LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced three redevelopment projects receiving support from the bipartisan Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program, creating 60 total housing units in Cadillac, Escanaba, and Marquette. Together, the projects will generate a total capital investment of over $16.5 million in the state while attracting residents to their downtown communities.
The RAP program provides access to gap financing for place-based infrastructure development and real estate rehabilitation and development.
“Support for these projects in Northern Michigan underscores our commitment to our ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic development strategy’s focus on the people, places, and projects that are integral to growing Michigan’s economy,” said Governor Whitmer. “Programs like RAP help to create vibrant places that attract and retain talent, add new housing options, enable business creation and attraction, and provide resources for our Michigan communities. Let’s keep working together to get things done for our state.”
“At the MEDC, we work alongside communities across Michigan and invest in their resilience through placemaking efforts like the RAP program, which helps to support the state’s ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic development strategy,” said the MEDC’s SVP of Community Planning and Development Readiness Michele Wildman. “These projects will add new housing and vibrancy to the downtown corridors of Cadillac, Escanaba, and Marquette.”
In the City of Cadillac, the redevelopment of vacant property will result in the new construction of two residential buildings, adding 48 housing units and parking downtown. The North Lake Street Flats will be located within a vibrant, walkable district with access to Cadillac’s downtown, Cadillac Lakefront Park, the White Pine Trail, and the Rotary Performing Arts Pavilion. The residential units will be rented at 80% to 100% of the Area Median Income and help address the housing shortage in the city.
The project is being awarded a $1.4 million RAP grant to support the costs of the new development and is expected to generate a total capital investment of $10,669,625.
Development team North Lake Street Flats, LLC, will be redeveloping this property and has partnered with Veneklasen Construction, to help with the management of the project. The development team received an Act 381 Brownfield Plan with an estimated reimbursement over 15 years of $2,510,784. The City of Cadillac approved the plan October 21, 2024. In addition to local tax capture, they are working with both the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority for eligible activities.
The project builds on placemaking efforts between the MEDC and Cadillac in recent years, including RAP funding in October 2023. Cadillac also received its certification as a Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) by the MEDC in 2021, in recognition of the city’s efforts to establish a solid foundation to attract economic development projects. The RRC Redevelopment Service team supported the early predevelopment of this project, providing the connection for Veneklasen Construction to the current property owner and the City of Cadillac.
“The Lake Street Flats project represents a significant milestone in our City’s efforts in addressing attainable housing,” said Cadillac City Manager Marcus Peccia. “This new development is more than just new buildings; it is a critical investment in our City. These modern buildings are located near our core downtown and will help our City by chipping away at our housing gap, while also redeveloping a currently vacant lot in a beautiful place for people to live. Attracting talent and having a high-quality place to live is important for Cadillac, and Lake Street Flats is a transformational development that will be beneficial to the whole community. This development is another example of collaboration and strong partnerships between the Cadillac Brownfield Authority, City Council, Developer, and State of Michigan.”
In the City of Escanaba, a vacant functionally obsolete building will be redeveloped into a new restaurant space and one-bedroom apartment, attracting foot traffic and adding vibrancy to the city’s downtown. The project builds on the city’s efforts to invest in its downtown through the recent recertification as a Redevelopment Ready Community with the MEDC and significant upgrades to the streetscapes and utilities along Ludington Street.
The project is being awarded a $500,000 RAP grant to assist with redevelopment costs of the former mixed-use building on the site and is expected to bring a total capital investment of $1,064,653.
Developer Curt Spaulding of Spaulding Real Estate LLC is a retired Michigan Corrections Officer who returned to his hometown of Escanaba to own and operate a restaurant on the same block as the proposed project location. After stabilizing the operation of his current restaurant, Spaulding utilized a Build MI Community grant from the MEDC in 2024 to activate vacant space above his restaurant into three new attainable residential apartments. Spaulding has worked with the Michigan Small Business Development Center to review the business plan for the new restaurant.
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from the MEDC, particularly the $500,000 RAP grant, which makes a project like this possible,” said James McNeil, Escanaba city manager. “Redeveloping a vacant building into a new restaurant and apartment space is exactly how we drive economic growth and enhance our downtown vibrancy. This investment, alongside our recent Redevelopment Ready Community recertification, ensures Escanaba continues to move forward.”
The City of Escanaba first received its RRC certification from the MEDC in 2017 and regained its certification in December 2024.
In the City of Marquette, a vacant, 8,000-square-foot building located at 401 W. Washington St. will be redeveloped to create a four-story, mixed-use development, adding 11 residential units, two commercial spaces, and lower-level indoor parking to downtown. When complete, the project will strengthen downtown Marquette by adding residential density, increasing foot traffic in the area, and supporting local businesses.
The project is being awarded a $1.5 million RAP grant to support the cost of construction on the vacant, blighted building, and is expected to bring a total capital investment of $4,803,602. The Marquette County Land Bank is supporting the project with a $46,000 Blight Elimination Grant and the Marquette Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved an Act 381 Brownfield Housing TIF Plan with an estimated value of $1,131,825 in further support of the redevelopment.
401 W. Washington LLC, and its development partner Midwest Construction Group have extensive experience in construction, renovation, and redevelopment projects across Michigan. Their portfolio – which includes projects in Holland, Zeeland, and Hastings – reflects a strong track record of delivering high-quality developments that contribute to community and economic growth.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant and deeply appreciative of the support that has made this project possible,” said the 401 W. Washington development team. “This investment unlocks new, much-needed affordable housing for the City of Marquette, and we could not be more excited to bring this vision to life. This project simply would not have been possible without the support of the MEDC. We extend our sincere thanks to the MEDC, City of Marquette, the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, the Downtown Development Authority, Marquette County Land Bank, and every board, agency, and team member who have worked diligently alongside us to move this forward. This redevelopment represents meaningful progress for downtown Marquette, and we are eager to break ground, deliver new housing options, and contribute to the continued growth and vitality of our community.”
“The Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s $1.5 million RAP grant is pivotal in making this downtown Marquette project a reality,” said Karen Kovacs, city manager for the City of Marquette. “This investment underscores the strength of collaboration between a committed local developer and dedicated state and local agencies. With this support, a long-vacant property will become a vibrant mixed-use development that delivers workforce housing and retail space, fueling economic growth and revitalizing our community. This partnership demonstrates what’s possible when public and private sectors unite behind a shared vision for Marquette’s future.”
“The Marquette Downtown Development Authority (MDDA) is grateful for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s investment in the redevelopment of 401 W. Washington Street in Downtown Marquette,” said MDDA Executive Director Tara Laase-McKinney. “This commitment represents a strong vote of confidence in the continued growth and vibrancy of our downtown. The project will transform a vacant site into a valuable asset that strengthens the district, supports local businesses, adds much needed housing, and enhances the overall experience for residents and visitors. The DDA is proud to help support this investment in our community, and we look forward to the positive impact this redevelopment will bring to downtown Marquette.”
“This project reflects the strong momentum we’re seeing in new development and housing across Marquette County,” said Christopher Germain, CEO of Lake Superior Community Partnership. “Its location in downtown Marquette— a walkable, amenity-rich districts in the heart of the U.P.’s largest city —makes it an ideal addition to our much-needed workforce housing supply. It also demonstrates what’s possible when local and state partners work together with a shared commitment to progress. We’re grateful for the MEDC’s ongoing partnership in fostering vibrant communities and supporting transformational developments throughout Marquette County.”
Marquette received its RRC certification from the MEDC in 2021.
Since its launch in 2022, the Revitalization and Placemaking program has supported 249 total projects in communities across the state.
