HANCOCK -- Can Hancock walkability and bikability be improved despite the hilly topography of the City? Should the Hancock waterfront be improved for the public with boardwalks and a walking trail or developed for additional housing? Now that Finlandia University is closing its programs, how can the university properties such as the Jutila Center, Hirvonen Hall, the Quincy Green and more be best utilized to benefit City residents?
These are just some of the questions discussed by Hancock residents during two recent public meetings intended to collect input for updating Hancock's 2018 Master Plan.* Residents could choose to attend one or both of the meetings -- one held at the Orpheum Theater on April 12 and the other at the Hancock (formerly Houghton County) Arena on April 13. The combined turnout was estimated at more than 100 residents for the two events. A team of three planning consultants from Progressive AE in Grand Rapids facilitated the two meetings to assist the City of Hancock with ideas for the Master Plan update.
April 12 Meeting at Orpheum Theater
Following a short ice-breaker for residents to meet the people at their tables and write down what they like about Hancock, the small groups discussed Hancock's Strengths. They answered these questions: What is good about living in Hancock? What assets does Hancock have that other communities lack? Here they report to the larger group and facilitators:
During the April 12, 2023, meeting at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock, for gathering public input to update the City of Hancock Master Plan, residents speak about what they found in their discussion to be some of Hancock's strengths. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)
The next step was to identify Hancock's Weaknesses, in answer to these questions: What are aspects of life in Hancock that need improving? What in Hancock is currently missing? Here are some of the weaknesses discussed and reported by the April 12 meeting attendants:
- poor sidewalks and need for sidewalk snow removal
- lack of retail employment
- noise from motorized trails
- poultry not allowed
- lack of access to waterfront
- lack of scheduled public transit
- downtown parking limited
- need for diverse housing
- blight in vacant housing
- downtown not walkable because of traffic speed
- too many offices and not enough restaurants or coffee shops downtown
- street lights should point down
- need to stop comparing to Houghton.
Miriam Pickens, who attended the Apr. 12 meeting, commented to Keweenaw Now on how some of those weaknesses could turn into opportunities for the City of Hancock.
"I found that there was a general sense that Hancock has a lot of potential," Pickens said of the discussions. "We have here a vibrant community with an Art Center, a larger Keweenaw Co-op downtown, and a college campus, though sadly closed, offering opportunity like never before. We don’t have to be a little sister to Houghton. We can choose a direction which is unique to us."
For the discussion on Opportunities, residents were to answer this question: "What actions can Hancock take to become an even better place to visit or call home? Here are some opportunities the groups reported at the April 12 meeting:
- more docks for water craft
- more non-motorized trails
- a YMCA/YWCA
- public library (possibly Finlandia's)
- work with Michigan Tech on developing electric recreational vehicles (less noisy)
- less light pollution (for dark sky)
- more public green space
- Co-op at new location downtown.
Cynthia Coté, Copper Country Community Arts Center executive director, while she wasn't able to stay for the whole meeting, said she was glad to see so many people come out for it. She added her group discussed some opportunities related to art.
"Our group discussed creative ways to liven up some of the empty storefronts with pop ups and displays," Coté noted. "We also recognized the work of the Hancock Beautification Committee. The flowers and planters are fabulous."
Frank Fiala, co-owner of the Orpheum, circulated among the groups at the meeting.
"We were delighted to host the City of Hancock's initial meeting for the Master Plan revision and thoroughly impressed by the creativity, thought and passions expressed by those attending," he told Keweenaw Now.
For the fourth category, Challenges, participants discussed answers to this question: What factors pose a threat to Hancock's future success?
After brainstorming in their small groups, Hancock residents report on their discussion of current challenges to the City, including the topography, dependency on the Portage Lift Bridge, Bridge closures, the Adams Township water supply, poverty, lack of child care and more.The final activity was a study of the map of Hancock to locate points of interest for future planning.
Following the map study, participants reported on areas of change discussed in their small groups:
Areas of change noted here include the challenges of walkability, downtown needs for amenities, waterfront issues and more.Participants here offer suggestions for re-use of Finlandia properties, including a potential public library and an art community in the Jutila Center. They also point out the need for more green space, a boardwalk along the canal, slower traffic through downtown and more.
Housing needs, including student housing quality, are discussed here as important for Hancock's future.
Mary Babcock, Hancock City Manager and Zoning Administrator, attended both the April 12 and April 13 Master Plan kickoff meetings and told Keweenaw Now she was very pleased at the turnout for both.
"We had 40 to 60 people at each event, which far exceeded our expectations," Babcock said. "The facilitators of the event were very happy in regards to both the number of attendees and the interaction during the meetings."
Todd Gast, Hancock Downtown Development Authority (DDA) coordinator, also attended both the April 12 and 13 meetings and commented on the turnout.
"The City of Hancock is so excited that so many of our residents came out on a beautiful day to be a part of this launch party for our Master Plan," he said.
April 13 Meeting at Hancock Arena
Attendees at the Hancock Arena on April 13 followed the same procedure of discussion activities as those who attended the meeting at the Orpheum on April 12. A few residents attended both meetings. One of those was Zack Osborn (pictured above in map study photo) who noted a division in the town.
