Anne Gentry

Two summers ago, I toured the former Huntington Bank Building at 200 W Chisholm St with a close colleague shortly after it was put on the market for sale. There was a lot of carpet. A lot of dropped ceilings. A lot of tubes in the basement, and a lot of bank safe deposit boxes. As we walked through it, we wondered “who might be willing to take this building on?” It was soon followed by the worry of “what does this mean for our downtown if no one takes this building on?” Given its prime location in the core of our historic downtown, its proximity to other businesses, its impressive square footage, and of course, its mid-century charm, having it sit vacant would be detrimental to the overall health of our downtown. We could clearly see the potential for its new life– but we wondered who might share that vision too.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when Governor Whitmer herself attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project and celebrated its immense transformation led by Thunder Bay Community Health Service and Bay Athletic Club. Just two years ago, it was vacant, sitting with an immense possibility– and a role of responsibility– for our downtown’s continued growth. And now, thanks to the vision and investment of its new tenants and support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), it has quickly become a vital part of our downtown’s ecosystem. People at all times of the day are there, working out, giving new energy and activity to this important corner of our downtown. We have already seen the spillover effects of people coming to the Bay and then going to other downtown businesses, whether to grab a bite to eat at a locally-owned restaurant, grab a coffee at a downtown cafe, or maybe a drink at the cider taproom across the street.

As I shared my remarks at the ribbon cutting event, I looked out the window on that corner of Chisholm and 3rd Ave. Looking out that corner, the power- and the necessity- of strong public and private partnerships was on full display. Across the street, the opening of PIF Cider’s taproom was supported through a Match on Main grant through the MEDC, a facade grant through the DDA, and a mural supported with a grant from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council (MACC). The facades of Bolenz Jewelry and Alpena Agency were transformed just months ago thanks to Facade Restoration Initiative Funding from the MEDC and the DDA. Just a block down, Culligan Plaza was completely transformed because of the commitment from the City, private foundations, and RAP funding through the MEDC. Across the river, Thunder Bay Theatre’s renovation would only be a dream without funding available and acquired through the MEDC, MACC, the State Historic Preservation Office, and local foundations. Four other facade transformations were also possible on the north side of 2nd Ave because of DDA and MEDC support.

These are just several examples within that core block alone. Without strong public investment and funding available through the state, many of these projects simply would not happen. In a rural community like Alpena that is still rebuilding from the decline of industry over the last decades, all of these puzzle pieces of private investment and public funding are essential to not only renovate buildings, but guide our downtown into a strong future.

In a time where state and federal funding programs are under intense scrutiny or deemed “wasteful”, I fear for what the future would look like for our downtown if these key funding sources went away. Without them, many projects simply would not happen due to high construction costs, low rental rates, and growing economic insecurity. The fear I realized a few years ago walking through this empty bank building would come into reality time and time again. Perhaps we would find the people who shared the vision of what our downtown could be– but it would be unlikely they could put together the funding puzzle to bring it into a reality.

I am immensely grateful for the investment of Thunder Bay Community Health Services, Bay Athletic Club, and the MEDC who made this project happen. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, surrounded by the Governor, the team at the MEDC, and many of my fellow community leaders, I was reminded why we do the work that we do– and incredibly proud of the commitment to the shared vision of what our downtown can be and those that are working every day to bring it into a reality.

Anne Gentry is the Executive Director of the Alpena Downtown Development Authority, whose mission it is to create a vibrant Downtown Alpena for all. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Brown University and has studied in Bologna, Italy and Adelaide, South Australia.