Downtown Pontiac is second only to Detroit, albeit a distant second, when it comes to beautiful architecture. I always thought it, and Pontiac as a whole, had great prospects for urban revival -- great architecture surrounded by very wealthy suburbs.

Yet every fit and start seems to have began with big bang fanfare and then sputtered to nothing -- from its Renaissance-Center-like attempt with the ill-fated Phoenix Center to a brief reign as an art center centered around Lawrence street and the alley. Then receivership.

Now comes news in one week of two sizable corporations moving their headquarters to Pontiac. While these are not downtown, I think then indicate a long missing confidence. Hopefully it bodes well for Pontiac.

Williams International to move headquarters to former Pontiac film studio
$344.5 million project would create 400 jobs

United Shore to move headquarters from Troy to Pontiac
The company will begin construction in August with plans of moving its entire operations, including its more than 2,000 employees, into the building next summe