Features

Seven Takeaways from Local Real Estate Agents for the Spring/Summer Market

What to expect for the biggest 2024 home buying season

By Art Bukowski | April 27, 2024

The last few years in local real estate have been akin to what one local agent described as the “wild west,” with norms and conventions thrown out the window as buyers scrambled for homes in the strongest sellers’ market in decades. Today, local agents agree that aside from some holdouts—waterfront property is still red hot—the overall market has settled back into a more reasonable place in 2024. Northern Express connected with several ... Read More >>

A Tale of Two Lofts

Michigan Community Capital seeks to address the “missing middle” in Grayling and Boyne City with new apartments

By Victor Skinner | April 27, 2024

Two northern Michigan projects aimed at addressing a dearth of middle income housing are inching forward after years of delays in Grayling and Boyne City. Sawmill Lofts – Grayling On April 8, the Grayling City Council approved a Brownfield tax increment financing plan for Sawmill Lofts (pictured) to help fund 42 new apartments and over 3,000 square feet of commercial space in a nearly 40,000-square-foot, five-story building along Michigan Avenue. The plans ... Read More >>

Thriving On the New Gold Coast

Developer teams up with NMC construction students for hands-on learning

By Kierstin Gunsberg | April 27, 2024

From job prospects to housing prices, the last few years have left young adults entering the workforce and housing market with more questions than answers: Is college the right pathway to a sustainable career? Which local industries offer in-demand jobs? And, how much will that job have to pay in order to afford a home? Those concerns are especially pressing in northern Michigan where real estate prices have steadily increased while wages ... Read More >>

Net-Zero Living

Evergreen TC is ready and waiting to break ground on a new sustainable housing project

By Ross Boissoneau | April 27, 2024

One-, two-, and three-bedroom units, pocket neighborhoods, and net-zero homes. Those are among the attributes of Evergreen TC, a residential development coming to the west side of Traverse City. Evergreen TC is headed by Realtor Sue Kelly, green building expert Max Strickland, and builder Dan Paulson. Strickland and Paulson both boast years of experience with green building practices, and Kelly was so impressed by a presentation by Paulson she enlisted his help ... Read More >>

Sewing a New Story

Stuff We Love

April 27, 2024

Qayum Qayumi arrived in northern Michigan last summer with his family as refugees from Afghanistan. With help from an Afghan support group based at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City, he was quickly connected with TentCraft. The TentCraft team put him in front of one of their industrial sewing machines and was amazed at his skill—gained from working with his father from a young age. Last November, Qayumi won a best pitch ... Read More >>

Riding in Old-Timey Style

April 27, 2024

Leland’s Old Art Building (OAB) wants you to break out the tweed this weekend. That’s right—they’re hosting the Inaugural Community Tweed Ride on Saturday, May 4, from 2-4pm. The idea is to don your best early 20th-century, vintage-inspired garb—we’re talking tweed, plus fours (aka golf knickers), bowties, and more—and then take a leisurely bike ride throughout scenic Leland. (Sure, you’ll draw stares, but you’ll be looking your best!) OAB will offer planned ... Read More >>

Blazing the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail

April 27, 2024

We’re getting ever closer to an interconnected northern Michigan thanks to ongoing work on the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail. According to the Top of Michigan Trails Council, the third phase of the trail is underway and slated for completion this year. The 2.36-mile segment begins at the north end of Springwater Beach Road and continues on the Lake Charlevoix side of Boyne City-Charlevoix Road through Bay Township. Before the trail meets ... Read More >>

Run for the Arts at Interlochen

April 27, 2024

May the Fourth, the Force, and the good vibes of great runners be with you on May 4 for Interlochen Center for the Arts’ spring 5K. The Run for the Arts race loops through the blooming grounds of the campus, including trails along the shores of Green Lake and Duck Lake. Live music and visual art are both part of the running (or walking) experience. Packet pickup starts at 7:30am and the ... Read More >>

Walking in an Artsy Wonderland

April 27, 2024

Michigan Legacy Art Park is hosting the “Raindrops” artwork created by Dewey Blocksma and Patricia Innis at the J. Smith Walkway as part of the Spring Downtown Traverse City Art Walk on Friday, May 3, from 4-7pm. You can create your own works of raindrop art on tree rounds that will be displayed in a tunnel for two summers on the Art Park grounds. Other stops on the Art Walk include Crooked ... Read More >>

The Valleys and Hills of Doon Brae

The making of Boyne’s new par-3 short course

By Al Parker | April 20, 2024

Whether you’re a single-digit handicap or a duffer who doesn’t know a mashie from a niblick, there’s a new northern Michigan golf course where the focus is on fun. Doon Brae is a new par-3 short course being built in Harbor Springs by Boyne Golf, which operates 10 other courses. This new beauty is just a short stroll from the Highlands Main Lodge and set to open this summer. “We’re excited by ... Read More >>