Flint Downtown Development Authority

08/25/2023

The marquee race is tomorrow, but set-up for the Crim begins this morning all over downtown Flint. There are four ways that traffic and parking are disrupted:



1 – The Saginaw St. corridor from Water Street to Court St. is closed to parking beginning at 9am.

2 – Sections of Saginaw, Kearsley and 1St St. are closed for equipment set-up at 9am.

3 – Starting at 5pm Saginaw St. will be closed from the Flint River to Court St., as well as the east/west cross streets.

4 – Saturday will see many streets from downtown and the neighborhoods to the west closed for the duration of the 10 mile race.



Getting around can be frustrating, so please avoid the area unless you are looking to enjoy the energy and excitement of race weekend. If you do need to come down leave some extra time as you might need to find a parking spot a block or two further out than you are used to. Good luck to all the walkers and runners on Saturday!

08/24/2023

FIM planning End of Summer Jam

Swon Brothers with special guests
Billy Gunther & The Midwest Riders and Shiatown

Thursday, September 7• 6:00 pm - Free Event
Downtown Flint, E. 2nd St., between Saginaw and Brush Alley

Click here for details: https://fb.me/e/Vb2zl41U

08/23/2023

Downtown In The News: Hagerman Sells Last Downtown Building

Phil Hagerman has sold the Dryden Building in downtown Flint to a Florida real estate investment company nearly a decade after purchasing the five-story landmark and giving it a new lease on life.

08/21/2023

The last week of August is always race week, so expect big crowds and traffic disruption. Setup begins on Friday with Saginaw St. closed and the Flat Lot shut down. Monthly and daily parkers can use the Rutherford Ramp on Kearsley Street.

Saturday the 10 mile race follows the route below - if you live inside the red line it can be difficult to get out before noon. If you are coming downtown after the start of the race you should park outside the line and walk in - the east and south sides are the easiest to navigate.

Official page for the Flint Downtown Development Authority.

08/21/2023

This Sunday St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will celebrate 150 years at the intersection of 3rd St. and S. Saginaw St. so it was appropriate to share an early photo of the building. Charles Norton Beecher and his wife, Sarah, owned the east side of the 700 block. When St. Paul’s purchased the corner lot in 1871, the church moved the house to the south edge of the property (as shown) to make way for the new church building at the intersection. St. Paul’s rector had been living in a house near 2nd and Beach at the time. Once the trade/purchase was complete, this house became St. Paul’s rectory, and Mrs. Beecher moved into the former parsonage

https://medium.com/flintdda/st-pauls-150-years-at-the-intersection-3e3114c8f851

08/20/2023

One of downtown's signature buildings is having a birthday party, and you are invited! St. Paul's Episcopal Church is celebrating 150 years at the intersection of S. Saginaw and Third St. on Sunday with services and a community social - open to all.

08/18/2023

Fireworks tonight! Launched from Chevy Commons around 9:30pm.

08/16/2023

Back to the Bricks - Car Cruise makes for a fun but congested week downtown. Three main street closures to be aware of.

1 - Wednesday and Thursday is the Rolling Cruise, where all the cross streets from Court St. to 5th Ave. are closed at the alleys. Saginaw Street is very slow going - so try and go around the city center if you are in a hurry.

2 - Thursday through Sunday the Flat Lot will be closed for upgrades, set up and the big show on Saturday. The parking ramps will be open.

3 - Friday at 5pm Saginaw St. will be closed to through traffic as cruisers find spots on the streets. Saturday is the main event, with Saginaw and nearby streets closed for cars in the show. The weather should be perfect, so park a couple blocks out and a short walk will get you to the event.

08/16/2023

Downtown In The News: Building Demo On Hold

A building at 641 S. Saginaw St. that collapsed into Brush Alley in downtown Flint last month won't be demolished yet while two entities argue over who actually owns it.

08/14/2023

In the summer of 1987 the beloved Uncle Bob's Diner was sold for $2,000 and moved to Rockford near Grand Rapids. In this photo the new owner, artist Jerry Berta, was using a sledgehammer to separate the dining car from the El Matador addition.

08/12/2023

Did you say you liked fireworks? You've got fireworks:

08/11/2023

The 2nd Annual “The Culture Matters Cooking Competition” is happening at the Flint Farmers' Market on August 13th! Come out and celebrate local talent, diversity in culture, food, and creativity. 🌮🥗🍱🍒

The 2nd Annual “The Culture Matters Cooking Competition” is happening at the Flint Farmers' Market on August 13, 2023. The event will be celebrating diversity in culture, food, and creativity.

