Design Assistance 2.0

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

Design Assistance 2.0 is a collaborative effort between Oakland County, local government and property owners to provide initial planning and design assistance to bring underutilized property to a higher common good. Expanding on the success of the Oakland County Design Assistance Program, which delivers conceptual designs for private façade improvements in selected communities, Design Assistance 2.0 offers planning and conceptual design services to a broader and more speculative entrepreneurial clientele. The intent of the program is to advance and promote the use of specific underperforming key properties for the benefits that stabilization and enhancement bring to a community. The program is lead by a staff Architect/Principal Planner and, if needed, draws from other staff expertise including planners, landscape architects, environmentalists and technicians to form work teams for specific projects. These projects are initiated by the local unit of government and requests are made to the Planning and Economic Development Services for design and planning assistance. Projects may involve public and/or privately owned buildings within traditional downtowns or suburban commercial centers. The deliverable is a conceptual design graphic and supporting technical information packaged for the purpose of promoting the project by private entrepreneurs seeking funding, or public projects seeking grant funding or public support.