Redevelopment Projects Add Housing and Commercial Space in Calumet and Grand Haven

LANSING, Mich.  – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced redevelopment projects receiving support from the bipartisan Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program and Michigan Community Revitalization Program (MCRP), creating new opportunities for housing and commercial space across the state.

Mixed-use redevelopments will contribute housing and commercial space to the downtown areas of Calumet and Grand Haven, together generating a total capital investment of over $5.9 million in the state while activating vacant properties and increasing community vibrancy. 

“Today’s announcement will help make Michigan communities even better places to live, work, and invest in,” said Governor Whitmer. “Programs like RAP help create vibrant neighborhoods that attract and retain talented workers, add new housing opportunities, open the door for new businesses, and more. Let’s keep working together to help our communities thrive.” 

“The MEDC supports community revitalization efforts across the state as part of our ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic development strategy,” said David Meninga, SVP of Community Development Programs & Execution at the MEDC. “These projects in Calumet and Grand Haven will add housing and commercial spaces, strengthening local economies, attracting investment, and enhancing quality of life for residents.” 

In the Village of Calumet, two historic, longstanding vacant buildings located at 425 and 427 5th Street will be redeveloped into seven residential apartments and three commercial spaces, providing attainable workforce housing downtown. The project is anticipated to list the apartments between 50%-100% of Area Median Income, with one accessible apartment on the first floor. 

The project will be supported by a $1.1 million RAP grant to assist with the historic rehabilitation of the long-blighted building and bring a total anticipated capital investment of $3,677,527. Stabilization and restoration efforts began in 2011 led by the Calumet DDA and Houghton County Land Bank with grant support from the Keweenaw National Historic Park, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and State Historic Preservation Office. The Calumet DDA is supporting the project through a $20,205 DDA grant, and the Houghton County Land Bank has recently spent over $120,000 on building stabilization in addition to a substantial amount of volunteer hours to prep the building for redevelopment. 

The project is led by emerging developer Nathan McParlan, owner of MCP Properties, LLC. McParlan is a Houghton resident and local small business operator who recently completed his first Michigan Community Revitalization Program (MCRP)-supported project, The Copper Scoop.  

“I'm excited to see this project get started,” said developer Nathan McParlan. “It will transform the 4th block of 5th Street. Thank you to MSHDA and the MEDC as well as KEDA for partnering with us in this complex project.” 

“This is another major step forward for downtown Calumet,” said Village President Rob Tarvis. “Bringing these historic buildings back to life with new housing and commercial space strengthens our downtown, adds to the momentum we’re seeing throughout the community, and preserves an important part of Calumet’s character for the next generation. We greatly appreciate MEDC’s investment and its continued partnership in Calumet’s revitalization.” 

“This project represents years of persistence and partnership to save two important historic buildings and bring them back into productive use,” said Jeff Ratcliffe, executive director of the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance. “MEDC’s $1.1 million RAP investment is the critical piece that will turn that effort into new housing, commercial space and renewed activity in the heart of downtown Calumet.” 

“I’m grateful to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Revitalization and Placemaking program as it continues to invest in our U.P. communities,” said State Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan). “This project in Downtown Calumet will revitalize formerly vacant properties to add housing and commercial space for our residents. I look forward to seeing the impact of this new development in the U.P.”  

The Village of Calumet is engaged with the MEDC’s Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) program, which supports communities to drive economic growth and create more vibrant districts.

In the City of Grand Haven, a vacant downtown building at 123 Washington Ave. will be rehabilitated to create new commercial space on the first floor and three two-bedroom apartments on the second floor, as well as a shared rooftop patio space for tenant use. When complete, the project will add attainable housing to Grand Haven’s downtown in a high-traffic pedestrian corridor two blocks from the waterfront, contributing to the community’s vibrancy.

The project is being supported by a $390,000 performance-based MCRP grant to address significant redevelopment costs associated with the rehabilitation and will result in a total anticipated capital investment of $2,287,144. The developer is pursuing MSHDA Housing Brownfield Tax Increment Financing support totaling $589,800, of which $305,293 is anticipated coming from local tax increment revenues. 

“I’m pleased to see MSHDA’s Housing TIF program helping make new housing possible in downtown Grand Haven,” said MSHDA CEO and Executive Director Amy Hovey. “As more communities use this tool, we can bring underused properties back into productive use while creating more housing in the places people want to live.” 

Property owner and developer Andrew Todtz has owned and operated a construction company in Baltimore, Maryland, for over 25 years. During that time, Todtz renovated over 100 houses and buildings and built about 100 new construction houses and mixed-use buildings.

"We are profoundly grateful to the MEDC for awarding a Michigan Community Revitalization Program grant to support our vision for 123 Washington Ave in Grand Haven,” said developer Andrew Todtz. “This critical funding allows us to transform a historic downtown space into three modern, affordable apartments and a vibrant new restaurant in the historic downtown corridor. Partnerships like this empower local developers to invest in our region, creating dynamic spaces that directly benefit the Grand Haven community by supporting housing options, local dining, and economic vitality for years to come." 

"The redevelopment of 123 Washington is a great example of the type of investment we want to encourage in Grand Haven—bringing new life to an underutilized downtown property while creating attainable housing and revitalized commercial space,” said Dana Kollewehr, assistant city manager. “Projects like this strengthen our downtown, support local businesses, and create more opportunities for people to live, work, and be part of our community." 

Grand Haven has been a Michigan Main Street community for over 20 years. From transformations of commercial districts to communities’ revitalizations across the state, Michigan Main Street’s dedicated economic efforts over the decades have been leading economic growth in downtowns across the state, including Grand Haven. 

“Strong downtowns are an important part of strong communities,” said state Sen. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville). “This investment will put a vacant building in the heart of Grand Haven back to productive use while adding new commercial space and much-needed housing opportunities. Creating vibrant communities with attainable housing also helps West Michigan attract and retain young people graduating from our colleges and universities, strengthening the connection between education, our workforce and local economic growth. I appreciate the local leaders and private partners who continue to invest in Grand Haven and its future.” 

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.