The former Marquette General Hospital (MGH) is in the process of being demolished. Two public information sessions were held to relay plans for the project last month on Sept. 7 by the NMU Foundation in collaboration with the City of Marquette and the Adamo Group, a demolition company based in Detroit, which is contracted for the project.
The public information session cleared up some questions that community members had regarding the demolition, including how long the project would take and what will be constructed in its place.
“One thing that a lot of folks are concerned about with this property was that there was no plan for it and that it was going to continue to be blighted and we’ve continued to have no plan for the future,” said David Nyberg, NMU Foundation Executive Director of Business Engagement and Economic Development.
Another question on the minds of audience members at the public information session was how materials from the demolition would be disposed of. The Adamo Group estimated that 90% of the weight of the materials would be recycled.
“[Recycling the materials is] not only good for sustainability and the university’s commitment to sustainability, it also helps avoid the cost of dumping that material in the landfill which makes the cost of demolition much less,” Nyberg said.
The NMU Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit tasked with the mission to “establish and foster relationships to generate resources that benefit the strategic goals of Northern Michigan University”. Nyberg’s role focuses on building and advancing opportunities for Northern Michigan students and alumni through partnerships with economic development and industry.
The MGH has been owned by Duke LifePoint since 2012 and was sold last September to the NMU Foundation for $1. The Foundation saw an opportunity to get involved in taking possession of the hospital if milestones set in place would allow the Foundation to oversee and facilitate the project, Nyberg said.
“The Foundation knew that the alternative of this site being blighted and nothing happening with it into the future was not good for NMU,” Nyberg said. “If there was a way for the foundation to take this project on and realize a better future for this site, that would be a good thing for NMU.”
Currently the demolition is in Phase I of the project which is expected to last until the spring of 2024, projected to be completed between March and May. Above-grade demolition is expected to begin in the first weeks of October 2023 on the southwest end of the former MGH.
Phase II of the project will begin after Phase I is finished and is projected to be completed by the end of 2024.
“Phase two is a shorter time frame, because there is less asbestos abatement activity required in the newer buildings, so it shortens down the timeline,” Nyberg said.
The Foundation plans to have the lot designated for housing, retail, greenspace and pedestrian walkways connecting to the NMU campus, the College Avenue neighborhood and the Third Street Business Center.
“If there’s a new redevelopment on this site happening, we want to make sure we’re being mindful of any plans that the university might have to make sure that there’s synergy between NMU and the community,” Nyberg said.
To stay updated with the demolition project visit https://www.renewcollegeavemqt.org/.
