Nate Heffron, city manager, city of Negaunee

NEGAUNEE — History tells the story of events that have passed. In most circles.

It refers to a special event given the term “historic.” But, is it just the events that make history? One could argue no, in fact, without people or a place to mark those occurrences, most history may be forgotten.

Not every event is viewed as historic, well, not by everyone. But is history local? For instance, historic downtown Negaunee, is this historic? Most in Negaunee would say yes, if you live there.

At one time, Iron Street was a bustling city hub, stretching for several blocks. The street is now reduced to a roughly two-block area, a rich mixture of turn of the century Victorian Style and Italianate Style architecture.

The shrinking downtown footprint is the result of the unenviable task of razing buildings and many homes throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

This drastic action was deemed necessary by officials at the time because they feared these structures may collapse due to unstable ground caused by mine shafts beneath them.

Deterioration is now the threat today. Existing buildings, well over 100-years old face many challenges. Some meet the undesirable fate of being torn down in the name of public safety. This chiefly stemming from a lack of funding, decreased economic activity due to the modern superstores, and little to no maintenance for many years.

All this leaves one to wonder, what will become of our remaining beloved downtown buildings?

As you may have read for the last several weeks, Negaunee is now in a revival mode. New and current property owners alike are investing in these historic buildings, and improving them for modern-day use, and at the same time, creating jobs and benefiting the community economically.

Additionally, Negaunee’s City Council took action to create a Commercial Redevelopment District. This will help provide financial relief to those who

engage in reinvestment projects downtown. Increasing the chances of saving these historic treasures.

And finally, we have heard good news from Lansing. The state legislature and governor have brought new economic incentives to the table — historic tax credits — that could be a game-changer for some downtown buildings.

These tax credits can be used in combination with federal tax credits. This development could open the doors of opportunity for larger structures that may have had no chance of rehabilitation.

With all these tools in our toolbox, we hope to attract outside investors and encourage current investors that want to Move Forward. Businesses thrive in a community that will support their projects, a place that not only feels like home but is home.

Negaunee’s history is found in the old, tired, and tattered facades of its downtown. Her history stands in time for those that have called her home.

This city’s future looks bright, with the next generation eager to honor her past and carry it forward. With preservation and perseverance in mind, we welcome those who stand ready to make their mark in a community forever forged in time, as Irontown USA!