MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A historic Manistique building has been given a new life as a mixed-use development.
The Manistique Bank Building was constructed on South Cedar Street in 1900, primarily serving as a commercial facility in the following decades. Recently, the building had been vacant for several years. New owner Kristina Behrens and her husband decided to purchase the property in 2022.
The pair preserved the commercial spaces on the lower level of the building. On the upper level, they created three residential units.
“It was very important for us to be able to do a mixed-use development,” Behrens said. “We wanted to be able to add the housing upstairs and keep that within about 100% of the area median income.”
On Friday morning, Behrens, her husband, and local and state organizations gathered in front of the building for a ribbon cutting. The project was a collaboration between the owners, the City of Manistique, Schoolcraft Tourism & Commerce, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and InvestUP’s Build U.P. Program. In fact, it marks Build U.P.’s first project.
“Part of what’s special about this to me is it proved that our programming can work and that we have a concept that indeed can carry opportunity through all of our communities,” said InvestUP CEO Marty Fittante.
State Senator Ed McBroom and Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II also attended the ribbon cutting, and Behrens took them on a tour of the building. Gilchrist praised the project for addressing the need for housing while creating new opportunities for small businesses.
“It’s been really amazing to see how this downtown has continued to attract more and more investment,” the Lieutenant Governor told WZMQ 19. “To reactivate an old building, to keep it beautiful, and to give three families a place to live and lay a foundation for their future, that’s what investing in community means. As someone who’s championed housing and championed using creative solutions to bring more housing units online over the last few years, I’m really proud of this project.”
Gilchrist says the success of the Manistique Bank Building development shows that every Michigan community is a community where futures can be built.
“You can build your family, you can take your next step, you can start a business or grow a business,” he said. “You can do whatever you can imagine is possible in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and if it’s true in the U.P. then it’s true for all of us.”
MEDC representative Vicki Schwab says this collaborative effort proves that anyone “can make it in Michigan.”
“We’re going to keep our foot on the accelerator on expanding and growing other projects in this community and across our beautiful U.P and across all of Michigan,” she said.
Now, Behrens is ready for the Manistique Bank Building to reclaim its status as a symbol of the community.
“We are really just very happy to be part of this vibrancy right here in Downtown Manistique,” she said. “We’ve been about two and a half years in the making from start to finish. It’s really great to have our tenants moved in upstairs and be able to celebrate with everyone.”
All residential units have been filled, but two commercial spaces are still available. To inquire about the building, call (906) 205-4433 or email info@manistiquebankbuilding.com.
