This Page combines all of the information gathered regarding the 1978 Parking Deck and Lakeshore Drive Corridor Rehabilitation including plans, studies, historical data, and meetings, and the original RFQ. The most current information is provided first with the remaining information on the process following.
Most Recent Events:
Latest Rendering of the Pewabic Street Mobility Improvements 3 ways of getting up and down: sidewalk (still steep), stairs (shortcut), and accessible ramps with placemaking elements. Plaza Rendering 2-22-23
The City was awarded a Revitalization and Placemaking grant, leveraged by the investment to be made by borrowing funds to remove the 1978 parking deck. The grant funds are intended for ground-level improvements along Lakeshore Drive once the deck is removed. The conceptual drawings are becoming more detailed as part of the design work. The project will be bid out late winter 2023. Below is a link to a rendering of what the completed project will look like overall. Until the project is placed out to bid, the engineers and landscape architect will continue to work on the details of the project.
Preliminary Concept Plan January 2022
At the council meeting on February 9, 2022, City Manager Eric Waara presented a power point outlining ways to pay for the removal of the 1978 parking deck and near-term redevelopment of the site following removal of the deck. The power point is below:
Following the presentation, the council voted 6-0: to authorize city administration to move forward with starting the bonding process with our financial advisor and bond attorney for a bond of about $1,000,000 to cover the cost of demolishing the big parking deck and making some repairs to the parking area, then apply to MEDC for a Revitalization and Placemaking grant to leverage the bonded work to further improve the streetscape on Lakeshore Drive, and engage an engineer to develop the plans for the demolition work and a streetscape project.
Pat Coleman of North of 45 presents the results of the public participation events.
Public Engagement Summary Report 1-26-22
Second Public Engagement Night: The City of Houghton held the second Public Engagement Night on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Attendees reviewed results of the initial community meeting, took a closer look at some of the issues and opportunities identified, and discussed ways to increase use of existing parking, and consider future development potentials. A copy of the presentation by Pat Coleman is attached in two parts below:
Pat Coleman discusses results of first public engagement session:
Copper Country Today, 10/10/21, featuring an interview with Pat Coleman:
A public engagement event was held on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the conference room of the Bonfire Restaurant at Continental Fire Hall, 408 E. Montezuma Avenue, Houghton. The event was facilitated by Pat Coleman of North of 45. There were 66 members of the public that took part in the exercise and provided their ideas for the future. Public Participation Results: Public Event 9-29-21 Pat Coleman will compile the information gathered on the 29th and prepare for another event scheduled for Wednesday, November 10, 2021.
At a regular council meeting held on July 28, 2021, the Houghton City Council voted as follows: move to follow the recommendation of the parking deck subcommittee and the planning commission to the council to instruct the staff and city manager to begin the planning process to remove the parking deck which will be the beginning of some future use of that land. In parallel, we will be working on what that future is. The most important part of the future is this deck coming down and engage the planning commission, council, and public along the way.
At a regular council meeting held on August 11, 2021, the Houghton City Council voted to spend up to $10,000 to hire Patrick Coleman of North of 45 to facilitate 2-3 public engagement events regarding the future of the property where the big parking deck now sits.
Planning Commission Parking Deck Committee Information:
A Planning Commission Parking Deck Committee was formed following a request from the City Council to come up with options for the 1978 downtown parking deck. The Committee is comprised of Planning Commission members: Tom Merz, Chairperson, Dan Liebau, Vice-Chairperson, Mike Needham, Secretary, and Eric Waara. Committee meetings were open to the public.
On July 13, 2021 the committee voted to: recommend to the planning commission that it recommend to the city council that they begin planning to remove the deck and begin the process for determining what the city wants to do when the deck is removed.
On July 27, 2021, the commission made the recommendation to the council and disbanded the committee.
Minutes from Committee Meetings:
Parking Deck Discussion 4-20-2021
Plans and Studies:
Downtown Building Height Information:
Downtown Building Height Evaluation
Downtown Building Height Evaluation PLAN VIEW
Information about Charrette Ready Workshop Proposal as presented to the commission on 3-23-2021
Houghton Charrette Ready Workshop PPT 3-23-21
Parking Deck Condition Assessment from 2011 below:
1978 Parking Deck Assessment Doc 1
1978 Parking Deck Assessment Doc 2
Daily Mining Gazette Articles from the 1970’s and 1980’s regarding the big parking deck are available below:
Restarting the Process in January of 2021:
A special work session of the Houghton City Council was held on January 6, 2021 to discuss the big parking deck. At the meeting, City Manager Eric Waara read a letter from Veridea Group withdrawing their proposal due to the lack of a formal development process. Mr. Waara presented a presentation regarding ongoing maintenance costs of the parking deck and costs of replacing the deck so the council can begin a discussion about the future of the deck and property.
Powerpoint of Parking Deck Costs
In the Spring of 2021, City Manager Eric Waara wrote the following letter to the taxpayers of the City of Houghton regarding the big parking deck. It was printed in two parts in the Daily Mining Gazette.
Requests for Qualifications:
In 2019, the City of Houghton sent out Requests for Proposals to choose a developer to redevelop the “Big Parking Deck” on Lakeshore Drive. Three proposals were received. After reviewing the proposals and meeting with the developers, the Houghton City Council choose to work with Veridea Group on a redevelopment project. Following are links to the Request for Statements of Qualifications issued by the City and Veridea’s Statement of Qualifications:
The City formed the Lakeshore Drive Redevelopment Committee comprised of two members of the council, two members of the planning commission, two members of the DDA, the city manager, one downtown business owner, and a member of the public at-large. This committee was asked to meet with Veridea Group while they develop a new plan for the redevelopment project and report back to the Council. The group has met twice with Veridea. Notes from those meetings are attached:
Combined Committee Reports 09/19/19, 9/23/19, and 10/14/19
A Meeting of the City of Houghton Council, Planning Commission, and DDA/TIFA was held on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. by remote participation in accordance with Public Act 228 of 2020.
Veridea presented a proposal for the property and there was some discussion. Here is their slideshow:
Minutes of this meeting are here: December 15, 2020 minutes.
On January 6, 2021, the Veridea Group withdrew their proposal because of a lack of a formal development process.
