Work on the Jasperlite senior living apartment complex in Ishpeming, delayed several months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is back on track, officials said. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)

ISHPEMING — Jasperlite, a brand-new senior living apartment complex along Fourth Street in the city of Ishpeming, could be ready for occupancy by Dec. 31.

Ben Ide, director of development for Haan Multifamily and Commercial Development, said although builders lost about two months of progress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project is now moving forward.

“We have all the grade beam and foundations installed, which was a major accomplishment,” Ide said. “We are using the local contractor G.E. Builders who was working on (wall) panels while we were working at the site.”

Ide said dozens of people have expressed interest in the 36-unit senior living apartment building on the former Bell Hospital property.

The $6 million redevelopment will create affordable senior housing within walking distance of downtown Ishpeming services and shops. The new building will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified, which is a designation for buildings that meet strict environmental and sustainability standards.

Jasperlite will be geared toward, marketed to and restricted to tenants 55 years old and older who are of low to moderate-income.

The project is funded by low-income housing tax credits through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority that were awarded in January 2018.

Jasperlite also received a $205,626 Brownfield Redevelopment grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy in August.

The grant will assist with installing vapor barriers and a ventilation system to prevent exposure to harmful vapors arising from contamination that migrated from an adjacent property.

“That is actually getting ready to be installed now,” Ide said.

He noted that due to mining and other activities, contamination similar to what was found on the Jasperlite site is common in the area.

“Everywhere in the U.P. has environmental contamination,” Ide said. “What we found on site was not even typical of what you would find in the city.”

Some of the former hospital’s infrastructure was left in place when it was demolished in 2012.

The MDEGLE grant will also pay for the demolition of old hospital foundations, parking, curbs and gutters.

A partnership with Partridge Creek Farm is also being forged to create a community garden on the east side of the site, Ide said.

“It is an urban farming operation that would provide intergenerational farming,” Ide said. “It could be a huge asset to the community to have an urban garden right there.”

Ide hopes to have tenants moving into the complex as soon as construction is completed.

“I would say toward the end of 2020, or even late summer, we are going to be taking applications (and) start moving people in before the end of the year,” he said.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.