Oakland County forwards Endeavor Pontiac development agreement to finance after debate over design, buy-local rules and pay terms

Oakland County commissioners voted to recommend to the county finance committee a development agreement with Endeavor Pontiac Partners LLC that would fund construction of two parking garages and related site work in downtown Pontiac. The committee approved forwarding the measure after extended presentation by county staff and questions from multiple commissioners; the motion passed 5-2.

County officials said the project is framed as a redevelopment, revitalization and “reconnect” effort intended to improve downtown Pontiac’s walkability and to support county operations. “This is not a construction project. This is a strategic investment,” said Megan Sellers, deputy county executive, during the presentation, describing the partnership as a public-led effort to attract private development and restore connections across the site.

The agreement covers two garages: a seven-level “South Deck” with 610 spaces and a five-level “North Deck” with 429 spaces, according to slides presented to the committee. County staff said the South Deck would be prioritized so county tenants in the nearby 51111 building would retain parking during construction. Presentation materials shown to the committee also identified about 2 acres of vacated county-owned land included in the memorandum of agreement tied to the project and conceptual locations for future mixed-use, townhome and hotel development adjacent to the…