Part One: Townhall on old city hall held in Marine City

Local historic groups share their opinions on the issue

By Barb Pert Templeton

A townhall to discuss the fate of Marine City’s historic city hall, located at 300 Broadway, brought out a couple dozen people on Oct. 21. The building dates to 1884 and was utilized as the city offices for many years before it fell into disrepair and has remained vacant for several decades now.

The city council approved listing the property with Pilot Property Group last June and at that time a stipulation to the listing was the promise that the commission would hold a townhall to get the public’s input before any sale took place.

When contacted after the recent townhall City Manager Michael Reaves said the listing for the property expires six months from 06-10-2025. He explained that there is no asking price for the property currently.

“We are unable to establish market comparable. We are allowing the real estate market and the development vision to drive the asking price for the building with property, property without building, etc.,” Reaves aid. “Our hope is a project that includes saving the building and making the needed and required improvements, along with a solid business plan moving forward.”

Although the recent townhall was not an official meeting of the city council Reaves started the 90-minute event off by stating he would present information about what’s he’s done related to the facility over the last few months.

“I have no large new bombs that I’m going to drop tonight so everybody can relax there’s no imminent sale and they’re not backing up to the building to tear it down and we have no grand project to announce tonight,” Reaves said.

Historic Commission input

The presentations began when Kim Turner, chairperson, of the Marine City Historical Commission, stepped to the podium to explain that group’s role in things at 300 Broadway. She said the group oversees the historic district that oversees old city hall and all the local artifacts displayed there and it’s better known as Heritage Square Park.

“The park was created by our founder Samuel Ward when he first laid out the village in 1831, then plotted it later with the county in 1834 or 1836; that’s how long that section of land has been a dedicated park to the city,” Turner said. “Because of this, I firmly believe that only a portion of the land should be sold with the building, possibly the land directly north of the building which does not contain any artifacts.”

“The remaining portion of the park on Main Street and Broadway should continue to be a public gathering space for Heritage Square Park,” Turner added.

She said the historic commission will work with whoever becomes the steward of historic city hall and the best way to do that is for the city to become a Certified Local Government or a CLG.

“We are about half way through the process of completing the CLG certification but we need the city’s help and support for local preservation efforts,” Turner said.

The CLG program provides a framework for communities to develop strong preservation programs with the support of the state preservation office and the National Parks Service. It will include training, grant opportunities and education, Turner said.

Historical Society thoughts on the issue

Next, Georgia Phelan, with the Historical Society of Marine City, said she works on membership and many different projects for the group. She outlined three main questions the group gets related to historic city hall.

1. What is the vision for the future of the building?

· Special events: like a high-end wedding venue

· Educational Facility – offer trade school or college courses

· Performing Arts Center

· Distillery with multiple uses

· Condominiums

2. What ready/immediate assistance can the historical society provide?

· They have $80,000 dedicated to the building that would be for the use of a new owner if a portion of the building is made for public use

· The society would work in partnership with a new owner in getting grants or matching funds.

· Lease part of the building

· Conduct ongoing research regarding funding and potential buyers

· For the city help fix immediate physical threats like the roof repairs

3. What kind of ongoing support could the society provide?

· Provide a local partnership to seek grant funding

· Share physical, financial and historic information about the building

· Remain open to new ideas, plan and efforts related to the building

· Our hope, if desired by a new owner, is to be a partner in restoration and new use of historic city hall.

“We would really like to have the opportunity to discuss and hopefully work with the real estate company to sell the building to an appropriate buyer,” Phelan said. “We thank you for the opportunity to participate in this, it’s a really important issue, it’s a long road we’ve all been on; hopefully we can work together to make this happen.”