Marquette Commons

» Marquette Commons Ice Rink : Complete!

Ice Skating - Thursday through Sunday 12 PM—8PM

The Downtown Marquette Commons will consist of a 12000 sq ft. pedestrian plaza/refrigerated outdoor ice rink, public support building to include an indoor/outdoor fireplace, public restrooms and potential food vending facility to include a public artist designed fountain which represents the first outdoor public art in downtown area. It will also be part of the Marquette bike path. The Commons will provide a community gathering spot in downtown Marquette with year round activities including concerts and a farmers/arts market in the summer and skating in the winter months. This project is an important component in an overall vision to make Marquette’s downtown a premier livable and walkable winter city. Challenged by sprawl in surrounding communities, Marquette is seeking to secure downtown as a place to work, shop, seek entertainment and celebrate our sense of community. According to recent research on successful retail centers the trend is urban destination entertainment centers. Experts relate that the response is the desire for a live/work/play environment. It is the objective of the Downtown Commons Project to provide a destination location in the center of the largest city in the Upper Peninsula that will attract downtown employees, residents and visitors. It is anticipated that the Commons will encourage downtown employees to remain in the downtown to recreate, shop and dine during lunch and after work thereby feeding the economy. The proposed project has attracted the interest of several private investors and has been a catalyst for interest in the rehabilitation of vacant buildings and the construction on new buildings on vacant lots, thereby providing job opportunities.

 

 

M arquette is seeking to secure its downtown as the premiere place to work, shop, live and seek entertainment.  The Marquette Commons Project is a major component of that vision.  The Marquette Commons project is  a public event venue in the center of the Marquette’s Downtown.  It is the objective of The Commons to attract people into the Downtown to recreate, shop, and dine.  It is anticipated that the project will create development opportunities for the business and arts community.   The total project cost of $1.2 million is funded by the Marquette Downtown Development Authority as well as $100,000 Cool Cities Catalyst Grant $16,400 Michigan Council for the Arts Grant $280,000 Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant.  The project has stimulated private investment in downtown buildings and new businesses, particularly along the Commons Corridor.

» Marquette Commons Parking Lot : Complete

City officials cut the ribbon to officially dedicate the "Commons Parking Lot." at the corner of Washington and Third Streets in Downtown Marquette on October, 7, 2003. The $568,000 project combined two formerly unattractive parking lots to create an easily negotiable and accessible tiered parking lot. The design includes a sandstone wall to incorporate the parking lot into the historic nature of downtown. It also includes a pedestrian stairway connecting the lower parking tiers to Washington Street. A component of the project is the Marquette Board of Light and Power's conversion of the overhead power lines to underground at a cost of $200,000. The project was partially funded by a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The grant in the amount of $680,350 earmarked $375,000 for the Commons Parking Lot Project and $305,000 for the Spring Street Improvement Project.