The tree clearing at Main and Waldon isn’t the only change in store for downtown.
Properties at 55 Church Street and 15 S. Main are also for sale.
The City of Clarkston must find a new DPW facility after their current location at 55 Church Street is sold. When placed for sale, the city rejected purchasing the building. Discussions for a new DPW building are underway and include a possible addition to city hall.
The 15 S. Main building, home to Clarkston State Bank since 1999, is also for sale. In January, the bank announced it will consolidate branches and vacate the downtown location.
According to the Oakland County Clerks Office, no property ownership changes have occurred on either of those properties recently.
Grant Smith, Clarkston State Bank CEO, said a due diligence process must be respected, and releasing any information about the sale of the building is inappropriate at this time.
Ed Adler said another investor is out bidding his investment firm, Washington Management, offer of purchase both the DPW and bank buildings downtown.
Adler said he lost both bids and was informed the buildings were sold.
He added it broke his heart a few weeks ago when he lost the bid for the bank building. He heard who purchased both buildings, but those are just rumors.
‘Someone is always out bidding me on properties downtown,? Adler insisted.
Adler also wanted the now vacant building across from the tree project at Main and Waldon, but restaurateur Curt Catallo won the bid in summer 2013.
Catallo and Ann Stevenson continue investing in the area. Besides two successful restaurants, Clarkston Union and Union Woodshop, the pair also created Union Adworks, an ad agency, located at the old township hall building on Main Street.
Their restaurants are thriving not only in Clarkston but also in Fenton and Berkley.
Catallo purchased the 148 N. Main property at Clarkston Road last year. The location, which has housed automotive related businesses since 1929, will be revamped and transformed into a coffee shop and deli, Catallo said previously.
A historic downtown building owned by an investment company in Waterford is also looking to re-zone from residential to commercial.
Dave Carter, an investor in the ‘Sutherland? property, said he was approached by an up-scale Italian restaurant to possibly buy the building, but the deal fell through after the group requested more money. He added the numerous parking spots at the location makes it valuable in an area like downtown Clarkston where parking is valuable. Re-zoning will also make it more attractive to investors and his company will sell if the price is right.