ROGERS CITY — A brewpub coming to the heart of Rogers City’s downtown could be open as soon as next spring.

Mayor Scott McLennan has purchased the former Brooks Hotel on North Third Street.

The first floor of the building will be the restaurant, with a nano-brewery in the back. The second floor will be apartments.

Larry Brewski, of Rogers City Home Furnishings, is McLennan’s business partner. Brewmaster Sven Pearsall will brew craft beer at the establishment’s on-site brewery.

McLennan said Pearsall’s brews “are really second to none” and that beers such as porters, stouts and sours will be on tap.

McLennan said the development is a critical project for the city’s downtown because it’s something the downtown is missing but the public really wants.

“We want Rogers City to regain the luster and the vibrancy it had when we grew up here,” he said. “When we grew up here, we had almost 5,000 people in town, versus 2,800 currently, and we want to see people having fun. We want to have people come here and enjoy what we grew up with.”

In addition to the brewpub, two other economic projects within the city limits are also in the works:

ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY

City officials have approved the conditional rezoning, special-use permit, and site plan needed for The Brook assisted living facility project to move forward.

The assisted facility will be constructed on South Third Street, south of St. Ignatius Catholic Church but north of Gilpin Memorial Field.

During a recent strategic planning meeting, Rogers City City Manager Joe Hefele told council members the city will extend water and sewer to the property line, work that will occur throughout the fall.

Hefele said he expects to see construction begin soon.

“Their goal is to have substantial completion by the end of the calendar year,” he said.

THE INN

Developers a hotel and cottage project are trying to obtain a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to help fund the project, but are having a hard time meeting the criteria of the grant, according to Hefele.

The proposed project includes the construction of an inn and up to four cottages on property just north of the city’s marina.

Hefele recently told the City Council that the project’s ability to move forward is now contingent upon the site being added to the state’s list of contaminated properties. He said the property’s previous owner, John Vogelheim, had some environmental work done and contaminants had been found there.

Hefele said the property will need additional environmental assessments before the state considers funding a grant.

The Rogers City Downtown Development Authority plans to apply for a Brownfield grant through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy so the project can continue to move forward.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.