We moved here in 1997 due to the excellent school district and the multitude of lakes, trails and parks. Unfortunately, the downtown was a little disappointing with limited stores and restaurants and a park that was in need of attention. For the next 10 years we rarely visited downtown.
After the streetscape project we saw a new spark downtown. The DDA, along with the Village of Lake Orion, made smart decisions and their leadership brought us economic development in the form of Fork N’ Pint and 313 Pizza. This spurred additional investment and numerous restaurants and businesses opened in the next five years. It has been exciting to see our downtown come to life.
Now we have an opportunity to transform the gateway to downtown by purchasing the Lake Orion Lumberyard. There are many exciting aspects that can be incorporated into this project – a beautiful entrance to downtown, additional parking, an outdoor community event space and the avoidance of a high-density development. Perhaps the most compelling is the fact that taxes will not go up as a result of this project or any other project completed by the DDA.
Projects like this are exactly why DDAs were established. Prior to the formation of DDAs, downtowns were dying. Large shopping malls popped up with national department stores that decimated small, family-owned businesses in downtown areas.
I love our community, both Orion Township and downtown Lake Orion. I’ve been very involved for the past 12 years and have enjoyed owning a business downtown for the past five. I’m proud to serve as a volunteer on the DDA Board of Directors and give back to the community that I love.
I’m happy to sit down for a cup of coffee – to listen and discuss this project or explain how a DDA is funded. Feel free to reach out to me through the DDA office.
Let’s work together as a community!
Alaina Campbell
Lake Orion
Support the Lake Orion DDA added by James Newell on
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@A, How long have you been a RES. of the Village of Orion??? Me, it’s 88 yrs at a 1/2 block out o the Village, and 1 &1/2 block from where i was borne, and I have seen a lot of changes, I ask you WHERE did the DDA come ??? they seem to be like a OIL spot on a cement drive way, if your drive has a SPOT of OIL on it, whose car leaked it??? they(won’t tell) you didn’t VOTE for them, YOU have not control on their ADJENDA (how they SPEND YOUR TAX MONIES) on Closed door meetings, NO ANSWERS on comments from the GEN. PUB. but they SEEM to have a OPEN line to the TOWNSHIP and BIG MONEY and are able to get what they want from the TWSP & VILLAGE (lets not forget the PLANNING COMM.)with VERY LITTLE IMPUT from you or the RES. of the VILLAGE res.) there has been of + and -‘s in the VILLAGE in 78yrs. YES SIR REBOB.
Sorry, but after attending the February 21 DDA meeting, I cannot support them, no matter what they may have done in the past. Any non-elected government entity that takes taxpayer funds and spends them any way they want while limiting, or not allowing, public comment on serious agenda items does not have my support.
I know how the DDA is funded. It is with my tax dollars. What the DDA likes to call TIF revenue, as if it comes from somewhere else, is all taxes those of us in the DDA tax district pay, but we have no vote or say in how it is spent. If we ask questions and raise concerns, the response is that the DDA does not respond to the public. That is not acceptable.