Uptown Reinvestment Corporation |
| Board Members: |
The Uptown Reinvestment Corporation mission is to: |
Inez Brown
David Doherty
Lewis Driskell
Greg Fiedler
Mark Fleshner
Loyst Fletcher
Bob Kittel
Sam Harris
Tim Herman
Claude High
Kathi Horton
Marvin Jennings
Dan Kildee
James Rutherford
Robert Rummel
Kristen Skivington
Barbara Veasley |
- Bring together all downtown interests, including government, education, business, and charitable institutions in a broad-based coalition
- Support existing businesses and encourage entrepreneurial business development in the downtown Flint business district
- Enhance the public infrastructure and improve aesthetics
- Increase downtown residency
- Develop downtown into an attractive area for business, employment, and entertainment
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