MARQUETTE, MI-- The Marquette City Commission has given the initial process of selling and developing a parcel of Founders Landing the green light.
The parcel lies between Lakeshore Boulevard and Front Street near Beef-a-Roo. Project Architect Barry Polzin says the developer is looking to build some affordable town houses and a hotel. He says the public space and waterfront make it a great location for people to live, and it will augment the tax base.
“It provides much-needed housing, especially in that mid-range, and it puts that housing close to downtown. Nothing stimulates downtowns businesses better than having people live in it or nearby,” he says.
Home Renewal Systems, the company in charge of turning the old orphanage into apartments, is spearheading the current project. Polzin says the city manager will get an appraisal for the parcel within the next 30 days. Once the appraisal is received, he and HRS will meet to work out the details of the purchase.
Polzin says the project will be a $12 million to $13 million investment.