Royal Oak tries to save precious jewel billboard from state demo order

Royal Oak is fighting to save one of metro Detroit's most historic and beloved landmarks--an auto dealer's electronic billboard on Woodward.

Tragically, the dealer failed to pay a $150 MDOT fee so the state says the billboard (and all the history and sense of place that comes with it) must be destroyed.

Ever the preservationists, Royal Oak's City Commission is leading the charge to save this vitally important public structure. 

Freep: Tonight, the Royal Oak City Commission will consider passing a resolution in support of Suburban Collection, a Troy-based chain of 35 dealerships nationwide that wants to buy the clock tower from a bank that assumed ownership of numerous Fresard properties last year, according to the documents.

The Fresard dealership, for decades a landmark Pontiac dealer on North Main in Royal Oak, "faithfully paid its renewal fees to the MDOT since 2002," then allowed the fee to lapse when it "became effectively insolvent during the latter part of 2011," says a letter to the city from Suburban Collection's lawyer.

I'm sure the City Commission would be just as cool if you fail to pay a Royal Oak parking ticket. -- JTW