10/18/2006

Development prep work to begin

By CRAIG McCOOL

mccoolrecordeagle@sbcglobal.net

Read the full series

Special to the Record-Eagle/Kevin Johnston

• Allen supports review of $4.5 million tax credit request - October 8, 2006
• Developers get go-ahead - October 7, 2006
• Permit issued to city officials, not developers - October 6, 2006
• Deadline awaits city, developer - October 4, 2006
• Officials satisfied; public is not - October 3, 2006
• Recent soil borings don't match '94 findings - October 1, 2006
• Consultants to meet with brownfield officials - October 1, 2006
• Developers net $4.5M credit from flawed tests - September 24, 2006
• Brownfield tax break considered 'crucial' - September 24, 2006
• Petoskey Pointe $4.5 million brownfield tax credit time line - September 24, 2006

See related editorials:

• Lack of tax credit oversight taints Petoskey Pointe plan - October 8, 2006
• Petoskey Pointe tax credit application process tainted - October 1, 2006
• Brownfield sites get cash, real contamination waits - September 19, 2006

PETOSKEY — Utility work is to begin this week in anticipation of a $60 million hotel-condo development downtown.

City workers plan to begin working with contractors as early as today to prep the Petoskey Pointe project site for building construction, City Manager George Korthauer said. The project was discussed at this week's city council meeting.

Information to downtown business owners about initial timelines and possible road closures were to be sent this week as well, said Mayor Dale Meyer, who said there wasn't much in the way of advance notice.

"Going forward, we'll need to do a better job of communication," he said.

Korthauer said developers Lake Street Petoskey Associates contracted with Monthei Development Corporation in Charlevoix for excavation and for the installation of underground utilities.

The city, at the same time, will upgrade some area electrical services, a downtown services upgrade unrelated to the Petoskey Pointe development, Korthauer said.

The seven-story hotel-condo is proposed to take up the entire block bordered by U.S. 31 and Mitchell, Lake and Petoskey streets. Korthauer said utility work would begin at the corner of Lake and Petoskey streets. There will be some road closures, he said, but U.S. 31 traffic would not be affected.

"It is our hope that all of the work on Petoskey and Lake streets could be completed this fall so that hard surfaces could be reinstalled for the winter," he said.

While the utility work is set to begin, Korthauer told council members there is not yet a timeline for building construction on the Petoskey Pointe project, though developers have a county-issued permit to begin foundation work when ready.