Downtown Royal Oak Michigan

The Authority

The Downtown Development Authority

The Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) mission is to promote economic growth and revitalization in Downtown Royal Oak.

  • Improving and maintaining a solid and user-friendly infrastructure
  • Marketing Downtown Royal Oak to consumers and businesses
  • Encouraging preservation of Royal Oak’s downtown

Annual Foot Traffic

The District by the Numbers

2 million peoplepeople came downtown last year
8.3 million visitsvisits across the year
149 minuteson an average visit

over 50% of visitors arrive between 5 PM and midnight

Foot traffic: DDA Annual Report FY 2023-2024 (Placer Labs data)

Goals

What the Authority Works Toward

The DDA's standing goals

SAFETY
to protect the residents, businesses, and visitors of Downtown Royal Oak.
PROMOTION
to promote Downtown Royal Oak as a premier destination for shopping, dining, entertainment, living and working.
INFRASTRUCTURE
to provide a downtown that is clean and well maintained.
DEVELOPMENT
economic development programs, attraction efforts, and TIF reimbursements.
PARKING
to provide adequate and safe parking for downtown residents, employees, and visitors.
PUBLIC
to keep the public informed of the DDA’s activities.
PLACEMAKING
to create welcoming and beautiful public spaces that encourage residents and visitors to gather as a community.
A downtown oak wrapped in string lights at dusk, the winter market stalls lit behind it
The downtown park dressed for winter, from the DDA's annual report.

Meetings

When the DDA Meets

Regular schedule

DDA Board (Regular Meeting)City Commission Chambers, 203 S Troy Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067
3rd Wednesday of each month at 4:00 p.m.
Infrastructure CommitteeConference Room 122, 203 S. Troy Street
1st Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m.
Marketing & Business Relations CommitteeConference Room 122, 203 S. Troy Street
1st Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m.

Agendas, packets, and minutes for these meetings are published in the City of Royal Oak's meeting system.

See the DDA meeting schedule

Governance

The Board and Its Staff

The City of Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority is under the supervision and control of a board consisting of the city manager and eight or 10 members as determined by the city commission. Members are appointed by the city manager, subject to approval by the city commission.

FY 2023-2024 Board of Directors (from the DDA Annual Report)

  • Michael Sophiea, Chairperson
  • Anthony Yezbick, Vice Chairperson
  • Kyle DuBuc, Director (February-June)
  • Jay Dunstan, Director
  • Michael Keith, Director
  • Arbor LaClave, Director
  • Salvatore LoGrasso, Director
  • Lori London, Director
  • Mark Vanneste, Director
  • Gail Von Staden, Director
  • Paul Brake, City Manager (June-December)
  • Todd Fenton, Interim City Manager (December-May)
  • Mark Wollenweber, Interim City Manager (May-June)

The list above is the board of directors as published in the DDA annual report for the fiscal year shown. For the current board, see the City of Royal Oak's board and commission records.

DDA Staff

Programs and Funding

Downtown Dollars and the TIF Plan

During the 2023-2024 fiscal year the DDA allocated $398,000 to Downtown Dollars, the district gift-card program that keeps community spending with downtown businesses.

The authority is funded through tax increment financing, which reinvests the growth in downtown property value back into the district.

The Development and TIF plans, annual reports, and DDA rules