Low Income Housing Approved, Maybe More on the Way, a Vandal Strikes, Blackrocks Gets National Recognition, Musicians Soar, and an Unlucky Woman Exclaims “I Can Eat Again!”
The Latest from Marquette, MI by Brian Cabell
WELL, THAT’S A start…The City Commission approved the building of a cozy eight-house development, next to the Beacon House, on Seventh Street... The property is currently owned by the city…They’ll be affordable two-story homes, with backyards, for low-income families, to be built by Habitat…Construction to begin next year…
“Let’s build on this momentum,” says City Commissioner Evan Bonsall who’s been in the forefront of the affordable housing push…He says city staff has identified three other, larger city-owned properties that could be sold to developers with the mandate that they build for low income families… “I’m expecting that the Commission will be having discussions on selling these properties—and there may be others—in the weeks ahead,” says Bonsall. “What we’ve learned is we can do this type of housing in Marquette.”
He points out that other developers, not just Habitat, have expressed interest in building high density, affordable homes for the city’s workforce population.
JOY CARDILLO, THE chairperson of the city’s Planning Commission, applauds the City Commission’s action… “Housing is certainly a top priority for Marquette,” she says. “Housing for workers, housing at all levels. Diversity is very important.”…Planning Commissioners have a tough job, having to answer to two, often conflicting constituencies: “We try to balance the interest of the public (which wants affordable housing) with the desire of developers who want the ability to build with some flexibility,” says Cardillo…
Of course, a primary interest of developers is making a substantial profit—and they’re entitled to it…
SAD EVIDENCE OF the conflict between developers and some less-than-high-minded members of the public? The recently vandalized sign for The Residences of North Harbor…The higher income, lakeside condo development is scheduled to start construction next year…
ON THE OPPOSITE side of town, not far from Marquette Mountain, another housing development, Hemlock Park, is continuing on schedule, though winter will put a halt to most site preparation there…This Veridea development of 60-70 bungalows and townhomes on 29 acres is not geared toward the wealthy…Starting price, we’ve been told, will be less than $300,000…Not low income certainly, but medium income, affordable…With a playground and a nature preserve, and only 10 minutes from downtown…Exactly what Marquette needs.
FINALLY, MARQUETTE MOUNTAIN is able to open Saturday…Original opening date was December 3rd… “We can’t control Mother Nature,” says GM Kaet Johnson. “We had three terrible weeks when we couldn’t make snow.”…Now, finally, temperatures are cooperating…The Mountain this year boasts nine more tower snow guns than it had last year…Meaning, maybe, fingers crossed, they could extend the season this spring if Mother Nature cooperates.
THE REEAALLLY SLOW season for Marquette tourism…Hotel rates (as advertised Thursday): Fairfield Inn $139…Hampton Inn $123…Staybridge Suites $119…Landmark Inn $110…Holiday Inn $95…Superior Stay $57…Come back next summer, and you can triple some of those rates.
WHOA! SERIOUS RECOGNITION from Vinepair, a national digital publication on wine, beer and spirits, for our own Blackrocks Brewery…Vinepair cited it as one of the 25 best breweries in the nation…Quoting a beverage manager from downstate: “…what I’ve really fallen in love with is one of their American IPA’s, Mykiss. Brewed with Simcoe, Citra and Mosaic, this beer is the perfect marriage of a luscious, resinous, citrus aroma with a bright bitter backbone that’s rooted in that special place up North…”…Something else about Blackrocks—it is an absolutely delightful place to spend an afternoon or evening.
THE MARQUETTE SYMPHONY’S sold-out “Sounds of the Holidays” concert last weekend didn’t disappoint…Anything but…Again, we’re struck by the level of artistry we’re able to enjoy in this remote, little burg on the shores of Lake Superior…The orchestra’s version of “Greensleeves,” featuring cello, violin, and piano was nothing short of exquisite…
And then there’s the Ludwig family…The dad, Matt, was one of the conductors at the concert, and both of his twin daughters, Megan and K J, sang solos…Gorgeous voices… “I’ll admit,” says Matt, “it was a little hard for me to focus on conducting with my daughters alongside me singing their solos…” He and his wife (“the world’s best back-up singer”) have another daughter, in the advertising business, who also sings…So yeah, it can be a noisy house: “When they’re all home,” Matt says, “it’s rare when you don’t have music being sung somewhere…”
I CAN EAT AGAIN!” The joyful words of Anna Dravland, the 39-year-old Marquette woman who suffered a debilitating stroke five years ago, only to be slammed a few years later by a genetic disease that was ravaging her gut…From January through August, she literally could not eat (She was fed by IV)…Then came revolutionary “gut reconstruction” surgery at the Cleveland Clinic by the only doctor in the world who does such surgery…
She’d been told by other experts to avoid him, that she’d be a surgical experiment…She went ahead with it, anyway, and now she’s recovering.
And this holiday season, how does she feel? “Relief. Gratitude,” she says. “I get to open presents, eat good food, and go on sleigh rides…”
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