DOCSLIB.ORG

Muskegon Case Study

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Muskegon Case Study THE CITY OF A CASE STUDY {MUSKEGON Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts A CASE STUDY THE CITY OF MUSKEGON ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Michigan Coastal Community FELLOWSHIP MENTORS Working Waterfronts Mark Breederland, Michigan Sea Grant Extension Emily Finnell, Office of the Great Lakes NOAA FELLOWSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE This case study was compiled as part of a set of 11 working Jon Allan Richard Norton John Warbach waterfront case studies in coastal communities. For more Dave Knight Chuck Pistis Ronda Wuycheck information on the series, please see the Introduction, Carol Linteau Jennifer Read Lynelle Marolf Frank Ruswick Value and Context, Waterfront Land Use, Best Practices, and Recommendations and Next Steps sections. OFFICE OF THE GREAT LAKES AND SEA GRANT STAFF OTHER CASE STUDIES IN THIS SERIES: PREPARED BY Alpena Marquette Saugatuck Elizabeth Durfee Charlevoix Monroe Sault Ste. Marie 2011-2013 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Manistee Ontonagon Zone Management Fellowship with the Michigan Coastal Zone Manistique Port Huron Management Program and Michigan Sea Grant. Cover photos: Associated Press, Elizabeth Durfee, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. June 2013 | MICHU-13-728 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ..............................................................4 FIGURES AND TABLES Summary .................................................................5 Figure 1. State of Michigan and Muskegon County and aerial image of the city of Muskegon Context ...................................................................7 with Lake Michigan, Muskegon Lake and the Community Profile ................................................... 8 Muskegon River....................................................... 6 Community Overview .............................................. 9 Table 1. Intent, permitted uses and special uses of zoning districts that accommodate Waterfront History .................................................. 10 water-dependent uses and/or public access ......... 12 Waterfront Summary ............................................. 11 Figure 2. City of Marquette 2011 zoning districts .......................................................13 Zoning....................................................................12 Figure 3. Map of zoning adjacent to waterfront Parcel Classification .............................................. 17 and frontage by zoning category ........................... 15 Infrastructure and Access ...................................... 18 Figure 4. Map of zoning and location of Working Waterfront SWOT Analysis ..................... 19 water-dependent uses within a 1000-foot buffer of water bodies and waterfront land area Tools, Strategies and Best Practices for by zoning category ................................................ 16 Maintaining Working Waterfronts........................... 20 Figure 5. Classification of parcels within Guiding Principles.................................................. 21 a 1000-foot buffer of water bodies by water dependency ................................................. 17 References and Resources ................................... 22 Figure 6. Parcel frontage and area within 1000-foot buffer by water dependency classification ..........................................................18 Figure 7. Water-dependent and enhanced uses, docks and waterfront parks along the waterfront and within 1000 feet of bodies of water ................. 19 Table 2. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to maintaining Muskegon’s working waterfront ................................................. 20 Michigan Sea Grant INTRODUCTION Many coastal communities have areas known fish stocks and regulations, aging and inadequate This case study: as working waterfronts — waterfront lands, infrastructure, decline in waterfront industry and n Characterizes one of many working waterfronts waterfront infrastructure and waterways that are economic recession — threaten the viability of found throughout Michigan’s diverse coastal used for water-dependent uses and activities. water-dependent businesses and access to the communities. These uses may include ports, small recreational public trust waters. Left unchecked, these threats n Identifies existing waterfront amenities, waterfront boat and fishing docks and other types of places can result in the slow loss of working waterfronts history, waterfront zoning and land area occupied or businesses where people use and access the and permanent conversion of waterfront property by water-related uses. water. Coastal communities’ working waterfronts to non-water-dependent uses. n offer economic and cultural value, contribute to a Highlights examples of waterfront challenges, community’s identity and are intrinsically tied to Active waterfront planning and the sharing and threats and opportunities as well as tools and a region’s natural resources. implementation of tools, resources and strategies strategies for maintaining the working waterfront. for maintaining and protecting working waterfronts A number of factors — such as population can ensure access for water-dependent uses and change, competing land uses and development activities, as well as preserve options for future pressure, fluctuations in water levels, changes in waterfront uses. MUSKEGON Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts Case Study 4 SUMMARY Muskegon, Michigan was founded in Approximately 2.1 million tons of and 14 percent other uses. Parcels Best practices for maintaining 1870 at the mouth of the Muskegon material, including sand, gravel, that contain water-dependent uses access to the waterfront for the River into Lake Michigan. Muskegon limestone, cement, concrete and coal and provide public access account public and water-dependent uses is located in central, eastern Michigan pass through the harbor, which ranks for 21 percent and 29 percent of the include: and is the largest city on the eastern 27th among Great Lakes Harbors, waterfront, respectively. Waterfront n Adaptive reuse of waterfront shore of Lake Michigan. Muskegon annually. Muskegon has five marinas parcels with water-dependent property amidst poor economic has approximately X miles of frontage with boat launches, three additional utilities