What Happened?
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On the evening of May 21, 2021, a disastrous fire destroyed three historic structures that once stood in the 100 Block of 5th Street in downtown Calumet. A fourth historic building, 104 5th Street, sustained extensive damage.
The buildings that burned contributed to the historic atmosphere of Calumet’s downtown, as well as to the Calumet National Historic Landmark District and the Keweenaw National Historical Park. The buildings were also home to 43 downtown residents, four businesses, and represented over 100 years of treasured memories. Heroic efforts by community members ensured that residents made it safely out of the buildings, and Calumet’s own volunteer firefighters led twelve regional volunteer fire companies who ensured the fire spread no further. |
Above; At the right hand side of the image is 104 5th Street (with Ulseth Lumber, Coal & Wood Sign) which was damaged in the fire, moving to the left are the three buildings which were lost.
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Site Clean-Up
Moving ForwardMichigan Enhancement Grant Funds will be used to prepare the site for redevelopment in the following broad categories;
Site Acquisition - Complete The site is now owned by the Houghton County Landbank Authority (HCLBA). Sale of the properties will be controlled by the HCLBA and Village of Calumet. Any redevelopment will be subject to the Village of Calumet Zoning, including the Historic District overlay rules. Development of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is currently in development. Stabilization of 104 5th - Complete Damaged by the fire, the property has changed hands and rehabilitation of property interior is nearing completion. Exterior improvements are expected to be complete in 2023. Site Preparation - Planned New utility stubs and removal of remaining foundations Public Input - Complete The Village of Calumet hosted a public input session on April 24, 2023, to inform and solicit information on this project. The public was also surveyed as part of the Concept Plan rendering in 2024. Concept Plans - In Process The Village of Calumet contracted with the firm Beckett & Raeder to develop a concept plan for what may be built in the historic site. This rendering should be available for developers in the Summer of 2024. |
The Village of Calumet immediately began to work with regional, state, and federal organizations to ensure the necessary steps were taken for the safe and comprehensive remediation and redevelopment of the site. When it became clear that private insurance resources were not going to be sufficient to complete remediation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) then stepped in and conducted a complete site clean-up. Immediately after the fire but prior to the EPA/EGLE clean-up, area legislators Greg Markkanen and Ed McBroom were able to secure a $250,000 Michigan Enhancement Grant to assist with the redevelopment of the fire site. To facilitate that process a group called the Fire Site Task Force was formed. 
Above; 104 5th Street, damaged by the fire, is now under new ownership and is being redeveloped. A grant has been secured from Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for this project.
FIRE SITE TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIPS
Village of Calumet - Manager, Megan Haselden Houghton County Land Authority/Houghton County - Tom Tikkanen Main Street Calumet, Inc - Leah Polzien Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) - Jeff Ratcliffe Keweenaw National Historical Park (KNHP) - John Arnold Local Developer - Andy Lahti |
Partners
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