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Should the City of Hancock purchase Quincy Green?
The city council will open its meeting tonight with a public hearing on the proposal.
The green space in front of Finlandia University’s Hirvonen Hall was once the site of Hancock High School. When the building burned down in 1922, a new school was built on the hill behind the site of the old school, and the site of the old school was turned into a lawn.
The Hancock School District sold the building and the lawn to Finlandia University in 2010, in exchange for reduced college admission for Hancock High School graduates. Finlandia renamed the building Hirvonen Hall, and has established its College of Health Sciences there.
The university named the lawn “Quincy Green,” and has left it open for public events such as the Hancock summer tori, and Heikinpäivä.
The proposal being considered would transfer ownership of Quincy Green to the city for $150,000. While some structures could be built upon it, a deed restriction would mandate that it be maintained primarily as green space.
The university would continue to have the right to use the property, at no charge, with 60 days’ notice to the city, except at times when the area is being used for regular city events.
Finlandia University is in the process of trimming its assets to reduce costs in the face of declining enrollment.
The city is adding assets, including its recent purchase of the Houghton County Arena from Houghton County. A decision on the Quincy Green purchase could be made at tonight’s meeting.
Council members are also scheduled to discuss the prospect of purchasing the land on Ryan Street that is presently being used as a community garden.
The council will also discuss what to do about an increase in the price of city water.
Hancock purchases its water from Adams Township. A communication from Adams Township Supervisor Gerald Heikkinen says the wholesale cost will rise by 10 cents per thousand gallons, beginning April 1st. That’s a 5 percent increase. He blames the rising cost of utilities and water treatment supplies
Tonight’s meeting starts at 6:00 at Hancock City Hall. To see the agenda and get online access instructions, click here.
