L’ANSE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Since 2015, The Village of L’Anse and Baraga County have been under the same Target Market Analysis housing plan. Village Manager Bob La Fave, points out that housing demand is a lot different than it was ten years ago.
“A lot has changed. We all went through COVID, and the market itself has changed over that time, too,” said La Fave. “We had an opportunity to work with the L’Anse Area Community Development Corporation and West U.P. Planning and Development Region to get a new one done for the Village, but also for all of Baraga County as well.”
Throughout the nation, housing prices as well as the average type of buyer and the overall need for housing has shifted. These community partners have gathered that data at the local level, to adjust to those changes and adapt the regions market overall.
“We had to get a solid inventory of what we have, and what people are willing to pay for,” said La Fave. “But, also to take a look at the types of buyers that are in our market that maybe weren’t there 10 years ago, or maybe there have been some shifts in the types of buyers that already exist in the community.”
With the new numbers, La Fave says it can impact the construction industry in the area.
With this type of information, it should help those that are in the development community,” said La Fave, “These are folks that are contractors, people who are putting projects together.”
The TMA also aims to bring in opportunity for those looking to settle into the region.
“This could be a new teacher or a new nurse at the hospital, they’re looking for housing that just doesn’t seem to be available,” said La Fave. “So, how do we make sure that that type of housing is easy to build in our community so we can meet those demands that we know exist out there?”
The new plan will be set in place in the near future, once drafting has been finalized.
