LANSING, Mich.: Major Redevelopment Projects Announced in Hamtramck and Alpena
In an effort to boost community vibrancy and economic growth, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, alongside the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), has unveiled two significant redevelopment projects in Hamtramck and Alpena. These initiatives, supported by the bipartisan Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program, promise to inject over $5.27 million in capital investment into the state, transforming vacant properties into productive spaces.
The RAP program is designed to provide key financial support for infrastructure and real estate development, tackling funding gaps that often hinder such projects. “Support for these projects in Hamtramck and Alpena 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.”
In Hamtramck, plans are underway to transform a functionally obsolete convent at 2705 Caniff into 10 residential apartments and approximately 1,874 square feet of commercial space. This transformation is aimed at boosting both residential density and business activity around the city’s downtown area. The project is set to receive a $999,047 RAP grant, helping to bridge the financial gap caused by high construction costs, with a total capital investment of $2,098,703 expected.
The development in Hamtramck is spearheaded by Ladislaus Lofts LC and Ladislaus Paris LC, which are majority minority-owned entities. Developer Milo Madole emphasized the project’s potential, stating, “In addition to high-quality and reasonably priced housing, the Ladislaus Project will create space in a historically underserved municipality where small business owners with great talents and ideas are paired with the ongoing support of a local CDFI and nonprofit that can help them to build and grow.”
In Alpena, a former bank building at 200 W. Chisholm will be redeveloped into two commercial spaces. This project aims to enhance walkability and diversify retail offerings in the downtown area, supported by $904,000 in RAP grant funding. Partners Bay Athletic Club and Thunder Bay Community Health Service, Inc. are set to become tenants, bringing a new dynamic to the community.
Richard Bates, MD, CEO of Thunder Bay Community Health Service, expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts in Alpena, stating, “Thunder Bay Community Health Service extends its sincere gratitude to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Alpena Downtown Development Authority, Target Alpena, City of Alpena, Alpena Chamber of Commerce, and Bay Athletic Club for their invaluable contributions to the revitalization of 200 W. Chisholm St in downtown Alpena.”
Both projects reflect MEDC’s commitment to fostering community growth across Michigan. Michele Wildman, the MEDC’s SVP of Community Planning and Development Readiness, noted, “On behalf of the MEDC, we are pleased to work with communities across Michigan and invest in their resilience through the RAP program as part of our placemaking efforts in support of the state’s ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic development strategy.”
About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
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