It’s become a hot button issue among residents of Marquette County and now those same residents will get to weigh in on the matter.

The Northern Michigan University Foundation has announced it will host two community forums regarding efforts to facilitate redevelopment of the former hospital site adjacent to the NMU campus.

Participants will receive a brief project update and take part in polling activities and dialogue with other community residents. Refreshments will be served.

“The Northern Michigan University Foundation continues to focus its efforts on facilitating an outcome that will benefit NMU and the entire Marquette community,” said John List, chair of the NMU Foundation Board of Trustees, in a statement. “Through our partnership with the city of Marquette, Marquette Redevelopment Authority, UP Health System – Marquette and many others, we have surpassed several critical milestones toward this outcome and continue to remain focused on aligning the resources and expertise to make this opportunity a reality.

“The NMU Foundation looks forward to an engaging conversation with community members about these efforts as well as receiving their insight for a successful path forward.”

In September, the NMU Foundation entered into a contract for the purchase and eventual sale of real estate with UP Health System-Marquette, a Duke LifePoint Hospital, to redevelop the former Marquette General Hospital site along College Avenue in a a way that is mutually beneficial to NMU, the city of Marquette and residents of the shared communities.

NMUF’s role, it said, is focused on facilitating the appropriate relationships and resources necessary to prepare the former MGH site for eventual redevelopment. Since entering into its agreement with UPHSM, NMUF indicated it has evaluated the full spectrum of possibilities and potential challenges associated with redeveloping the site, including environmental due diligence and a project financial feasibility analysis.

Concurrent with due diligence activities, NMUF has been working with the city of Marquette, the Marquette Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the state of Michigan to facilitate a collaborative approach for public financing to prepare the site for redevelopment, including demolition of the existing complex.

While much work remains to be done, a core tenet of the process is engaging with the Marquette community on the future of the site, NMUF said.

The foundation invites local residents to learn about work that has been done to date, what to expect from the upcoming process and to share input on this potential project.

“We look forward to this important conversation with the Marquette community,” said Brad Canale, CEO of the NMU Foundation, in a statement. “The overarching objective of this meeting is to facilitate a forum where residents can ask questions and voice their input about the future of this site.”

The forums will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Northern Center. If you have an opinion on the future of this site, this is the place to make your voice heard. We urge Marquette County residents to show up to these forums and make themselves a part of the conversation.