City Land Auctioned for Housing Development

The City of Negaunee is announcing that it has recently auctioned off three (3) contiguous City owned lots for the development of new housing within the City of Negaunee.

The three lots are located on the former Jackson Grove Park.  The specific parcels were previously removed from the Negaunee City park system in 2020, following recommendation by the Negaunee Planning and Zoning Commission, and approval by way of resolution by the Negaunee City Council.

According to the Negaunee City Manager, Nate Heffron, the “[a]ction was taken for two reasons. First, the City had sold the tennis courts to the School District.  Second, the park had outlived its purpose for residents of the community.”

Per the City Charter and further resolution by the City Council, a public auction was held at City Hall on Friday, December 3, 2021, with the successful bidder being Ben Snapp of Snapp Building Co.  Snapp purchased all three parcels for $7,500.00, and pursuant to a development agreement that requires him to construct two single family residential homes and a third multi-family residential duplex.  The first home must be completed within the 18 months of execution of the development agreement.  Snapp will have five years to compete the three residential units, or the properties will revert back to the City without a refund of the purchase price or the improvements to the land.

“It is important to understand that there are several factors holding back housing development in Negaunee and Marquette County,” said Heffron.  “These include the cost of land, the cost of materials, and availability of labor. To help jumpstart the construction of new, affordable homes in Negaunee, one or more these factors need to be alleviated.”

Heffron stated that the City of Negaunee has several unused properties with direct access to utilities that could be made available to future developers under similar development agreements.  “Partnering with other developers in the future to help decrease the overall costs of development, expand the housing stock and increasing the local tax base benefits not only Negaunee, but the county and region,” Heffron said.  “We will be looking at other similar opportunities, and feel this is just one option of many that City of Negaunee has available to help increase affordable housing.”

Questions concerning this release may be directed to the attention of the City Manager, Nate Heffron at (906) 475-7700 ext. 11.