A new developer has expressed an interest in Lakeview property

A developer from Howell has expressed an interest in the Lakeview Development in Rogers City and has begun discussions with the Community Development Authority. City manager John Bruning said Mike Uzelac visited the site, which is located north of the Driftwood Motel, and would like to explore possible ways to move the project forward.

The Lakeview Development property is located in a tax-free Renaissance Zone and because of a slower-than-anticipated environmental cleanup, the initial developer backed out. There have been other developers as well, including Cross Homes of the Grand Rapids area, which had planned to have homes constructed last summer, but never followed through. Bruning took Uzelac on a tour of the property and provided him with a history of the project.

“I RECEIVED A letter from him, indicating further interest and the possibility of taking the project on,” said Bruning. The CDA met for its monthly meeting at city hall last Wednesday to review the letter. “There was no real decision made other than to find out more about the developer and look at some of the projects that he has worked with and completed, as well as look at some background as far as his financial wherewithal,” said Bruning.

The city manager spoke with Uzelac last Friday and asked him to provide some of the information, which was expected sometime this week. Uzela

c has made some preliminary proposals that may or may not work out.

“I HAVE SOME questions for our bond counsel because he would like to see the infrastructure installed and then perhaps purchase an option to the property and pay for things as they are built,” said Bruning. “That’s where it gets kind of complicated and I’m not sure if we can do that or not, under the current arrangement. We were figuring on issuing special assessment bonds and paying for the infrastructure through that.” Bruning said that proposal might not be possible without the actual transfer of property.

“It’s up in the air,” said Bruning. “There’s been nothing definite.” The CDA subcommittee is going to look at the proposal and evaluate it further and maybe invite Uzelac up for a meeting. “He’s trying to be creative, I think, and looking at potential single business tax credits,” said Bruning. “It’s a little different spin than what we’ve looked at the last couple of years. There’s some potential there, we’ll see how it pans out.”