Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
The City of Houghton has approved a zoning change to allow more student rentals near the Michigan Tech campus. Last night, the city council voted to rezone the south side of Houghton Avenue between Townsend Drive and Agate Street from single family to multiple family residential. Numerous citizens spoke in favor of the change at a public hearing before last night’s meeting.
City Manager Eric Waara told the council that work continues to clear the site at 908 College Avenue, where an explosion and fire destroyed an apartment building several weeks ago. Natural gas company crews are scheduled to return around May 9th to check on the integrity of the gas lines in the area.
Waara also reported that discussions aimed at transferring control of the Pewabic Community Garden to the city from Houghton County are set to begin near the end of May.
Houghton’s spring clean-up will begin in two weeks. Dumpsters will be available in various locations in the city from April 29th through May 30th. The start date coincides with the end of the spring term at Michigan Tech. The city encourages students leaving the area to drop unwanted items in the dumpsters, instead of leaving them in dorms, apartments, or by the curb. Tech’s commencement ceremony is set for April 30th.
The Monday following graduation, Michigan Department of Transportation contractors will begin work on the next phase of the College Avenue rebuild. Construction from the west edge of campus to Franklin Square is expected to take much of the summer.
The Houghton city council also endorsed a letter of support for the proposed Keweenaw Waters Resort. The letter will be sent to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, which is considering the permits needed to proceed with the project. The Houghton County board of commissioners recently issued a similar letter. Developers hope to build the campground and cabins near the mouth of Coles Creek, along the Canal Road west of Houghton.
