The opening of the street, blocked off by a square in the mid-1970s as part of urban renewal, represents the end of a long controversy over what many believe was a huge mistake.
Reconnecting North and South Leroy streets began several years ago with a petition drive initiated by residents whose "vision" was to turn back the clock and return to the days when downtown was downtown - with rows of shops and businesses lining both sides of the street.
Then, a few years ago, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) rose to the task and made the Leroy opening one of their priority projects. A study accepted by the city council in January of 1999 revealed that reconnecting the Leroys would improve traffic flow in the downtown area.
One of the obstacles standing in the way of the opening, the old Dancer's Fashions, was removed when Dancer's opened a new store (now Glik's) in Silver Lake Village. The DDA purchased the old building in the Fenton Square for $450,000 and had it demolished in May of 1999.
A $600,000 grant was then obtained to help pay for the $700,000 street opening project.
Where did it all begin and what happened?
According to historical accounts, the Fenton Planning Commission, in 1964, with the support of the chamber of commerce and downtown merchants' association, set into motion plans to modernize the central business district.
Mayor Harry Lemen and the city council approved a study to determine the cost of an urban renewal project to rejuvenate the business district downtown.
Paul Bottecelli was elected mayor in April of 1965. In July, the city council decided to continue on with the downtown project. A citizens' advisory committee was formed and a consultant was hired for $750 to conduct a detailed study to determine which areas of Fenton would qualify for federal renewal funding.
Later that year, in December, urban renewal representatives from Chicago came to Fenton to inspect the areas being considered projects. The following spring, in 1966, representatives from the Chicago Office of Housing and Urban Development visited Fenton.
In March of 1966, the Fenton Planning Commission approved an urban renewal project that called for the demolition of buildings on three downtown blocks.
During the year 1967, when numerous urban renewal studies and surveys were being reviewed, most of the city's residents were reported to have been more focused on the new $5 million high school and the development of Silver Lake Park and beach than what was about to happen downtown.
In the spring of 1969, Jack Winegarden was elected mayor. Because costs to accomplish the downtown project had risen about 15 percent, Fenton applied for a $3 million project capital and relocation grant from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development. Because the city had originally asked for $2.8 million, Fenton would be required to pay the difference, which would require a vote of the people.
During the mid-1970s, a group of downtown merchants turned against the urban renewal project. Some believed it was not necessary to tear down buildings, and that additional parking and sidewalks were all that was needed. Despite their objections, however, the city council voted to move forward with the project.
The urban renewal process was then put on hold until July 1971, when the city council approved a resolution to place the urban renewal question on an August referendum ballot. Supporters of the project objected and asked if there was a way to proceed without a vote of the people. Some merchants feared the people would vote it down because they would not want to pay more taxes.
In September of 1971, the downtown merchants asked the city council to delay the vote until March of 1972. Since two community shopping centers and the Genesee Valley Mall in Flint had come into existence, the council agreed to an update of the economic and market analysis study of the city's downtown business district.
By the middle of March of 1972, however, an urban renewal funding plan became available that would finance the urban renewal of the central business district without the necessity of a public vote.
The city council subsequently approved a resolution that enabled them to inform HUD that they were ready to proceed with the urban renewal project, and in June 1972, Fenton was awarded a $1.7 million grant.
Animosities escalated during the next few years. Shortly after federal funds were awarded to Fenton, a group of people, who wished to preserve the downtown buildings earmarked for destruction, began to meet.
Over the next couple of years, voters went to the polls three times regarding urban renewal issues.
On Dec. 12, 1972, an attempt by urban renewal opponents to recall the city council was defeated. A year later, the same group was instrumental in putting into office a slate of anti-urban renewal candidates. The council members who did not believe the recall attempt had anything to do with urban renewal were described as over-confident. This may have played a role in their ultimate defeat.
The new city council, led by Mayor Arthur Brandt, immediately suspended all urban renewal activities and scheduled an election to determine whether the citizens of Fenton wanted urban renewal or not.
Supporters of urban renewal launched an aggressive campaign and in a 1974 election, urban renewal was approved by a slim margin of 211 votes.
Later that year, an architectural firm was hired to draw up plans, which included the construction of a ring road around the outside of the downtown and the closing of Caroline and Leroy streets.
Commitments to occupy the nearly 70,000 square feet of a planned climatized mall building under a condominium purchase subsequently fell through. Large retail operations that would be required as the anchor stores could not be convinced to buy, they wanted to lease.
The condominium method was therefore abandoned, causing the need for a complete change in plans and figures.
In 1974, the downtown was officially named the "Fenton Square," and in 1975, close to 30 buildings along Caroline, Leroy and Walnut streets fell prey to the wrecking ball.
Plans to rejuvenate the downtown area came around again, more than 20 years later, especially with the developing Silver Lake Village commercial district on the west side of the city, The State Bank made a significant financial investment into what would become the new downtown with Leroy Street opened by purchasing the old Rite-Aid drug store building and renovating it into their new loan store.
In addition to improving traffic flow, officials and merchants have said they believe the opening of Leroy Street will be a tremendous help as it relates to attracting more people to the downtown area.