County analysis outlines economic gains, questions and next steps for Mount Clemens riverfront plan

Macomb County staff told the Mount Clemens City Commission at a work session that a mixed-use redevelopment of the riverfront and downtown Oakland University property could produce measurable economic benefits, while commissioners pressed for more detailed analyses and timeline clarity.

"This concept received a $2,000,000 appropriation from the state of Michigan," John Paul Ray, who led the county presentation, said as he described a partnership between the city, Oakland University and the county to repurpose the Anton Frankel Center and adjacent riverfront parcels. Ray said county analysts ran a conservative Lightcast model that envisioned a 90–100 unit multifamily development with commercial and restaurant space.

Ray summarized the modeling results: "There could be a more than $2,400,000 sustained economic impact," he said, adding the scenario could spur "more than 6 dozen jobs" and produce roughly $375,000 to $500,000 in annual tax revenue depending on scale. He told commissioners the county would share the underlying economic report and data with the city manager and commissioners on request.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the numbers are useful but incomplete without the modeling assumptions, market inputs and a clear schedule for the city's purchase and feasibility work. The commission is weighing whether to buy Oakland University's building and…