A Royal Oak Original: A Conversation with Mayor Jim Ellison (Part 2)

, columnists Gerry Boylan and Shannon Crepeau talk to Royal Oak Mayor Jim Ellison about his views on downtown, special events, our neighborhoods, roads, attracting new businesses and what keeps him motivated and upbeat about our city.

Jim, there’s been a lot of discussion and debate about Royal Oak’s downtown regarding the night life, liquor licenses, etc. What’s your view on the downtown, or as us old-timers call it, uptown.

I think we are blessed to have a vibrant and diverse downtown. Yes, there are always going to be issues when you have popular nightspots that serve alcohol.  But those issues are only a small part of the overall benefits that the downtown has to offer.

Downtown Royal Oak is very popular with a wide range of ages and at different times of the day and night. Dinner hour is big time for families and couples of all ages. I think of all the kids that come downtown to enjoy Spooktacular, highlighting just how popular downtown is across different age groups.

And the young people who come to our bars and restaurants often end up meeting here for a date, start a relationship and later on consider Royal Oak as place to live. I talk to a lot of young people who buy their first home in Royal Oak and their first exposure was a date in Royal Oak.

(Columnist Shannon Crepeau’s note: Yep, that’s how I met my husband!)

Our downtown is a very important draw for people who are considering moving into Royal Oak, along with quality schools and affordable housing. We’re very attractive to people looking for a unique community to live in. As the real estate market recovers, and in Royal Oak that recovery looks like it’s started, I think we have a lot to offer.

You’ve been a big supporter of the festivals in Royal Oak. Are they really worth the headache of traffic, etc.?

I think that Arts, Beats & Eats, the Dream Cruise and other large events attract people to Royal Oak who may never come here otherwise. They get a chance to see our unique stores, restaurants and flavor, which brings them back for repeat visits.

You can’t ignore the traffic, but these events are exciting and make Royal Oak a place like no other community in southeastern Michigan. I think the positives significantly outweigh the negatives.

You know, Michigan has just gone through the most devastating economic downturn in my lifetime, and while we have vacancies we want to fill downtown, business owners know they can make money in Royal Oak and want to be here. In spite of the economic challenges, downtown and our neighborhoods are still vibrant. I think that due to the vision and hard work of a lot of people. Royal Oak is rightfully viewed as a very special and attractive community. 

Some residents want more retail and other businesses in town. Your thoughts?

Yes, we need to build on our success and attract more office and retail to the city. But I think we have the reputation and base to make that happen. 

I think another step that we in city government can do is to make the process to start or relocate a business to Royal Oak easier. I’m committed to reviewing the licensing and other procedures in order to improve and streamline the process. There is always room for improvement and this is one area to start.

We’ve talked a lot about downtown and business; what about Royal Oak’s neighborhoods? For example, numerous side streets are in terrible shape. How do you view the neighborhoods?

The most important part of Royal Oak is our neighborhoods and the people who live in them. We’re fortunate to have very diverse housing in Royal Oak from starter homes to family homes to even larger homes. I think that the level of service we provide to neighborhoods is good, but we have to work hard to keep it good and getting better. Few cities can match our combination of parks, excellent housing opportunities and other jewels like the and our .

The road situation is a problem seeking a solution. We do not have local funding for our roads. We do the best we can with state and federal funds, but for the most part they do not cover neighborhood side streets. I think as we emerge from the local and state fiscal crises, we will need to start talking with our county, state and federal representatives and our residents about potential solutions. Right now, it’s a frustrating situation.

I view our neighborhoods as the most important part of Royal Oak. In the end, we are defined by the people who live in our city and as I’ve said I think we are jewel of southeastern Michigan.

You’ve been at the business of local government for a long time.  What keeps you motivated? How do relieve the stress of the office? And one last question, any thoughts of running for other or higher political office?

That’s a lot of questions! In reverse order, there’s the old political adage, never say never when it comes to running for an office, so who knows what the future holds. But I really enjoy the job of being the Mayor of Royal Oak. I’m living a lifelong dream of being a decision maker in my hometown and I don’t take it for granted.

My stress relief tends to fit into the part of my job that promotes Royal Oak. I enjoy going to the new business ribbon cuttings and being out and about in downtown and the neighborhoods with Jodie. It’s fun!

What motivates me is the job of making Royal Oak stable financially so we can continue to enjoy stable neighborhoods. The job is not yet complete and the downtown is not done. We have made tremendous progress and there will always be something left to do, but I want to be part of that process. I enjoy the job and I’ll keep at it until it’s no longer fun and as long as residents think I’m doing a good job. In the end, I serve as mayor at the residents' bidding and I never forget that.

Thanks for your time, Mr. Mayor.

Please, call me, Jim.