Pine Ridge Marquette resident Lorie Jenerou cuts the ribbon for its grand reopening. Pictured are president of the Marquette Housing Commission Jorma Lankinen, far left, Marquette Mayor Jenna Smith, second from left, chief financial officer of Range Bank, David Symons, fourth from left, and executive director of the Marquette Housing Commission, Sharon Maki, third from right. (Journal photo by Taylor Johnson)

MARQUETTE — Ribbon cuttings were held at Lake Superior Village and Pine Ridge Marquette Wednesday to celebrate renovations done to both locations.

Lake Superior Village, located at 125 Dobson Place, was constructed in 1973. Pine Ridge Marquette, located at 316 Pine St., was constructed in 1968. No major renovations have been done to either since both locations were built. Both are income-based apartments.

“The buildings are 40-plus years old, so these upgrades were very much needed,” said Jorma Lankinen, president of the Marquette Housing Commission. The renovations started in October 2020 and were performed by Fraco Concrete Products, Superior Paving, First Contracting and Smith Pumps and Plumbing.

Lake Superior Village now consists of 116 townhomes. Its old office building was turned into two new apartments, one being handicap accessible. Other upgrades include repaved parking lots, new flooring, bathroom remodels, new windows and doors, air conditioning, more security cameras, and fresh paint inside and outside. A handicap accessible playground was also installed.

Pine Ridge Marquette received a new roof (a fire in 2019 had destroyed a section of the previous one), flooring, bathrooms, windows, air conditioning, elevators, energy-efficient lighting, bike shelter and range hoods in its kitchens. Six units were also remodeled to be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant and the community kitchen is now handicap accessible.

These renovations were made possible due to a change in funding structure. Funding was switched from Housing and Urban Development to Rental Assistance Demonstration.

“HUD would have never covered the cost of these renovations,” Marquette Housing Commission Executive Director Sharon Maki said.

RAD changed the program’s status from Public Housing Section 9 to Section 8 voucher program, which “allows more accessible financing, addresses capital projects and provides predictable rental subsidies that will never decrease and many other benefits that will improve the living conditions of residents,” city notes state.

“It is critical to have all housing types in Marquette. I would like to thank everyone involved in this project,” Marquette Mayor Jenna Smith said.

Taylor Johnson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is tjohnson@miningjournal.net.