A $1.5 million project has begun to redevelop a vacant hardware building on a former brownfield site in downtown Cheboygan.
The project will add two commercial spaces and six market-rate apartments.
Cheboygan city manager, Tom Eustice said project is necessary, the building is currently in a sad state.
“It’s gonna be a tremendous improvement to the part of our city that really needs new development and they’re utilizing the Cheboygan river,” Eustice said. “The front of the building is going to face the river so they’re focused on the riverfront.”
He said the storefronts could create eight full-time jobs and water-related businesses would thrive in that location.
“It’s a great fishing area, we don’t have really a facility to sell fishing equipment,” Eustice said. “There’s not any stores close to the river, which Cheboygan River is really a great fishing venue.”
He said the goal is to bring people and businesses to the area.
“Likely what’s going to happen is it’s going to snowball,” Eustice said. “Once investors see an improvement like that, you’ll get other investors that will want to come to our community. It’s also going to bring people to town.”
He said the project will be completed by next spring.
