Oakland U prepares to start work on Mt. Clemens campus

Oakland University is celebrating its new building, and future satellite campus, in downtown Mt. Clemens with a reception to turn over the building's keys.

Developers Gebran S. Anton and Stuart Frankel have been vacating the Towne Square Building, 20 South Main Street, after announcing that it would be given to the university to be used as classrooms. The building, valued at about $2 million, was built in 1984. It's two stories, 25,422 square feet, and constructed of brick and glass.

The reception will be from 10-11:30 a.m. Sept. 22.

Minor renovations will be needed to convert the space from offices to classrooms, and the university is working with Macomb County to utilize Neighborhood Stabilization funding, available through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grants. A total is still being worked out; the final amount could determine if the building will be open in time for summer classes or fall classes.

Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority, used a variety of adjectives to describe how he feels about the university's new building coming to the area: geeked, stoked, thrilled. "We're glowing with excitement," he says. "I think having students in our downtown helps our redevelopment efforts along drastically."

He also plans on putting together a residential website for students and other people interested in living there to allow them to explore the houses available within a quick walk of the classroom building. "We want to encourage young adults to move into downtown, and use our downtown," he says.

Source: Arthur Mullen, executive director, Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority; Oakland University
Writer: Kristin Lukowski

Oakland U prepares to start work on Mt. Clemens campus

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