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Houghton County approves Brownfield plan to convert Finlandia buildings into Skyline Commons
Summary
The Houghton County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution #25-05 at its April 8 meeting, approving a Brownfield Plan to redevelop the former Finlandia buildings into Skyline Commons (27 housing units and commercial space). Local officials and the developer urged support at a public hearing.
The Houghton County Board of Commissioners on April 8 unanimously adopted Resolution #25-05 approving the Skyline Commons Redevelopment Brownfield Plan to convert the former Finlandia buildings in Hancock into housing and commercial space.
The plan was introduced at a public hearing that the Board opened by voice vote. Andy Moyle, owner of Skyline, told the Board the Brownfield Authority and the City of Hancock have approved the project and that repurposing the Finlandia buildings will "help the underserved communities" by providing accessible housing across multiple floors. KEDA Director Jeff Ratcliffe said the Brownfield Authority had signed off on the application. Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock said the Hancock City Council unanimously supported the program and urged the county to concur.
Commissioner Glenn Anderson summarized that the Finlandia buildings were marketed and described the redevelopment as creating 27 housing units and restaurant space. Anderson moved to adopt Resolution #25-05; Commissioner Roy Britz seconded the motion. The recorded vote was YES: Anderson, Britz, Tikkanen, Keranen, Janssen (5); NO: None (0).
The resolution cites the Michigan Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act (Act 381) and notes that the Houghton County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority reviewed the plan and that local development authorities in Hancock and Houghton have agreed to forego capture of tax increment revenues on the property. The text in the packet states the plan includes a description of eligible activities, an estimate of captured taxable value, a financing method and a remediation and relocation plan if needed.
Supporters said the project would remove blight, produce workforce housing and generate private investment. County staff and the county clerk recorded the resolution adoption and certified it in the meeting packet.
Next steps in the packet reference the Brownfield Plan's financing and capture duration as described in the plan documents; the Board's action establishes local approval required under Act 381 but does not itself deliver construction funding.
