Commission selects three firms for master plan

The Flint Planning Commission zeroed in on three consulting firms to lead the master planning process which it recommended to Flint Emergency Manager Michael Brown who will make the final choice.

Seven consulting firms were interviewed earlier in November at a two-day interview process where the public was invited to comment.

After the bids were received it became clear to the commissioners the request for proposal did not indicate how much money the city had to offer a firm. The original request for proposal listed the HUD grant amount of $1.57 million but neglected to say that only part of that could be spent on a consulting firm. All but one of the firms built their bids on the $1.57 million figure.

A significant part of the three-year HUD grant is restricted to paying the chief planner and associate planners.

After discovering the error, the commission asked the firms to resubmit their proposals using the reduced amount of about $891,000. After reviewing the resubmitted and trimmed-down versions, the commissioners ranked the bids and agreed Dec. 19 to submit their top three choices to Brown.

The firm that ranked highest was Houseal Lavigne Associates of Chicago. Coming in second was Good, Clancy and Associates Inc. of Boston and third ranked was Interface Studio LLC of Philadelphia.

The top contender, Houseal Lavigne Associates, is an award-winning firm specializing in all areas of community planning, urban design and economic development. The group has a combination of national and Michigan experience. The firm promised to help make Flint a nationally recognized sustainability leader incorporating a high quality of life that works well for all residents.

During their Nov. 3 interview, John Houseal, principal of Houseal Lavigne Associates, suggested the master planning process was a great opportunity for Flint to rebrand itself.

"We'll open a downtown studio where people can come with their perception of Flint. It's not a city plan, but a people's plan we want to develop," Houseal said.

It is not known when Brown will act on the commission's recommendation.