Plans for a reimagined gateway to downtown Cheboygan were revealed to residents this week.
The project involves demolishing a historic paper mill that takes up more than a dozen acres on the Cheboygan River. That will clear the way for about 100 new housing units, a hotel, fitness center and restaurant – according to a team of developers.
More than 400 residents attended the presentation Monday evening at the Cheboygan Opera House. Presenters spoke candidly on the sorry state of the factory – it once was one of the largest employers in the area.
“[As I drive downtown,] by the time I make it to Main Street Auto, this is what I see. It's dark and it's dead. That's what's bothering me the most,” said project coordinator Sharen Lange. “These people behind me, Bob Pulte, the little work that I'm doing, we're going to get rid of that dark-dead, and we're going to bring light and life.”
What started as a sawmill in the late 1800s went through multiple successful owners including the Charmin Paper Co. and Procter & Gamble. But new owners have failed to capture the same success.
Last summer, a fire destroyed a nearby warehouse that was being used to store “poly” or paper products. The Cheboygan Fire Department has since closed the case and the start of the fire was deemed inconclusive.
Lange showed the crowd pictures she took of the inside of the main facility. They showed dark, neglected corridors with black mold and other hazards. She said her team discovered basements that had likely been neglected for decades.
U.S. Representative Jack Bergman toured the plant and expressed his support for its redevelopment in a video.
“Suffice it to say this, it is monumentally vital for the entire Northeast region's future,” Bergman said. “I know it's been a long road for this project, but your work is breathing new life into a blighted area, and it's going to be a model for the rest of the state.”
The Plan
Bob Pulte is the lead developer on what he calls the “Cheboygan Commons” project.
He’s the son of William Pulte who was the founder and chairman of PulteGroup, one of the largest home construction companies in the United States. This project is separate, under Bob Pulte's own company, R.P. Investments
He said his goal is to transform the site in four phases over about five years. He showed the crowd blueprints for the construction which involve a mix of duplexes and townhomes, and riverfront condos on the land where the factory currently sits.
Additionally, Pulte intends to build space for a new hotel, recreation center and restaurant.
“This region is in dire need of housing. This region is in dire need of jobs. This town is in dire need of a shot in the arm,” he said.
Pulte intends to buy the property from Thomas Homco, a former NFL player who now represents Hom Thermo Warehouse XIII LLC. He’s owned the Main Street site since February, 2023.
The plans will need to be workshopped with Cheboygan city officials and receive permits and approval.
Cheboygan City Councilor Mary Darling said she was impressed with the plan and hopes the developers continue with a streak of transparency.
“I was really excited to hear everything that they were saying. They have all the knowledge and experience to make this come together,” she said. “We have a lot of progress going on in Cheboygan, but this would tie everything all together.”
Pulte and Lange introduced the team of firms that would be involved in the project’s various phases:
- Financing - Tom Johmson of The Landmark Group, LLC
- Will lead all project financials including grants, private investor management, and commercial borrowing.
Architecture - Kevin Hart of Kevin Hart Associates
- Will lead the conceptual site planning process and will provide architectural and design support throughout the project.
Engineering - Patrick Machin of Machin Engineering
- Will oversee site planning and structural oversight.
Demolition - Rocky Beydoun of Powers Construction
- Will oversee strategic demolition of the entire site and support contracting services.
Construction - Bob Spence of Spence Bros. Construction
- Will guide the project through pre-planning, construction management, and general contracting.
Environmental Remediation - Peter Lepczyk and Trudy Galla of Fishbeck
- Will provide environmental oversight and manage the projects Brownfield plan.
After introducing the team to the crowd, Lange and Pulte reinforced the project would take time and diligence.
If approved, the team hopes to demolish the rest of the plant this winter and begin building the first neighborhood in the spring of 2025.
