A multi-million dollar revitalization project will improve walkability and accessibility in downtown Mount Clemens, as well as update aging infrastructure.
Downtown Mt. Clemens is nearing completion on a $6.5 million revitalization project aimed at updating the city’s outdated infrastructure and creating walkable, accessible places.
The project includes landscaping, a new mural, light upgrades, road and sidewalk repaving to increase accessibility, and electrical and sewer infrastructure upgrades to downtown. It includes a complete renovation of Macomb Place between North Walnut and Pine Street, all of Cherry Street Mall from the Roskopp Parking Lot to Market Street, and a full reconstruction of the New Street Parking Lot, according to the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority (DDA) website.
The fountain stage will also be expanded and relocated to the western side of Macomb Place.
The project’s goal is to make downtown more accessible, walkable, and enjoyable for patrons to spend time in, driving economic development for Mt. Clemens businesses, says Mayor Laura Kropp. She adds, the project will also remediate the frequent flooding that downtown businesses used to experience due to the aged infrastructure.
“We expect increased foot traffic, considering the walkability will be increased. We also believe it will cure the flooding issue. We believe that it will attract more people to downtown, because they’ll be curious to see the new plaza,” Kropp says. “We think that it will be easier to host certain events. For example, we’d like to bring our farmers’ market to downtown. We believe that for concerts, there will be better seating areas. So, we’re excited about the new space being much more conducive to gathering.”
Kropp says construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with additional landscaping completed in spring 2026.
Originally, construction was supposed to be completed by November 1, with landscaping planned for the spring. Kropp says unexpected delays pushed the timeline longer.
“We had a little bit of a delay when we were building the fountain that set us back. And then our contractor had a couple of issues,” Kropp says. “We’re an old city; there are lots of unknowns under the ground.”
The project is overseen by Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc., and funded by a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other groups like the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the City of Mount Clemens, the American Rescue Plan Act, and the city’s DDA.
Revitalization Project is a “Net Positive,” Downtown Business Owners Say
While several business owners say the project’s construction has hurt their business, they feel the result will be well worth it.
“It absolutely has been a pain going through the construction, which is probably pretty normal for any construction project, but in the end, I think it will be beneficial,” says Diane Kubik, owner of Max and Ollie’s. “It absolutely needed to be done. The infrastructure was crumbling.”
Over the summer, Kubik’s business experienced a flood that is believed to be an indirect result of the construction. She closed for several months to remediate the damage and replace lost stock, and display prices.
When she reopened in early October, customers had to contend with torn-up sidewalks and a lack of signage to direct them to the store.
Despite the hardship, Kubik says she is looking forward to the project’s completion. She has owned Max and Ollie’s for 20 years and has witnessed heavily potholed and uneven roads. Business owners in older buildings across the street complained of power outages and sewer backups.
“I’m certainly looking forward to open house and craft shows and concerts on the stage and all the wonderful things you can do in this new area,” she says. “It will be so much more conducive to events, and I think it will increase our business.”
And several businesses took the risk of opening up shop during construction.
Angie Beckett opened the Craven Raven as a family business with her two adult sons and 17-year-old daughter in the spring. The café offers $5 lunch specials, baked goods, homemade beauty products, and locally made trinkets.
She says construction became especially arduous around the halfway mark, as sidewalk resurfacing and a lack of signage have made access to the café confusing and difficult for employees and customers.
Beckett worries that if construction extends through the end of the year, it will decrease business during the busy holiday season, when many retail stores rely on an uptick in sales.
Despite the challenges, Beckett says she is glad she opened shop when she did. Business might pick up so much when the project is complete that it would make it difficult to find retail space, she says.
“Once it’s done, it’s going to be amazing,” Beckett says.
All businesses have remained open during construction. To see a full directory of Mt. Clemens businesses, visit the Downtown Development Authority’s website.
Author
Laura’s passion for storytelling and creative writing can be traced back to her childhood. That passion led her to major in English/Creative Writing and Journalism at Miami University, where she discovered her love for telling others’ stories through online media. Her career in newspaper journalism led her to Port Huron where she dug strong roots in the community through three-and-a-half years of reporting for the Times Herald newspaper. She recently launched Fitzgerald Creative Services, LLC, as her freelance writing brand. Outside of work, you can find Laura riding horses, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and cozied up with a good book and her cats, Frank and Dobby.
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