One of northern Michigan’s largest health systems has thrown its support behind a large redevelopment plan in Cheboygan.
In a Friday statement, McLaren Northern Michigan applauded the recently announced Cheboygan Commons project for “improving infrastructure and increasing visibility throughout the state.”
The Cheboygan Commons would redevelop the site of a historic paper mill that was devastated by a massive fire in September.
The plan is to turn the area into a 14-acre, mixed-use district with housing, retail, hotels, and more. The site is right on the banks of the Cheboygan River.
"Our Northern Michigan communities are highly attractive to people across the region,” said Gar Atchison, president and CEO of McLaren Northern Michigan. “Cheboygan continues to grow as a destination location in northern Michigan, and this project will only add to the appeal."
The project is spearheaded by Bob Pulte under his firm, R.P. Investments. He told IPR News in June he hopes the project will be “a point of pride as a reinvented gateway to the Cheboygan community.”
Officials predict groundbreaking at the site is still years away. The design will need approval from local governments and planning commissions. The developers will pursue grants for the design and construction.
The land will also have to undergo massive environmental remediation. Some parts of the facility are more than a century old.
It also includes a hydroelectric power generator that’s attached to the nearby Cheboygan Dam. The hydro-facility was owned and operated by Patriot Advanced Environmental Technologies, which ran the Tissue Depot. But following the September fire and an unrelated lawsuit, the company shut its doors.
“The Pulte Family has been a tremendous asset to Northern Michigan for many years through their philanthropic and progressive projects aimed at advancing our region,” McLaren said in its statement. “Their sincere intention to enhance our communities is evident.”