Traverse City voters will consider a proposal to build a 100-foot-tall condominium, following debate on how taller buildings could affect the character of the popular northern Michigan tourist destination.
Voters gained the ability in 2016 to approve or reject construction over 60 feet tall. The first project voters will consider this November is 326 Land Company's proposed Peninsula Place.
Resident John McDonald said he feels the area's character is being threatened and development is making the city "no longer livable."
Company managing member Tom McIntyre said the project will be located in an area that's allowed tall building for nearly half a century. Peninsula Place will be designed in a similar style to the nearby Park Place Hotel, he said.
"It's part of the city growing up," McIntyre said. "Sooner or later you're going to have to build buildings that accommodate what normally happens in a downtown area."
Plans currently call for the project to have 64 condos and underground parking. The condos would have one to three bedrooms starting at around $200,000, McIntyre said.
"The project will bring about $1 million a year in tax revenue to the city that will help support police, fire, infrastructure and other projects," McIntyre said.
Resident Grant Parsons said he believes approving the project will encourage other developers to build in the city.
"It's a choice of Traverse City people to say, do we want to be what we are, or do we want to be a miniature Miami Beach? The richest people will be able to have the tallest buildings, and make a buck on our changed city," he said.
City Commissioners will have final approval on the proposal if voters approve it.
