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Residents should be informed about development plan

Marquette’s coveted lakeshore is making headlines once again.

A proposal was recently presented to the Marquette City Commission that involves a 4.6-acre parcel of property along Lakeshore Boulevard. The commission on Monday OK’d getting the property appraised and directed its city manager to negotiate a sale of the land, which has been on the market since 2006. It’s situated at the northeast corner of the boulevard’s intersection with U.S. 41, or South Front Street. That area along the lake, known as Founder’s Landing, has seen some changes in the past few years, and it might see a few more with the aforementioned proposal.

Home Renewal Systems, the same group that redeveloped the old Holy Family Orphanage into an apartment complex, wants to buy the 4.6-acre parcel from the city.

The developers are planning a mixed-use project, with part of it to include 21-unit townhomes, as well as a hotel and a stand-alone business. All said, they’re tagging a private investment in the project of between $13 million and $15 million.

Obviously, this is in the early stages, and the details are sure to be ironed out in the coming months, but generally speaking, this project — should it come to fruition — seems to have more positive ramifications than downsides.

For starters, the city’s piggy bank will likely see some new income from the taxes generated through the development. Currently, the lot is vacant, and since it’s already owned by the city, it’s not providing any money at all for the services the city provides. Getting that property on the tax rolls is an obvious benefit.

Secondly, part of the development is to include townhouses, which developers tell us are intended to target people who work and live in Marquette, rather than pricey condominiums for the snowbirds or others who might use the property less frequently.

Housing that can accommodate those lower- to middle-class people we have in the Marquette area is in short supply, and providing more options for the young families or first-time homebuyers in the area is a worthwhile investment in the city’s future. Developers say the proposed townhomes would be “affordable for the average person.” That would be a nice change of pace from past developments along the lakeshore, and we hope that to be a major focus if the project moves forward.

Additionally, adding a restaurant, a retail store or some other commercial space to the neighborhood will contribute to the vibrancy of south Marquette. The South Front Street/U.S. 41 corridor is the southern gateway to the city, and there are a smattering of shops and a restaurant or two already there. But adding to that will enhance the impression newcomers have of Marquette when first arriving at the southern edge of the city, as well as allow residents who live in the area to have more options at their fingertips.

Both Home Renewal Systems and local architect Barry Polzin — who is teaming up with the Farmington Hills-based developer on this proposal, and who was involved in the orphanage redevelopment — have shown they have the ability to do a good job. Their work on the orphanage, now the Grandview Marquette apartments, saved one of Marquette’s historic buildings. Without their effort, the structure likely would have continued its downward slip into disrepair.

One thing about this Lakeshore Boulevard proposal that will probably cause a few ripples is that it involves development along the lakeshore, a hot-button topic for the many Marquette residents who cherish unobstructed views of Lake Superior.

The zoning in the area allows for buildings to be three stories tall, and it will certainly change the vistas for some who live in or frequent south Marquette.

We encourage you to let city commissioners know how you feel, as public involvement in the process is something we always hope to see more of.

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