08/08/2023

During WWII a marching band heads north on Saginaw St. past the Rialto Theatre. These buildings were located where the Citizens Bank new tower stands. A Lady Takes a Chance is showing, and since the film debuted on August 19, 1943, we can guess this photo was taken soon after. Notice the theater advertises "Open All Night." This is to accommodate the workers in the 'Arsenal of Democracy,' as many plants in Flint are running around-the-clock. The Rialto later turned into the Royal Art Theatre in the 1960s and showed 'blue movies,' before being demolished to make way for the bank.

08/07/2023

Downtown In The News: Audible Crosswalks

The equipment will produce an audible voice, telling pedestrians when to walk, the name of the street to be crossed and the amount of time remaining to pass through the crossing.

08/04/2023

We already knew Torch burgers are the best in the nation! 🙌 🍔

Torch Bar and Grill

The popular Flint dive bar has been around for over a half-century, and even though the area is business-heavy, people from all walks of life come through its doors.

08/02/2023

MIOCA is bringing entertainment and ovarian cancer education to Flint, MI this August with our UnTEAL There's A Cure concert for awareness. This fun community event is set to take place on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at the University of Michigan-Flint Ice Rink.

Bring a lawn chair and all your friends because this FREE concert is for everyone!



Questions? Email [email protected].

Event location: 303 Saginaw Street, (between University Pavilion and Flint River), Flint, MI 48502

07/31/2023

Popping up to the north side for this amazing shot of the A&P at Dayton and Dupont that was shared on Facebook by Marty Smith. The grocery is bracketed by Gulf and Sinclair gas stations, and across the street is Russ's, with a great Canada Dry sign. Do you spot the downtown connection? The billboard is for First Federal Savings, which was located on Beach near Kearsley. It later became office space for Citizens Bank.

07/28/2023

We are looking forward to celebrating the opening of Queens' Provisions! See you there! 🧀🍖

07/27/2023

JazzWalk tonight, JazzFest this weekend!

07/26/2023

Save the date for the 12th Annual Back 2 School Rally! 🚌📚✏️📓

If you would like to donate you may cash app $WTBEnterpriseLLC or bring items to WayneThe Barber at 111 West 2nd Street Flint MI 48502 Tuesday-Saturday 12pm-4pm
Deadline is August 2nd.
For more information contact Tiana- 810-529-9091

The 12th Annual Back 2 School Rally is soon approaching and our goal is to fill 500 back packs for Genesee county k-12 students. It’s not too late to help! We need:

Folders
Notebooks
Pencil
Highlighters
Erasers
Ink pens
Crayons

If you would like to donate you may cash app $WTBEnterpriseLLC or bring items to Wayne’s Barbershop 111 West 2nd Street Flint MI 48502 Tuesday -Saturday 12pm-4pm deadline is August 2nd. More info contact Tiana @ 810-529-9091

07/25/2023

Downtown's business community continues to grow with support from the Flint & Genesee Chamber and others. Learn more about a few businesses whose determination has led to new spaces opening this summer!

https://www.flintandgenesee.org/downtown-flint-sees-multiple-openings-ribbon-cuttings-amidst-road-construction/

Spectacular Spudz MagnifiClips Flint 100K Ideas

As Saginaw Street’s brick replacement continues, lane closures aren’t preventing new business openings from happening. Just this week, the Flint & Genesee Chamber has helped support two ribbon cuttings, with plans for a third on

07/24/2023

This week we are going to the west edge of downtown, where Bush's Furniture Store used to sit on Ann Arbor St., just north of Court. For much of its history Bush's sold new and used furniture, providing an inexpensive place for those relocating to Flint to furnish their homes. They also rented typewriters to Flint students who needed them for class, $5 per month!

07/21/2023

Join us tonight for Carriage Town Porchfest 2023! 🎶🎵🎶🎵

07/19/2023

Downtown Flint always has something cool going on! Check out this pop-up tonight at SHIFT!

Today at 4pm you can find out why permanent jewelry has all the buzz this summer! SHIFT is located in the Capitol Theatre Building on the corner of Harrison and 2nd St. in downtown Flint.

