Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By CHARITY SMITH
Bessemer — The city of Bessemer sold just over seven acres of land to Glen Peterson, an attorney from Kerrville, Texas, with ties to the U.P. during the regular city council meeting on Monday night.
The 7.3 acres of land is located near Marshalek Road off U.S. 2. Peterson offered to purchase the land for $2,000 per acre. The land is adjacent to 20 acres of land he recently purchased from the Gogebic County Road Commission for $40,000.
Peterson said in a letter to the city that he will plan, design and build some detached one-story rental villas with attached two-car garages on the property, with the help of Coleman Engineering. He said this is not his first “real estate development rodeo.”
Since 1982, Peterson has worked on 11 commercial land location and acquisition projects in several states, including Texas, Utah, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Wyoming and Ohio. Some of the other projects included 260 apartment complexes in Stow, Ohio, and Kansas City, Missouri, an executive office building in New Braunfels, Texas, and hotels in Lubbock and Austin, Texas.
He said in the letter that he has seen two feasibility studies which confirm the “desperate” need for new rental housing from Watersmeet to Hurley, including Ironwood, Wakefield and Bessemer.
The council passed the sale with a vote of 3-0. Mayor Adam Zak and council member Rob Coleman were absent.
“We look forward to this proceeding and with some new development. That would be awesome,” said Terry Kryshak, city member.
The council approved Jake’s Excavating to continue to do some work on projects through the winter. The projects will require no road disturbances.
“The intent is to allow him to continue to work and will be the line up to the Tilden tank,” said Daren Pionk, project manager for C2AE. “That’s all cross country and off the road right of way. So the disturbance of residence and people getting out of their houses and driveways won’t be an issue there. It’s a good opportunity for him to get a good chunk of this out of the way so we can speed up and move forward with the project next year.”
Council member Linda Nelson said she did not have any issue with it as long as they do not disturb any more residences during the winter months.
The motion passed unanimously.
City Manager Charly Loper said there will be a public hearing regarding the Bessemer Trailhead project at the next city council meeting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 6.
