Who We Are
The Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority (Lake Orion DDA) was established in 1985 under PA 197 of 1975, now PA 57 of 2018, as amended, to revitalize the Village of Lake Orion downtown district. We became a Main Street America Accredited Community in 2006. The DDA utilizes the Main Street Approach, a set of guiding principles for downtown management set forth by the National Main Street Center, Downtown Lake Orion is a part of Main Street Oakland County, the only county-wide Main Street program in the country.
Our Mission
The mission of the Lake Orion DDA is to enhance the economic potential and preserve the historical character of the Lake Orion DDA District, the heart and hub of the Orion Community, through promotional activities and an organizational structure that focuses on community involvement with local businesses, residents, and other stakeholders. (Adopted March 2, 2010, reviewed March 2021)
Over the next ten years, Downtown Lake Orion, Michigan will be the heart and hub of the greater Orion community. There is a direct connection between the Paint Creek Trail which traverses throughout the community and the historic downtown. The trail connects both Lake Orion and the downtown, so runners, walkers, and bikers can use our trails and lakeshore for recreational uses and our downtown for choice shopping, dining and live entertainment at many different price points. Our walkable community shall be accessible to all with many barrier-free amenities.
In the summer months, our Flower & Art Fair and our outdoor LOLive! Music Series will continue to bring thousands of people into town during the evening when all of our restaurants and shops are open. The Lake Orion DDA shall host several family-friendly signature special events each year that bring our residents, as well as, people from around the state to share our lake and downtown district. The Lake Orion DDA shows a commitment to fostering arts in our community with a strong partnership with the Orion Art Center.
Our downtown caters to the larger Orion community with many destination businesses that continue to be a mix of local entrepreneurs, franchises and national retailers. The DDA markets our downtown through many different media channels and actively seek new retailers or tenants when the rare vacancy occurs. Our DDA will promote an increasingly dense group of mixed uses along M24 and in the downtown, where new condos and apartments can exist side by side in our wonderfully restored residential and commercial buildings. (Adopted March 2, 2010, revised March 8, 2011, reviewed March 2021)
Image courtesy of Jason Ford
PA 57 of 2018 Reporting Requirements
How are we governed?
Under PA 57, each municipality that has a tax incremented authority as described in the bill must create a website, or use an existing municipality website, that is operated and regularly maintained with access to authority records and documents for the fiscal year beginning on the effective date of the bill. The new general reporting requirements take effect 180 days after the end of an authority’s current fiscal year as of January 1, 2019. For Lake Orion, this is the July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019 fiscal year. Visit the Village of Lake Orion website for complete Financial Reports and Information
DDA Board Minutes
DDA Board Minutes
Please clink links below to view documents.
Unless otherwise noted, the DDA Board of Directors meet every second Tuesday of the month at 6:30PM EST in the Village of Lake Orion Council Chambers. Click any of the links below to view Meeting notices, minutes, agendas, and the monthly calendar.
Go to Meetings tab, use drop down menu to access ‘Downtown Development Authority’
Annual Budgets & Audits
Annual budget and audits (on lakeorion.org)
Please clink links below to view documents.
TIF District PA57 Report – 2019
TIF District PA57 Report – 2020
TIF District PA57 Report – 2021
Tax increment revenues not spent within 5 years or 10 years: none at this time.
TIF & Development Plan
Currently adopted development plan and tax increment finance plan, adopted January 2020. Please clink links below to view documents
Authority Staff Information
Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority
Address: 118 N. Broadway
Lake Orion, MI 48362
Phone Number: 248-693-9742
Informational Meetings
The following is provided in the report from each year’s annual informational meetings:
- Contracts and a description of those contracts and other documents related to authority management and services provided to the authority.
- A list of authority accomplishments, including progress on development plan and tax increment plan goals and objectives for the immediately preceding fiscal year.
- A list of authority projects and investments, including active and completed projects for the immediately preceding fiscal year.
- A list of authority events and promotional campaigns for the immediately preceding fiscal year
Informational Meetings Annual Reports
Please clink links below to view documents.
Public Acts
Please clink links below to view documents.
PA 57 of 2018 – Downtown Development Authority
PA 267 of 1976 – Open Meetings Act
PA 442 of 1976 – Freedom of Information Act
Lake Orion Laws
Please clink links below to view documents.
Funding the DDA
How is the DDA Funded?
The DDA is funded through Tax-Increment Financing (TIF). This means that taxes paid within the DDA District are reinvested within the district. The DDA is not an additional tax but a capture of the increase in property value since the TIF was established.
Meeting Minutes
Unless otherwise noted, the DDA Board of Directors meet every second Tuesday of the month at 6:30PM EST in the Village of Lake OrionC Council Chambers. Click any of the links below to view Meeting notices, minutes, agendas, and the monthly calendar.