Former Pontiac resident Jim Harding speaks at the Pontiac City Council meeting regarding his ideas on urban planning and the St. James Place project/Photo by WJEZ staff
by Todd Wineburner
About 40 community residents were in attendance at last night’s Pontiac City Council meeting, concerned about the proposed St. James Place Development on Water Street in Pontiac. The Livingston County Housing Authority is moving forward with plans to build a 26-unit development aimed at lower-income county residents. Current residents of the area were concerned about the project’s impact, and one former resident of Pontiac returned to the community and presented some alternative ideas to the council. Jim Harding grew up in Pontiac and is now an architect by profession. He heard about the proposed development while on family business in town last week and put together some suggestions based on his experience as a project planner. Harding says his motivation is his love for his hometown and his respect for what’s already been done in Pontiac. "If I thought everyone was just sitting by and doing nothing and letting the town go under, I probably wouldn't have done anything," Harding said after his comments, "but I've seen people fighting wanting to keep this town alive and doing a good job of it." Harding provided council members with a packet of specific ideas that he developed.
As the project is controlled by the Housing Authority, city officials told the guests that there was little they could do, because the city could only intervene if the developers failed to meet existing ordinances and so far they've adapted their plans to meet all requirements. The council made it clear that they had no legal authority to impede the project, even though Mayor Bob Russell and others openly expressed their lack of enthusiasm for the proposal. There will be an informational public hearing on January 21st regarding the project.
In other business, the council conditionally approved the tax abatement proposal developed by Adam Dontz of the Greater Livingston County Economic Development Council. That brings the number of supportive county taxing bodies to six. The point of concern involved businesses developing in the city’s TIF districts and it was decided that language would be added to the agreement to clarify those issues.
Businessman Collins Miller also spoke to the council members about the status of Strevell House. He said that the restoration project has raised 120,000 dollars in donations, and even more in in-kind donations from contractors, but he told the council that more money might be required. His appearance concluded with a request that the city keep the project in mind as a possible worthwhile city investment.
