Groundbreaking ceremony kicks off refurbishment of blighted Upper Peninsula national landmark

Marquette celebrates historic effort to revive faded glory of former Holy Family Orphanage

Marquette, MI – Wednesday, August 17, 2016 – One of the most eagerly anticipated construction projects in the City of Marquette’s history officially began today with a groundbreaking ceremony to start the 14-month restoration of the former Holy Family Orphanage, a vacant and blighted downtown presence since 1981 that will be transformed as the Grandview Marquette affordable rental housing complex by fall of 2017.

Home Renewal Systems (HRS) of Farmington Hills, one of Michigan’s premier developers of historic properties, is leading the repurposing of the historic orphanage.

“As an organization dedicated to finding creative and innovative ways to preserve and rehabilitate historic buildings, we are so fortunate that our partners and the citizens of Marquette shared our vision for this project.” said Home Renewal Systems Senior Vice President Shannon Morgan. “We could not undertake a project of this magnitude without this support and commitment.

“We share their love for this great building and look forward to seeing it awaken to a new future providing homes to so many families who are in great need of housing,” Morgan said. “We are also confident the completion of this project will bring further investment to downtown Marquette.”

Community Action Alger Marquette (CAAM) is partnering with HRS on the redevelopment. Supporting the project are Marquette architect Barry Polzin, and Wolverine Building Group as general contractor. The task of transitioning the building from a hazardous urban ruin to downtown Marquette’s newest gem required a $15.8 million investment, supported by Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Federal Historic Tax Credits, both administered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Old National Bank of Grand Rapids and Holland-based InSite Capital are providing capital investments spurred by these credits. The Marquette County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority also provided financial support.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with Home Renewal Systems on this important project and proud to be a part of bringing a site that means so much to the community back to prominence,” said CAAM Executive Director Amy Lerlie.

“This project is vitally important because it creates affordable housing in downtown Marquette where people want or may need to live,” said Lerlie. “It’s within walking distance of employment opportunities and essential services not available in outer-lying communities.”

Dignitaries who attended today’s groundbreaking included Michigan State Housing Development Authority Executive Director Kevin Elsenhiemer, Marquette County Brownfield Authority Chairman Gerald Corkin, Marquette Mayor Dave Campana, Wolverine Construction Project Manager Marcus Ringnalda, Old National Bank Senior Executive Vice President and Capital Markets Officer Chris Wolking, InSite Capital founder and Chair Rich Lievense, HRS President Tracey Katzen and HRS consultant Richard Ballard, as well as Gary Scheuren of Scheuren and Associates.

The new Grandview Marquette residences will offer working families 56 units of much-needed affordable rental housing that will be easily walkable to the conveniences, amenities and opportunities in central Marquette.

The former orphanage, constructed in 1915, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the school’s historic features, including its landmark sandstone multistory front porch, will be preserved during the renovation, and the building’s original chapel will be restored for use by residents as community space. All the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems will be replaced, and when finished, the building will meet the Enterprise Green Communities criteria for green substantial rehabilitation projects.

Asbestos and hazardous material removal has been completed, and the complex work to rehabilitate the building begins this month.

To address the shortage of affordable rental housing in Marquette, the rental units will be offered to households earning up to $35,000 or more depending on family size. Rents will range from approximately $275 to $865 per month, depending on household income and unit size.

Of the 56 units, 14 will be set aside as supportive housing for formerly homeless persons and families in need of some level of support for successful occupancy; these units will be rented by eligible tenants with rents limited to 30 percent of their current incomes. Community Action Alger Marquette will provide on-site services and coordination with community agencies for the supportive housing units.