Mahler offers update on local projects, development
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ALPENA -- Mike Mahler, interim director for Target Alpena, said that the Gardens of Alpena Senior Living Community project and demolition of the previous DPI facility is still progressing. He also added that he is confident that vacant businesses downtown in Alpena will be full of thriving businesses once again.
Mahler is currently serving as Target's interim director until the organization replaces the former director, Lenny Avery. While back at Target in a transitory role, Mahler said he's been busy reporting on grants.
Overall, he said that Alpena needs more housing, hotels, retail, and businesses that will attract tourism. In the meantime, he will continue to work behind the scenes on the Gardens of Alpena and DPI once Target finds a new director.
GARDENS OF ALPENA
The Gardens of Alpena Senior Living Community was first proposed back in 2024. This living facility will include 128 apartments in two structures, as well as a host of amenities and recreational offerings.
Mahler said that as of Friday, there is no definitive date as to when the project will break ground. He said that the ideal scenario would be to have both buildings be built at the same time but that is up to the developer to decide.
"Ideally, they'd like to build it in the two parts at the same time," he said. "But it looks more likely it's going to start in a phased approach with the assisted living being the first phase, independent living being the second phase."
"It takes more money to do it at once. It takes a bank that's willing to commit to both projects at the same time," he added. "I think it ultimately is their goal, but right now they don't have that commitment in place yet."
Currently, the developer is working behind the scenes to arrange financing before work gets underway.
Mahler added that there is a second developer interested in developing the remaining property for more housing. This agreement will be handled with the City of Alpena.
"The city council just recently extended that letter of interest with the developer and there's progress there," Mahler said. "They're working toward a purchase agreement."
DPI PROPERTY
Melching Inc., a Norton Shores company that specializes in demolition and environmental remediation, agreed to purchase the DPI property in Alpena back in 2025.
Mahler said that the demolition of the property is still underway. He explained that the demolition and remediation crews have made it to lagoons on the property.
In a perfect scenario, Mahler said that he hopes that there can be a developer that is willing to tackle the infrastructure demands that the DPI property requires. He would like to see lodging, retail, and/or a community space be developed.
He added that he hopes a developer will obtain the property and develop it to accommodate several different markets.
"Lodging, retail ... stuff to draw tourism to the community, stuff to draw people to the community both short-term and long-term," he added. "That's a long-term solution. To have something that is in the heart of the city that has access to downtown and to be able to walk from your unit to downtown would be pretty ideal. We don't have that."
DOWNTOWN ALPENA
Since the spring of 2025, six businesses have closed or relocated from downtown Alpena.
The Olivet Book and Gift shop permanently closed in the spring of 2025 and remains vacant. Samantha’s on 2nd closed in the fall of 2025 and Blue Moon Cafe moved into The Center Building vacancy. Sweet Baby James, a boutique infant and toddler retail store, closed this past summer as well as the downtown Bigby location. Noise and Toys moved out of downtown and relocated to Werth Road last month. Bobs Bullpen moved out of its former downtown location and is currently moving into the former Noise and Toys location. The Black Sheep is set to close on Sept. 30 and Tara Brilinski, owner of Rosa’s Lookout Inn in Spruce, will lease the building from Paul and Kris Conger.
"I was sad to hear they were closing," Mahler said in regards to The Black Sheep. "I was happy to hear we got another viable business coming to town. Somebody with a proven track record."
Mahler said that he is “disappointed” that businesses have closed or moved out of town but that he is confident that businesses will move back into the vacancies. He added that the economy and inflation has hit small businesses hard, making it challenging for downtown businesses to stick around.
"I'm disappointed to see things happening but I also understand that it's complicated," he said. "The world is more expensive today to operate in and inflation's been hard on businesses so I just think that over the long term, though, those empty buildings will get filled again."
He noted vacant buildings that have sat empty for some time now that are more “frustrating” than the turnover of businesses. He explained that public opinion skews reality, however, in that the Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the City of Alpena actually have little power to make business owners develop or sell.
"You have to be really careful, you might get adversarial, you might not be able to work collaboratively, so the city walks a fine line between being supportive and being patient and also encouraging activity," he said.
Despite the closures, Mahler noted the work DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry has done to revitalize the downtown area.
"Anne's done a great job," he said. "She's created a lot more interest. Downtown's never looked better."
Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.