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Construction of Muskegon Heights first new home in 17 years underway

"Reaching New Muskegon Heights" vision plan calls for 35 new homes

Officials say, it’s a microcosm of things to come in Muskegon Heights, as the Career Tech Center in Muskegon, in partnership with Lake Hawks in Flight and AmeriCorps, poured the concrete foundation this week on the first new home to be constructed in over 17 years.

Mirroring Muskegon’s successful “Watch Us Go” campaign next door, the city recently launched its own revitalization marketing strategy. A multi-million dollar effort, the newly created “Reaching New Muskegon Heights" aims to bring generational change to the community, beginning with an overhaul of the downtown corridor.

Plans call for restoring the Strand Theater that has sat empty for 30 years, filling Broadway Avenue with new restaurants and shopping, remodeling and updating nearby Rowan Park, and constructing 35 new homes nearby.

The first new home, currently under construction, sits at 257 East Hume Street.

According to a press release, "the lot for the new home was donated by Janet Robinson who purchased the property, once owned by her great grandparents, in the hope of bringing new life to the previously dilapidated site."

Like Robinson, City Manager Bell told WGVU, that the "Reaching New Muskegon Heights" campaign is specifically designed for those who are from the community; and want to be a part of the city's resurgence.

It is not an invitation, he says, for gentrification.

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