Houghton County transfers Pewabic Street right‑of‑way to City to preserve community garden

The Houghton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Oct. 15 to transfer an abandoned portion of the Pewabic Street right‑of‑way to the City of Houghton to preserve its use as the Pewabic Street Community Garden.

Commissioner Roy Britz described the parcel as a 60‑by‑200‑foot strip that became county property after the city abandoned the right‑of‑way in 1998 and said the community garden now occupies that area. The board approved Resolution 24‑18 directing the county to sign a quitclaim deed transferring the property to the city at no charge, saying the move is “in the public interest.”

The resolution, entered into the record and certified by County Clerk Jennifer Kelly, notes no county facilities were built on the adjacent blocks and that returning the parcel to city ownership will secure its future as a public use benefiting Houghton residents. The motion to approve the resolution carried on a 5‑0 roll call vote.

The transfer does not include a purchase price; the resolution specifies the county will return the property free of charge. Commissioner Janssen and others indicated the action responds to long‑standing local use of the land by gardeners and the City of Houghton’s interest in regaining ownership to protect the site. The county will execute a quitclaim deed to complete the transfer.

The board made the decision during its regular meeting at the Houghton County Courthouse. There was no separate public hearing on the transfer recorded in the meeting minutes; the resolution and its certification are appended to the meeting record.