North Harbor Condos Starting Up, Gaines Rock Still Floundering, Bohnak Moves, 109th Race Should Be a Dandy, Elixirs Shuts Down, and We're An Angry Bunch

The Latest from Marquette, MI by Brian Cabell

WORK IS FINALLY underway, after a year-long delay, at the Residences at North Harbor, the planned condo development just south of Clark Lambros Beach Park. Trees coming down, land being leveled…“We’re excited to finally get going and we’re eager to start talking to buyers,” says John Foster of the Sabre Group which is developing the property…Phase One of the development calls for a single four-story building with 27 units—1, 2, and 3 bedroom condos. Foster estimates that the least expensive unit, a one-bedroom with under 1000 square feet of living space, will come in at around $400,000.

He expects the entire building to be finished by next summer, but some residents should be able to move in as early as next winter even while construction continues. Two additional buildings with a total of 71 units are planned at North Harbor once the first building is complete.

ACTIVITY, AS WELL, at the trouble-plagued Gaines Rock townhome complex in south Marquette…Much-needed landscaping finally going in under the direction of Nagelkirk Gardens. The sidewalk also had to be repaired—this, by the city: “We had to cash in a bond from the developers to fix the sidewalk,” explains Dennis Stachewicz, the city’s Director of Community Development…Drive by the complex, and you’ll notice that nine of the units are still unoccupied—no stairs leading up to the doorways…The entire Gaines Rock project was supposed to be completed more than a year ago.

The last time we heard from HRS Communities, the developer, we were told that Gaines Rock had been taken over—temporarily—by one of the lenders…Two recent inquiries to HRS for an update on the situation have elicited no response.

KARL BOHNAK, THE former TV6 weathercaster and current political candidate, has just moved from Negaunee to rural Alger County. He and his wife Liz had a home built on Onota Hill, 400 feet above the elevation of Lake Superior…“It’s a spectacular view,” Bohnak says. “Moving here has been an adjustment for me, but it’s been fun. I’m more of a city guy but Liz loves the quiet, and I’m getting to love it, too.”…And it’s not like they’re totally isolated. The drive from their new home to downtown Marquette takes only thirty minutes.

Bohnak, incidentally, had to give up his part-time gigs at WZMQ and the Mining Journal once he announced his candidacy in the District 109 State Representative race.

THAT RACE should be highly competitive, both in the August primaries and the November general election:

On the Democratic side, incumbent Jenn Hill is running for re-election…She’ll be opposed by Randy Girard, the former Manager of Marquette Township and current Marquette County Road Commissioner…and Margaret Brumm, an attorney who’s been a regular presence at city meetings and an occasional, outspoken thorn-in-the-side of city officials.

Among Republicans, Bohnak is facing three opponents: Burt Mason, a retired businessman from L’Anse…George Meister, the owner of the Marquette-area tree farm…and Melody Wagner, a former farmer and police officer who lost to Representative Hill in the 2022 election.

THE HOME HEALTH CARE business is booming—it’s expected to grow at a rate of 8% annually over the next few years. These are the people who come into the homes of elderly and infirm people to help them with showering, dressing, cooking, shopping, doctor’s appointments…and sometimes just companionship.

Why the increase? We’re an aging nation. “Yes, it’s a lot of Baby Boomers,” says Ashley Hagadorn, the branch manager of Arcadia Home Care in the U.P., “but increasingly it’s the younger demographic that needs help. It’s sad to say, but our health in this country is not good.”…Arcadia served only Marquette County in the U.P. for 26 years, but since 2023, it’s expanded to 11 counties, and still growing…By the way, no certification is needed to serve as a Home Health Aide. Starting wages are $15 an hour.

STRANGE BUT APPARENTLY true…The population of the U.S. is expected to start shrinking by 2080. According to the Census reports, the number of Americans over the age of 64 will surpass those who are under 18 by 2029. And by 2038, deaths will outnumber births in this country, for the first time ever…That’s generally not good for the health of a nation. What could counteract this trend? Immigration which, of course, is a…uhhh…sticky issue.

“FOR RENT”…The sign on the door tells it all. Elixirs, that little take-out shop on Third Street featuring healthy drinks and Indian food—Indian food!!!—has shut down for good. It lasted less than a year despite drawing rave reviews from many of its customers. The message here: It’s tough to make a go of it when you’re starting out in the restaurant business—dine-in or take-out. Lotta work, long hours, a limited profit margin…So, the little storefront space is now up for rent. A prime location, kitchen equipment included. Anyone wanna try your luck?

HUGE ANTICIPATION FOR the opening of that new Mexican restaurant, El Santo Tacos and Tequila, on Baraga Avenue, but it looks like we’ll have to wait another two months or so…“Our goal is to be open by July 4th,” says Carlos Romo, one of the owners…The County Health Department has mandated the installation of another hand sink in the kitchen. All of the other kitchen equipment is already in, but furnishings in the restaurant still need to be changed…Romo and his partners also run the enormously popular La Catrina restaurant in the Township, but El Santo’s menu will be much more limited. A smaller kitchen, a smaller dining room.

ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE SIGN of the times…According to Axios, road rage shooting incidents have skyrocketed in the last decade. There were 83 such incidents in 2014, and 456 in 2023. That’s an increase of 450%…Clearly, we have a lot of angry, stressed-out, gun-toting people out there. The numbers were compiled by The Trace, a newsroom that tracks gun violence…You’re wondering how Michigan rates with road rage gun violence? Just about average, fortunately, compared to the rest of the country, whereas Wisconsin—the home of friendly dairy farmers, smiling Packer fans, and good ol’ well-mannered Midwestern folk—ranks second in the nation, just behind New Mexico. Huh???…Remember the days when we just got into fist fights when we had a disagreement? Ahh, good times, good times.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”

—Isaac Asimov