City of Fremont Urban Planning | Fremont, MI

The need: The city of Fremont, long known for its beauty and small-town charm, was suffering from the effects of an aging downtown. A façade improvement program was needed to help revitalize the downtown area by restoring it to its original beauty.

The solution: The program provided the foundation for future remodeling efforts and development.

Working with city officials, Hooker DeJong developed initial concepts and conducted a community-based collaborative meeting to solicit input, gain support, and build consensus. Guidelines were developed demonstrating the correct use of colors and materials. Accent "gooseneck-style" lighting reminiscent of the 1930s was designed to highlight architectural features, seamlessly blend into the façade, and upgrade the image of the downtown area. The quality of materials was also specified to ensure that future improvements would meet the new standards for quality.

Cost: $15,000
Completion: 2007
Scope: Façade improvement program