The Third Street Parking Garage in downtown Royal Oak is coming down for good, and city officials are already fielding pitches on what should rise in its place. Demolition of the aging structure at Center and Third streets has freed up the property for new development, clearing one of the last large, city-owned sites in the heart of downtown.
The city of Royal Oak demolished the Third Street Parking Garage, according to Crain's Detroit Business, and is now asking developers what should happen next at the site. The parcel, addressed as 300 S. Center Street, is described by the city as one of the last large, assembled, city-owned parcels remaining in the core of downtown, according to the City of Royal Oak. Demolition began in late September, and WXYZ reported it was nearing its halfway point, with completion expected by November.
What the City Wants to See There
The city has issued a Request for Information for the site and is seeking a development partner, per the same city posting. Its stated vision calls for signature architecture, a restored pedestrian connection along Third Street through to Washington Avenue, and a publicly accessible gathering space. The 2025 Master Plan names the exact parcel a catalyst site for transformative mixed-use development, the city notes.
Royal Oak's Downtown Development Authority executive director said downtown hotels are frequently booked months in advance, and the station's report noted the director suggested a hotel could help meet visitor demand. The city's RFI page also points to market pressure behind the push, stating Royal Oak commands the fourth-highest rent premium among 23 Metro Detroit submarkets and is capturing nearly all of the region's near-term multifamily construction pipeline.
No Decision Yet on How the Land Changes Hands
Despite the ambitious vision, the city says it has not predetermined how the site will ultimately be conveyed. A City Commission memo dated August 24 laid out several possible paths: a developer could purchase the property at fair market value, reimburse the city and DDA for demolition costs at a reduced rate, or receive the property at reduced or no cost in exchange for extraordinary public benefit, according to the same city posting.
WXYZ reported that Royal Oak is inviting developers interested in transforming the former garage site to submit proposals by December, with a public process to follow before the city settles on its future. The outlet also noted the property's size, describing it in one instance as nearly 1.5 acres and elsewhere as 1.44 acres.
A Long-Stalled Redevelopment Push Finally Moves
Talk of remaking the Center Street garage area is not new. In September 2007, Metromode reported that Royal Oak's Downtown Development Authority had been pushing for redevelopment of the parking structure and adjacent surface lot, an effort that had stalled. At the time, the DDA said simply, “We would like to see a mixed-use redevelopment of that area.”
That stalled push gained momentum in May, when the DDA voted to authorize up to $600,000 toward demolition of the structurally failing older portion of the Center Street parking deck, according to Citizen Portal. That funding, however, was contingent on a formal city commission vote recognizing the DDA's role in the redevelopment process, the outlet reported. With the structure now largely demolished and the RFI underway, the long-discussed transformation of the site appears to finally be in motion.