07/19/2023

Congratulations to Totem Books! 📚👏🏻

As paper books become a niche product, niche retailers have become the best place to buy and sell them.

07/17/2023

This 1930s postcard shows several of downtown's iconic buildings. On the left is the Vernor's store - now Halo Burger, First Presbyterian Church, and the now-demolished Hotel Dresden. Further down are Genesee Merchants Bank - now the Hilton Garden Inn, and Citizens Bank - now Huntington. On the right is the Masonic Temple, and in the distance the Union Industrial Trust and Savings Bank Building - now the Mott Foundation Building. In the distance the edge of the Durant Hotel is peeking out on the other side of the river. From the Gary Mueller Collection.

07/16/2023

07/14/2023

Saturday, August 13 – save the date! The 2nd Annual The Culture Matters Cooking Competition is back, and you do not want to miss this gastronomical event! Watch as four chefs battle it out LIVE in the kitchen. Each round will challenge their creativity, play on their strengths and weaknesses, all while testing their ability to work under the pressure of a ticking clock. Last year’s winner, Micah “Chef Boil” Din, will compete in the final round to see if he can retain the title. Hit the link to learn more and get your tickets before they sell out.



https://www.facebook.com/events/275636028214479

07/11/2023

If you know, you know.


Brush Alley Skateshop

07/10/2023

The City of Flint precautionary boil filtered water advisory will remain in place until midday Tuesday, July 11, while we await the results of bacterial testing.

The City is working to repair a break in an 18-inch transmission main at Clifford St. and E. 12th St. The transmission main has been isolated from the rest of the water system and residents should not experience disruptions in service.

Repairs are also ongoing at the following locations:
- Glenn Ave and Home Ave.
- Clio Rd. between Mack Ave. and Dayton St.
- 1800 block of Seymour Ave.
- 800 E. Foss Ave.

The boil filtered water advisory has been issued out of an abundance of caution, since several areas of the city were impacted by these breaks.

Flint residents should continue to use filtered water. Free filters and cartridges are available for pickup at Flint City Hall, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Residents should use bottled water or filtered and boiled water for cooking, drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, rinsing foods, and mixing powdered infant formula. No precautions are needed for bathing or showering.

When using tap water, bring cold filtered water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

Residents should report any changes in their water by calling 810-766-7202. This line is monitored 24/7. If you leave a message after hours, someone will return your call as soon as possible.

07/10/2023

Plenty of discussion about parking downtown, but nobody is suggesting we return to the mid-70s Saginaw St. parking lot plan. In an effort to compete with new and planned malls, downtown was made to look like, well, a mall. Matching canopies were added to storefronts between 3rd and Kearsley. Shoppers had shade and protection from rain, and everything had a uniform look. Angle parking in the middle of the street made for a pedestrian mall feel. Needless to say, this failed to stop the retail decline of downtown, and stores continued to flee to Genesee Valley and the township strip malls until the early 2000s saw the birth of the downtown revival.

07/09/2023

from the City of Flint

As a precaution, the City of Flint is issuing a citywide boil filtered water advisory due to a large water main break. Residents and businesses are advised to boil filtered water for drinking and cooking until further notice.

Locations throughout the city may experience low water pressure. The City of Flint Water Department is making repairs at several locations.

07/09/2023

So many good things happening downtown in July!

07/07/2023

Heads up for tomorrow! Alley Fest will be taking place in Buckham Alley between Kearsley and 2nd St. Drivers please keep an eye out for big crowds walking to the event.

07/07/2023

Tomorrow!!!

07/07/2023

Drinks of Essence is a great addition to downtown. Learn more about owner Sheena Harrison’s journey in a new episode of 100K Ideas storytelling series.

“For those that are having the idea of venturing out into the small business world, do it. By all means, do it.” 100K Ideas recently released the seventh episode of its Client Storytelling series which gives past clients the opportunity to talk about

07/06/2023

Shout out to Paul's Pipe Shop on an incredible 95 years in business! Downtown’s longest-running business, the Spaniola family are world class experts in pipes and to***co. Stop in for their anniversary sale - and the coldest soda’s in town!

06/28/2023

Do you have a downtown Flint business? The DDA wants to help promote you on our social media and via our weekly newsletter. Email information about sales, specials, events or new product lines to us at [email protected] and we'll help spread the word!