MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans may soon find its new home.
Tonight at the Marquette city commission meeting, a resolution was unanimously passed to begin negotiations with the state of Michigan to sell the Cliffs-Dows site in Marquette. The former industrial site has been vacant since 1969 when the factory on the site closed.
Last year the state was awarded $34 point 2 million from the state budget and is seeking an additional $63.6 million in funds from the U.S. department of veterans affairs to replace the aging D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans. The Cliffs-Dow site has been identified by the state as an ideal replacement location for a new veterans home
“I think a veterans home there is something the community would tolerate better than condos or housing there,” Commissioner Jenna Smith said about the property.
The city commission also unanimously voted to support senate bills 19 and 20. The bills which are being sponsored by Senator Ed McBroom, address the dark store theory. The city of Houghton is currently in litigation with Walmart concerning the company’s use of the dark store theory.
According to Marquette Mayor Cody Mayer the theory allows stores to assess their businesses as empty buildings, something that has devastating effects to small towns like Marquette and Houghton.
“It’s something that Lansing hasn’t wanted to address for years, despite local municipalities begging them to,” added Mayer. “The show of solidarity and support for Senator Mcbroom and any of his cosponsors on those bills is needed.”
The commission also passed a reimbursement agreement tonight, which will progress the demolition of the former Marquette General Hospital Brownfield site.
The agreement stated the repayment priorities for the costs of demolition. The city of Marquette is in line to be repaid first.
According to city manager Karen Kovacs the next step towards demolition is reviewing development agreements, which will most likely come in April.
