By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
Lake Orion’s Planning Commission has officially grown by one more local architect known for his work on Lucky’s Natural Foods, Orion Pointe Condominiums and the Lake Orion Village Hall.?
Not to mention, the Lake Orion resident was recently named the youngest architect in Michigan, and second youngest in the U.S., according to the AIA National American Institute of Architects.
The 24-year-old also did his masters degree thesis on his ideas that could maximize the potential uses of the downtown, which lately has been pretty good.?
Let’s just say Scott Reynolds lives and breathes downtown Lake Orion.
He is an architect for Steve Auger and Associates Architects? (SA&A), just purchased a house on Broadway in July, and also sits on the design committee board for the Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
He sees the new business ideas coming in on a regular basis, which DDA Director Suzanne Perrault has confirmed.?
‘The downtown has had a lot of interest from new businesses and developers,? Perrault said. ‘Scott has been a great resource as an architect and as a resident. He has a great vision for the downtown’s potential.??
He sat in at his first planning commission meeting’Tuesday’after The’Review’went to press.?
‘There are a lot of ways that I really believe in the village and the abilities of what the village can do, and I want to help,? he said.?
Reynolds is currently working on two new projects, a possible restaurant and retail shop the commission will review later this month.?
‘As an architect, I might have an opinion on red or blue, but at the end of the day you have to look at the big picture. Is this something that is viable and will contribute actively to the community??
Village Council President Ken Van Portfliet said Reynolds will recuse himself from voting on any projects with a direct conflict of interest. He recommended that the village council appoint Reynolds to the commission in December after reviewing his application.?
‘He’s involved in the community. He’s hard working, he has a lot of knowledge of some of the comings and goings in the community. And he is a professional architect. Any time we can capture people like him on our board it’s a great thing,? Van Portfliet said.?
Also due to the increasing interest in Lake Orion’s downtown sites, the planning commission is increasing their monthly meetings to two meetings per month, Van Portfliet said.?
As with all development, there can be more than one opinion, especially if the community thinks it could become a shopping mall.?
Reynolds said he understands this concern, and is keen to preserve the community’s heritage in a tasteful, respectful approach.
‘Development doesn’t mean just plowing things over and building something new. It could be like Lockharts BBQ. They took an existing building and renovated it. Or the new village hall on Church St. that had been unoccupied for years.?
For his thesis statement he dug into the history of the downtown when amusement parks, hotels and auditoriums lit up Lake Orion’s islands.?
When the 800 miles of shoreline was the place to be in the summer, development was popping up everywhere, including the now 900 plus cottages that began being puzzle-pieced together in the mid- 1900s.?
Researching a book put together by two Lake Orion residents, James E. Ingram and Lori Grove, in 2006, Reynolds referenced Images of America Lake Orion multiple times for his facade work to the outside of Lucky’s.
‘It’s a fearful thought to say that a community could blow up with success, because you want to grow smartly and tastefully. But what’s scary is that the downtown became obsolete. Cars became super important and if you couldn’t park in the first 10 spots in front of the Lake Orion Pharmacy, you went to what’s convenient, which is now CVS.?
Reynolds believes in the risks business owners and private developers took to make Lake Orion the booming cottage-town it was.?
‘It’s scary, but at the same time so was starting this community over 100 years ago. That was a new spot of thinking, flooding the lakes, bringing them into one as a functional purpose, and then it became ‘let’s develop cottages,?? he said. ‘I think we can be open to where society is going, and do it tastefully, and it all comes from meshing our history with where we are at now.?
Reynolds goal on the Planning Commission is to find that happy medium.?
That could mean, instead of an 800 sq. foot store in the downtown, compromising with the owner who needs 1,500 sq. feet.?
Or considering a three or four story building if there is a way it can be designed to look like a two or three story’building.?
Or reconnecting the downtown district back to Lake Orion lake with a new shoreline restaurant, more sidewalks and maybe even a pedestrian bridge.?
Reynolds has loads of ideas.?
He is a 2009 graduate from Lake Orion High School and very excited to be part of Lake Orion’s planning and development team in his hometown.?
‘I just want people to know that I believe in the community and I really want to take advantage of the opportunities I think exist. And, I wish for everyone to eventually see those opportunities.?