Official press release: Thursday 27th June 2024
More than 100 people attended a special open house event Monday evening (June 24th) hosted by New Community Vision (NCV), the local non-profit formed to purchase the over 200 acres of land between Northport and Omena formerly known as Timber Shores, for conservation, restoration and attainable housing.
Standing under a tent adjacent to the property located off M22, NCV president John Sentell welcomed strategic partners: the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa (GTB), who would lead the restoration and stewardship of this property once it is acquired, and Suttons Bay-based non-profit Peninsula Housing, which is collaborating with NCV on the 24-acre attainable housing portion of the project.
Sentell said that NCV - after being set up only 18 months ago - continues to work towards acquiring what is “the last large piece of undeveloped property with high conservation value and shoreline on the bay in Leelanau.”
“Our New Community Vision includes conservation and restoration of the former campground to create a nature preserve with low-impact trails for all to enjoy,” he told those gathered. “This is like a marathon – we’ve crested the hill, but we still have to run hard to cross the finish line”, said Sentell. “But we can get it done. Our current pledges of support, when matched with what we believe is a very promising opportunity to receive a substantial federal grant, sponsored by the Grand Traverse Band, suggests we are well within reach. What I can tell you tonight is that raising an additional $2.9 million will get this deal done. It’s realistic – it’s achievable. Every single donation matters,” he said.
Naomi Louchouarn, River Restoration Project Manager for the GTB, told attendees that the opportunity for the tribe to partner with NCV is important on many levels. “The name for this land is Mashkiigaki, which means marsh lands, but it also means the ‘place of medicine’ because this is where, in times past, tribal members would find food and medicine and connect with the earth,” Louchouarn said. “To collaborate with NCV and everyone in the area is important for the ecological restoration of this place, but also for the restoration of the irreplaceable cultural and spiritual connections to the land as well.”
Larry Mawby, President of Peninsula Housing, the community land trust, explained that a 24-acre portion of the property has been designated for attainable housing because it has the lowest conservation value and is accessible from M22 and Camp Haven Road. Community consultation on the right mix and number of units to be built is part of the plan, said Mawby, but “step 1 is for NCV to buy the property and to do that they need your help. So, open your wallets, please!”
Open house attendees walked on marked paths through the property to the lakeshore and were also able to find out more on the project from NCV’s board members.
Opportunities to tour the property with NCV board members and partners continue through mid-July, through free registration on NCV’s website under ‘Events’.
NCV will continue to announce more updates this summer.
For more details, email info@newcommunityvision.org or visit www.newcommunityvision.org
