Local developer tells council idea for lakeshore condo project

Most of the of the old Vogelheim Lumber Company property along Lake Huron is slated for a 38-unit condominium development, according to builder/developer John Vogelheim who appeared at the Rogers City Council meeting Monday morning with architect Brian Miller.

The project would include eight one-and-a-half story townhouses, close to the water?s edge, and some three-story structures, behind the lakefront buildings. Each condo would have a view of Lake Huron from the living room and dining room, Vogelheim said. With the details officially being released to the public, the next step is to pay a visit to the Rogers City Planning Commission to iron out what were described as ?minor issues.? The next meeting of the planning commission is Monday evening.

THE DEVELOPMENT could be back before council as early as next month, with demolition of buildings to possibly begin in June. Vogelheim anticipates having 10 marketable units available before year?s end.

?This is a 2003 project,? he said. The large Vogelheim building is not part of the development and would not be demolished. Also included is some redevelopment of the harbor.

?We are proposing condominium boat slips,? said Miller, a 1961 RCHS graduating classmate of Vogelheim?s.

?The drawing showed seven slips, but there?s thought of increasing that to 14,? said Miller. Vogelheim and Miller started putting the plan for the project together last fall. ?The three-story units we are planning will be designed with an entrance court and an open space under the building,? said Miller, who had envisioned working on a lakefront development in Rogers City someday. ?You can see through the development.

?We?re trying to integrate this into the neighborhood as much as we can.?

Access would only be from First Street, along the western edge of the property.

MAYOR BEACH HALL said the project is ?preliminary.? There was a meeting at 8 a.m. Monday where he first learned of Vogelheim?s plans. Hall wanted council to receive the information and hear a presentation before it went to the planning commission.

?Rather than have it out in the rumor mill, we thought we probably should get it out for the public quickly,? said Hall.

?This is fully in compliance with our current zoning ordinances,? Hall said. Vogelheim believes it?s something that Rogers City has needed for a long time. ?When we look at the city budget, a few dollars in the city coffers would help out. So we are thinking about you guys, too,? said Vogelheim, addressing members of the council. ?Very frankly, and only speaking for myself, I think that?s going to look a lot better down on the lakefront,? said Hall, who chalked up the information in the ?good news? category. Council member Karl Heidemann questioned whether a proposed RV park at the wastewater treatment plant would be a detriment to the project.

?WE ARE well aware that there is a (proposed) RV park there,? said Miller. ?I think they would be good neighbors.? Miller said he talked with Vogelheim about making the area between the treatment facility and the development a ?

buffer area.? Some of the details which would need to be worked out with the city include an easement so occupants can get to their homes.

?That basically is a public easement right now, because Wisniewski (Builders, Inc.) is using it, and we always used it when we had our lumber company office in back, after our fire years ago,? said Vogelheim. ?So, I don?t think it?ll be a big issue.?

Part of the bike trail, on the west side of the Vogelheim property, would have to be reconstructed.

?I?m looking for some permits from the DNR for dredging,? said Vogelheim, who would use some of the fill for construction.

Vogelheim would like to start with construction of a 10-unit complex in August and have occupancy 90 to 120 days after that. A phased program would be set up for the rest of the units.

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