Eco-nomic endeavor

By: Kevin Merzlak - Editor in Chief
Date Posted: December 08, 2004
http://www.mtulode.com

The area around Lac La Belle will see a number of changes over the next year as the owners of Mount Bohemia embark on $22 million construction project near the base of the mountain. Bidding for the contract opened to local contractors in an announcement held Tuesday at the Ramada Inn at 10 a.m.

The development, described by Mount Bohemia President Lonie Glieberman as an eco-village will consist of around 100 log cabins expected to be priced between $150,000 and $185,000 each. Construction on the development is expected to begin this summer with the first units finished and ready for sale by late fall. A reservation drive is also planned for early February for those interested in purchasing one of the units.

Expectations are that the project will result in a significant financial boost for the area. According to Glieberman, property taxes alone are expected to bring in around $100,000 annually. More income to impact the local area can be expected due to the living needs, food and other related items, of those residing in the log cabins.

Though the project is just getting to the bidding phase, it has been in the works for several years, and several renderings from U.P. Engineers and Architects, Inc. have been produced.

Considered a separate venture, the eco-village is not planned as an expansion of the Mount Bohemia, but as a housing development. The units will be available for purchase, with the owners belonging to an association regulating the development designed to keep property values high. Glieberman described the project as "the first real planned real estate eco-village," noting the similarities between the development and similar communities around the country. An eco-village is designed around a more rural feel and emphasis on outdoor activities. The focus is more on the natural environment and less on artificial constructions.

Those who purchase units will be allowed to rent them out, however, in these cases the rental profits will be split evenly between the unit owner and Bohemia. Significant changes to the units, such as painting the walls or similar alterations, will not be allowed under the guidelines of the association, making the development similar to a condominium project.

Cabins will be two-bedroom units with around 1,400 square feet of floor space and will be right on the water front of Lac La Belle adjacent to Mount Bohemia. With the cabin also comes the option of having a boat dock on Lac La Belle, as the units are designed with all season use in mind. Going along with the "Extreme Wilderness" theme of Mount Bohemia, the development is designed around the outdoor amenities, including mountain bike trails, hiking trails and snowshoeing.

"It's about people who want to get away in the rustic wilderness," said Glieberman. "It's rustic, it's log cabins, it's about the outdoors and at the end of the day it's about adventure. We are putting you at the epicenter of the adventure. A lot of our customers would be interested in buying these."

Other changes have also taken shape in the area over this past year at Mount Bohemia itself, with several new glades slated to be opened this season including one billed as the longest in the Midwest. Among the other new runs is Goldilocks, which take skiers and snowboarders between two cliffs before reaching the bottom.

The expansion of the glades was the biggest in three years stated Glieberman, increasing the glade acreage by 15 percent. Bohemia also grew in terms of its draw, with around 21,000 visitors last year and about 2,000 season passes sold in their weekend sale, up from 1,438 the year before.

Comparing Mount Bohemia to other large ski resorts with 70,000 and 100,000 visitors a year, Glieberman said, "[You] don't always need to be the biggest to be the best."

Citing how many of the resort's patrons come for the wilderness feel, Glieberman discussed how many ski resorts are becoming less about skiing and more about other activities. "We're a non-resort. We don't want to change that atmosphere," said Glieberman. "There are no strip malls, there is no McDonald's."

Mount Bohemia also owns the Porcupine Mountains ski slopes, which it purchased last November. Both Mount Bohemia and the Porkies are part of "Ski the Keweenaw," a joint venture with Mont Ripley, which is owned by Michigan Technological University, to encourage the industry in the area.