On Friday, Feb. 28, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) would deliver a $1.5 million grant to restore the former Kirkish Furniture building at 109 Shelden Avenue in downtown Houghton. Local developers L & Z Rentals, along with the City of Houghton and Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), will transform the derelict structure into a new space for local restaurant Sky Sushi with nine apartments above.
The building has sat empty for over a decade, with previous redevelopment efforts having fallen short. An incident in 2016 saw the roof collapse, with the previous developers eventually moving on after years of work before and after the collapse. L & Z Rentals purchased the structure two years ago, and after a comprehensive planning and grant application period, formal construction is set to begin this spring and conclude in 2026.
“The Kirkish building is one of our most iconic downtown buildings; it’s the first thing you see coming off the [Portage Lake] bridge, and it’s finally coming back to life,” said City Manager Eric Waara. After years of stalling and funding issues, the city government is enthused to have a solid plan to revive one of Houghton’s great landmarks.
Building developer Ruixuan Zhang echoed a similarly optimistic sentiment, stating, “This project will not only provide high-quality housing in downtown but also allow us to expand our restaurant, contributing to a more vibrant downtown community,” in a press release from the state government.
Boosting the vitality of Houghton’s downtown has been a long-standing priority for Waara, an MTU alumnus and longtime Houghton resident who has worked to improve the city for much of his life. He described his vision for Houghton as, “kind of like a three-legged stool: people, places, and business. Then, you have a vibrant downtown and a vibrant community.” With this project in full swing, a plan to redevelop Franklin Square was disclosed by Waara that will include even more new housing and commercial space.