"The master planning meetings demonstrated a careful balance that the citizens of Hancock want for their town, one that encourages economic growth and opportunity for its residents while simultaneously retaining its rural small town atmosphere and affordability," Osborn told Keweenaw Now.
Following the ice breaker at the beginning of the meeting, individuals spoke about their ideas for public transit between Houghton and Hancock, snow plow improvement and solar energy:
Participants at the April 13 meeting on updating Hancock's Master Plan discuss the need to have public transit between Houghton and Hancock, modeled on a shuttle van already available to Michigan Tech students. Others comment on snow plow technology and solar energy. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)The small groups then discussed Hancock's Strengths and reported on these for the general discussion:
Hancock's strengths mentioned at this meeting include a few more specific examples than those noted at the April 12 meeting, such as new leadership, fairgrounds, technology businesses, etc. At both meetings "the people" were mentioned as strengths.As for Weaknesses, the April 13 group echoed many of those mentioned the previous day, such as limited downtown parking, lack of public transit, limited housing, lack of waterfront access, public restrooms, need for a non-motorized trail, etc.
In an email reply to Keweenaw Now, Allyson Jabusch, a member of the Hancock Beautification Group, commented on the need for a non-motorized walking trail along the waterfront.
"My intent for being there was to ensure mention of the creation of a waterfront walking trail," Jabusch writes. "Was glad to hear this brought up by others too. Not surprising as waterfront improvements have been listed as 'planned actions' for a long time. The City of Hancock’s Strategic Plan Update for 2012-2016 lists 'extend Navy Street one-way east to west, from the condos to Forest Street, after securing the necessary easements…continue installing boardwalk segments and fishing piers along the waterfront where appropriate.' Would really like to be able to walk along the waterfront under a tunnel of trees with the birds calling in the shrubbery or on the shoreline -- waterfowl present until boating activity fires up."
Jabusch, who often attends Hancock City Council meetings, added she was encouraged by the turnout at this meeting.
"All ages, earnest folk too, who really seemed to care about the community. The event seemed to elicit lots of good ideas, like the one about expanding bus service," Jabush noted. "Really like this community and our City’s governing peeps."
During the April 13 meeting, several of those good ideas came up in the discussion of Opportunities for making Hancock a better place to live or visit -- including these not mentioned on the previous day:
- making Quincy Street more pedestrian friendly in two ways and re-routing US 41 to Hancock Street
- free public transportation
- preserving historic buildings through zoning ordinances
- more winter family events
- affordable housing
- 4-season biking
- improving the intersection near Gino's restaurant
- renewable energy from timber.
In the Challenges category, the April 13 group expressed concerns about how the sale/re-use of Finlandia's buildings is under a receivership with little communication or transparency on how it is being handled:
Jim Kurtti, Honorary Consul of Finland in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and recently retired director of the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, attended the April 13 meeting and commented on it in an email to Keweenaw Now.
"I'm heartened by all the concern and in particular, constructive ideas regarding the soon to be empty buildings on Finlandia's campus," Kurtti writes. "The community, especially in Hancock, is rallying well to make the change positive. Much of the efforts are relative to the Finnish brand on the City, which is also very positive. I'm very encouraged."
Kurtti said most of the people at his table were new residents of Hancock.
"Our table was mostly populated by new residents, who really value the small town strengths and want Hancock to be prepared for the future when people discover all the great things the UP has, in particular, communities like Hancock," he noted.
Additional challenges mentioned during the April 13 meeting included follow-through on blight, lack of space for development, housing affordability, lack of willingness to change and more.
Following the map study, residents at the April 13 meeting spoke about their ideas for change that they would like to see included in the updated Master Plan.
Participants continue their report on the discussion of potential changes, including ways to improve the aesthetics of the City to make it attractive to tourists and pedestrian crossings at difficult intersections on US 41, such as the corner near Pat's IGA at the top of White Street.
Both Progressive AE facilitators for these meetings -- Joy Sportel, architect and planner, and James Kilborn, associate planner -- had very positive reactions to Hancock residents' participation.
"This is probably the most well attended and engaging community event I've ever facilitated," Sportel told Keweenaw Now. "We hold these types of events pretty often, and this was great. We got so much information!"
Kilborn also noted he was very happy with the turnout at both meetings.
"I think the number of people that came to express their ideas for the future really demonstrates their excitement and their care for what they'd like to see for the future of Hancock," Kilborn said.
Suzanne Schulz, Progressive AE Urban Planning Practice leader, expressed her enthusiasm and appreciation for the public input gathered at the two meetings for updating the City of Hancock Master Plan.
The survey for the City of Hancock Master Plan Update is now online. Hancock residents are invited to answer just 6 questions on what they view as opportunities for change and what they want to see for Hancock's future. The survey takes only an estimated four minutes to complete, with an optional text box for additional comments.
* Editor's Note: To learn more about the City of Hancock -- its history, government, news and events, recreational opportunities and more -- visit the City of Hancock Web site. The 2018 Hancock Master Plan is available on the City's Web site here.
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