EMMET COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — Come this time of year, things start to pick up in many of northern Michigan’s tourist towns along Lake Michigan.
Finding places to put all the extra people can sometimes be a challenge.
Now, a new development could be coming to Petoskey could address both the city’s parking problem and give visitors a new place to stay right downtown.
A new hotel and parking garage could be built at the corner of Bay Street and Howard Street.
The hotel would have underground parking.
The city has given the developer the green light to begin work on a Brownfield plan for both properties.
Brownfield plans help communities restore damaged, historic or blighted property.
The developer is also seeing how much an air easement would cost.
The City council said they are still in the exploratory stage of the project.
“We won’t make any commitment until city council gets all the numbers. While I will say I’m supportive of a hotel there, it brings in 50 or 60 individuals with underground parking on the site,” said Petoskey Mayor John Murphy. “I really think that would enhance foot traffic not just during the day but also the evening.”
Murphy said there’s no timeline right now for the project.
He and the city council will take as much time to do it right and what’s in the city’s best interest.
Murphy said the city took a similar slow approach to the Great Lakes Art Center when it was built.
