Courtesy of Brockit Inc.
Around the Keweenaw Peninsula many communities have started conversations around the need and challenges happening with housing. The different types of dwellings that could fit in a neighborhood, levels of density, where to site such projects and developments.
Houghton County developers are responding to demands in the community and better late than never. KEDA Executive Director Jeff Ratcliffe says the region has emerging developers, new state tools to address housing demands, and leaders ready to act.
The last four years average was I think 112 uh or 114 homes per year and four years prior to that it was like 48. So that’s a big jump. So, in the last four years we’ve over doubled the annual production of single-family homes. – Jeff Ratcliffe, Executive Director, Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
Since 2020, Houghton County has seen property values grow. Houghton, residential property values surpassed $100 million, and in Hancock, the residential equalized value grew 9% from 2023 to 2024.
But there’s clearly a tradeoff there and I’m not going to say there’s not an impact, but I’d say short term rentals have a much more significant impact than the remote workers do on what we see happening with long term rents and housing costs here. – Kieth Meyers, Remote Workforce Keweenaw
There’s no question there’s a shortage uh of fair market, affordable housing here in the area. And that puts pressure on our industry, just like in other industries. If people can’t find a place to live, then it’s hard to keep employees. And so, we recognize that pressure, and there’s certainly a need for affordable housing. – Brad Barnett, Executive Director Visit Keweenaw
Michigan has also developed tools to help communities address housing challenges. In 2021, Houghton entered the MEDC Redevelopment Ready Community program, and soon after Hancock joined the RRC program. Ratcliffe also points to other tools for development, specifically focused on housing, which includes the use of Tax Increment Financing through the Brownfield Authority program. Around the Copper Country he also points out several projects aimed at adding some new units that should address the case of the “missing middle”.
But there’s a gap there where everything else we have is student housing, or it’s just too expensive. So, we’re trying to fill a gap where we can give some kind of nice housing, quality housing that’s affordable. – Sherry Hughes, Executive Director, Houghton Housing Commission
We haven’t caught up with the demand yet, but it’s moving. There’s more movement in the marketplace now. And one of the things that’s also helping is that last year the legislature uh passed a new tool for developers to use. – Jeff Ratcliffe, Executive Director Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
Radcliffe and Hughes agree that the need for more housing types continues to grow. Each also pointed out several projects underway or have already been completed to solve pressures impacting the region’s housing market. Such as Moyle Construction’s Gateway Project and work at the former Jutila Center, now Skyline Commons. In Calumet several projects have rejuvenated some of the village buildings now housing tenants, and more are still on the way. Communities can learn more about solutions, challenge factors, and tools of development by starting conversations with residents and regional leaders and professionals.
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