Community Foundation works to reinvigorate Port Huron
Posted June 03, 2008
PORT HURON, Mich.—Acres of abandoned industrial buildings were once a formidable barricade separating the St. Clair River from Port Huron’s downtown. Today, the area has been cleared, and the Community Foundation of St. Clair County is spearheading efforts to reinvigorate the central city and its historical neighborhoods.
The initiative complements the large-scale redevelopment of the city’s waterfront by James Acheson, a local businessman who has committed more than $84 million in support of this effort through his private foundation and Acheson Ventures L.L.C. since the early 1990s.
“I think most people would say that philanthropy is leading the local effort to revitalize Port Huron,” said Randy Maiers, president and CEO of the community foundation.
Acheson, whose father helped found the community foundation in 1944, provided $1 million for an administrative endowment and challenged the community foundation to become a partner in efforts to restore the city’s economic and civic vitality, Maiers said.
Studio 1219, an arts incubator funded in part by a state “Cool Cities” grant in 2004, was a major catalyst for this effort.
The “Cool Cities” initiative was launched by the state in an effort to build vibrant, energetic cities that attract jobs and retain “knowledge workers,” who could be a key to the state’s economic future but are leaving Michigan at alarming rates.
One link with the state has opened up others, Maiers said.
“We also initiated the ‘Renaissance Roam’ two years ago. It’s a tour to attract potential buyers for homes we’ve rehabbed—with the help of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority—in the downtown neighborhoods anchored by Studio 1219.
“We’ve sold most of the homes. Compared to overall county home sales, our houses sold in about half the time—an indication that people are choosing to live downtown. [But] the real estate market slump has hurt everyone, so we’ve had to focus our efforts elsewhere.”
As the local economy improves, the community foundation hopes to begin developing other types of downtown housing, including artist’s lofts.
“We have several empty buildings—too many, in fact—that would work for this purpose,” Maiers said.
“This is the first time the community foundation has dipped its toe into real estate. Although we’ve taken some bumps along the way, I think it’s been a success. It’s a great example of what partnerships can accomplish.”
Originally printed in the Mott Mosaic by Ann Richards.
