Whitmer joins demolition ceremony at former Marquette hospital site
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MARQUETTE -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday joined the Northern Michigan University Foundation, Adamo Group, and the City of Marquette to commence demolition of the former hospital property adjacent to NMU's campus in Marquette.
"The demolition of the former hospital site is a significant step towards the goal of redevelopment and neighborhood revitalization," said Karen Kovacs, Marquette city manger.
The site consists of several vacant buildings and spans 23 acres. The site's previous medical facilities were vacated with the development of the new UP Health System-Marquette hospital campus on Baraga Street.
The NMU Foundation acquired the former hospital site from UP Health System-Marquette in September 2022
The project is occurring in two phases. Phase 1 includes hazardous material removal, asbestos abatement, interior demolition, and structural demolition of all buildings at the former hospital site located south of College Avenue, excluding the Blood Bank Building. Phase 2 will include removing the Robert C. Neldberg Building and Blood Bank Building after UP Health System-Marquette relocates its operations from those locations and ends its tenancy with the NMU Foundation in 2024.
Phase 1 of the demolition project is currently underway. Adamo Group has mobilized on site, established perimeter fencing, and engaged in pre-demolition waste removal and asbestos abatement, primarily in buildings on the southwest portion of the former hospital campus. Above grade structural demolition is expected to begin later this month. Phase 1 funding is supported by a Community Development Block Grant awarded to the city by the Michigan Strategic Fund, which was finalized on April 25.
Phase 2 is supported by a blight elimination grant to the NMU Foundation from the State Land Bank Authority, which was funded by an appropriation included in the 2022-23 state budget and finalized on Jan. 11.
Whitmer, in her remarks, described the site as "blight in prime real estate that deserves new life."
The site, once cleared, will be an attractive location for much-needed housing and other amenities that could complement the neighborhood, NMU, and nearby 3rd Street business corridor. Economic feasibility analysis shows the viability of an estimated $166 million mixed-use development, featuring a wide range of housing, retail and commercial space, and greenspace and pedestrian corridors to better connect the development and surrounding neighborhoods to NMU's campus.
The NMU Foundation, in partnership with the city, selected Adamo Group, a family-owned demolition company founded in 1964, based in Detroit, as general contractor on June 12.
It was the lowest of seven bidders. Adamo plans to repurpose and recycle up to 95% of material, which will avoid significant landfill disposal while also mitigating project expenses. The company has also hired locally to execute the project.
"We clearly understand the importance of a project of this magnitude within the community and will perform the work in accordance with all local and federal regulations, implement proper engineering controls to mitigate any impact or interference within the community and complete the project in a safe and timely manner," said Richard M. Adamo, president of Adamo Group.
"The NMU Foundation is grateful to the many partners who have worked alongside us for over two years to enable this now very visible milestone," said Brad Canale, CEO of the NMU Foundation.
The NMU Foundation, City of Marquette, and Adamo Group also announced two public information sessions that will be held Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Northern Center at Northern Michigan University. The first session will begin at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time and the second at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time.
For more information related to the project, go to www.RenewCollegeAveMQT.org/.