Editing Pontiac, Michigan (section)

===Emergency financial manager===
From 2009 through 2013, Pontiac was under the oversight of an Emergency Financial Manager appointed by the state government. The Emergency Manager was authorized to make day-to-day executive and financial municipal decisions. The position was not subject to the usual checks and balances, nor to election. The first and second managers, Fred Leeb and Michael Stampfler, were appointed by Michigan Governor [[Jennifer Granholm]]. The third manager was Louis Schimmel, who was appointed by Governor [[Rick Snyder]].

In order to balance the budget, state-appointed emergency managers drastically revised labor union contracts with the city, sold off city assets such as parking meters, and privatized most public services. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office handles all police (saving $2 million a year) and nearby Waterford township has responsibility for fire protection (saving $3 million). Pontiac sold its water treatment plant for $55 million, and outsources garbage collection, animal control, vital records and street maintenance. Many people working in City Hall are employed by contractors. The city payroll has declined from 600 to 50 employees. The Silverdome Stadium, once valued at $22 million, was sold for $583,000 (it would end up being demolished in December 2017). The emergency managers reduced the city's annual spending to $36 million from $57 million, and erased almost all of its long-term debt.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Yaccino|first1=Steven|title=Lessons for Detroit in a City's Takeover|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/us/lessons-for-detroit-in-pontiacs-years-of-emergency-oversight.html|website=New York Times|access-date=30 November 2014|date=2013-03-13}}</ref>

In August 2013, Schimmel resigned as Emergency Financial Manager. Schimmel now serves as part of the four-member Transition Advisory Board for the city.<ref>{{cite news | last=Blitchok | first=Dustin | title=Pontiac Emergency Manager Lou Schimmel resigns, will serve on transition board appointed to city | date=August 19, 2013 | url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20130819/pontiac-emergency-manager-lou-schimmel-resigns-will-serve-on-transition-board-appointed-to-city | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224143810/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20130819/pontiac-emergency-manager-lou-schimmel-resigns-will-serve-on-transition-board-appointed-to-city | archive-date=December 24, 2013 | work=theoaklandpress.com }}</ref> Other members of the board include Deputy Oakland County Executive Bob Daddow, Rochester Hills Finance Director Keith Sawdon, and Ed Karyzno, administrator of the Michigan Department of Treasury's Office of Financial Responsibility.<ref>{{cite web|title=Transition|url=http://pontiac.mi.us/emergency_finance_manager/index.php|website=City of Pontiac, MI|access-date=30 November 2014}}</ref>

In July 2012, Mayor Leon Jukowski and Emergency Financial Manager Louis Schimmel announced plans to demolish the Phoenix Center. Its vacancy rates were high, and the city did not want to continue the high maintenance costs. New thinking about downtown was to re-emphasize the street grid; the city wanted to reconnect Saginaw Street to the downtown area. Owners of the connecting Ottawa Towers filed an injunction, claiming the demolition would devalue their property and result in lost parking. In December 2012, a judge granted an injunction for the Ottawa Towers on an "expedited calendar", which prevented the demolition of the Phoenix Center for the time being.<ref>{{cite web |title=Injunction keeps Phoenix Center standing |date=November 30, 2012 |url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20121130/NEWS/121139978/injunction-keeps-phoenix-center-standing |publisher=Crain's Detroit Business |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>

In 2010, city leaders and business owners had launched "The Rise of The Phoenix" initiative. This plan was intended to attract businesses interested in downtown retail space. The applicants selected would be given free rent in exchange for multi-year leases (two years or more) as well as one year of free parking in city lots. Some 52 new businesses were recruited to locate in downtown Pontiac, bringing new life to the city. Plans for the development of mixed-use and loft flats in downtown were announced in September 2011 by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA). MEGA estimates the development could generate $20.4 million in new investment and create up to 107 permanent full-time jobs in downtown. The development was to be supported by a state tax break.<ref>{{cite web |author=SHAUN BYRONOf The Oakland Press |url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/09/13/news/doc4e6f9a12d0b1b835475669.txt |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411225343/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/09/13/news/doc4e6f9a12d0b1b835475669.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |title=Large-scale commercial, residential development for downtown Pontiac secures state tax break |website=Theoaklandpress.com |date=September 13, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2012 }}</ref>

On January 26, 2012, West Construction Services began the renovation and restoration of the former [[Sears]] building for the Lafayette Place Lofts, the largest construction investment in Downtown Pontiac in approximately 30 years. The {{convert|80000|sqft|adj=on}} project is a [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]] (LEED) certified residential and commercial mixed-use development: it will have 46 new urban rental lofts, a fresh food grocery store and café, and a fitness center. Construction was completed during 2012, and the lofts and market opened in December of that year.{{update after|2013}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clickondetroit.com/money/Historic-Pontiac-Sears-building-to-be-transformed-into-Lafayette-Place-Lofts/-/1719116/8505766/-/d98xfmz/-/index.html |title=Historic Pontiac Sears building to be transformed into Lafayette Place Lofts &#124; Money – Home |work=Clickondetroit.com |date=January 26, 2012 |access-date=August 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111124107/http://www.clickondetroit.com/money/Historic-Pontiac-Sears-building-to-be-transformed-into-Lafayette-Place-Lofts/-/1719116/8505766/-/d98xfmz/-/index.html |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 10 West Lofts, another development in the area, will bring more residents to downtown Pontiac.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/02/12/news/local_news/doc4f36eddeb5120534858680.txt#disqus_thread |title=Pontiac loft living about to expand |website=Theoaklandpress.com |date=February 12, 2012 |access-date=August 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217134057/http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/02/12/news/local_news/doc4f36eddeb5120534858680.txt#disqus_thread |archive-date=February 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>