and industries account for conditions and legacy on Lake Michigan, Muskegon Lake boat launches and a yacht club. The approximately 13 percent and 11 contamination. and the Muskegon River. The city is city is home to numerous charter percent, respectively, of the total n Attracting new businesses utilizing a developed, urban community with fishing businesses, a commercial frontage along the waterfront. a Smartzone. numerous industrial, educational, fishery, Lake Express Ferry Service, n Increasing public access and research and government facilities the Port City Princess cruise ship Muskegon has an extensive waterfront recreational opportunities along along its waterfront. and many maritime attractions and that provides numerous recreational the waterfront. landmarks. Waterfront parks and opportunities. Muskegon Lake’s n Muskegon has a rich history in beaches, including award-winning natural deep draft harbor makes it Establishing recreational and shipping and has been called the Pere Marquette beach, provide public a prime location for shipping and commercial marine hubs through ‘Lumber Queen of the World’, the access to the waterfront. receiving commodities. The decline in zoning. ‘Port City’ and ‘Riviera of the Midwest’. industrial activity along the waterfront Exploitation of the region’s abundant Muskegon has waterfront marina presents opportunities to redefine natural resources, including timber, and waterfront industrial planned unit land use along the shore. The city brought the end of a booming development (PUD) zoning districts has a downtown Lakeshore Plan that lumber era at the end of the 1800s that specifically accommodate marine- helps to guide redevelopment and and significantly impacted the local related activity. Zoning adjacent to reuse of former industrial waterfront economy. Manufacturing and industry the waterfront is comprised of 46 property into new amenities such revived the community’s economy percent open space, 18 percent as Heritage Park. However, much through the 1950s. Today Muskegon’s industrial, 6 percent residential, 5 of the Muskegon Lake shoreline, tourism, recreation and manufacturing percent commercial and 25 percent including public property, is not visibly based economy is still very dependent other uses. Within a 1000 foot buffer or physically accessible. Additional on the city’s waterfront resources. of Lake Michigan, Lake Muskegon challenges the community faces is and the Muskegon River, land use is a lack of connectivity between the Muskegon Harbor is a federally comprised of 41 percent open space, downtown and Muskegon Lake as well authorized deep draft commercial, 18 percent industrial, 18 percent as between waterfront amenities. recreational, cargo and ferry harbor. residential, 10 percent commercial MUSKEGON Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts Case Study 5 MUSKEGON, MI Muskegon River Muskegon Lake Michigan Muskegon County 100 miles N City of Muskegon Lake Michigan FIGURE 1. STATE OF MICHIGAN AND MUSKEGON COUNTY (LEFT) AND AERIAL IMAGE OF THE CITY OF MUSKEGON 1 mile N WITH LAKE MICHIGAN, MUSKEGON LAKE AND THE MUSKEGON RIVER. MUSKEGON Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts Case Study 6 CONTEXT Jurisdiction
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Muskegon County Comprehensive Plan
    Muskegon County Comprehensive Plan 2013 Prepared by Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................ i Chapter 1: Muskegon Area-Wide Plan .............................................................................................. 1-1 Chapter 2: Gaining a Feel for the Community ................................................................................... 2-1 Chapter 3: Trends and Analysis ......................................................................................................... 3-1 Chapter 4: Alternative Development Scenarios ................................................................................. 4-1 Chapter 5: Smart Growth: the Preferred Scenario ............................................................................. 5-1 Chapter 6: Implementation Strategies ................................................................................................ 6-1 Chapter 7: Implementation & Evaluation .......................................................................................... 7-1 Chapter 8: Sustainability .................................................................................................................... 8-1 Chapter 9: Conclusions ...................................................................................................................... 9-1 Appendices Appendix A: SWOT Analysis Results Appendix B: Key Person Interview Summary Report Appendix C: Phone Survey Executive
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Muskegon County Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2015-2019
    Draft Muskegon County Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2015-2019 Update Approved by the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners February 24, 2015 Board of Commissioners Terry J. Sabo, Board Chair, District 8 Benjamin Cross, Vice Chair, District 2 Rillastine R. Wilkins, District 1 Susie Hughes, District 3 Robert Scolnik, District 4 Marvin R. Engle, District 5 Charles Nash, District 6 Jeff Lohman, District 7 Kenneth Mahoney, District 9 Friends of the County Parks Advisory Committee Kimberly Sims – District 1 Emma Torresen – District 2 Jerry Sanders – District 3 Vicki Broge (Chair) – District 4 Ken Hulka (Vice Chair) – District 5 Pamela Lynk – District 6 Lupe Alviar, Jr. – District 7 Veronica West – District 8 Rachel Star – District 9 Susan Cloutier-Meyers – Disability Advocate Erin Kuhn – Local Planning Professional Muskegon County Plan: 2015-2019 Photo Credits Commissioner Susie Hughes Muskegon County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Brandon Bartoszek Brenda Moore Planning Team Robert Lukens Connie Maxim-Sparrow Jeff Hiddema Jeff Winters Jonathan Wilson Sara Damm Vicki Luthy Amy Gonyo Tom VanBruggen Brenda Moore 1 Muskegon County Plan: 2015-2019 Table of Contents I. Overview Planning & Purpose………………………………………………………..………..3 II. Vision, Goals & Strategies……………………………………………………………………....7 III. Community Profile…………………………………………………………………………...…….26 IV. County Parks and Recreational Facility Administration & Planning Process……35 V. Recreational Facilities……………………………………………………………………………..37 VI. Five Year Capital Improvements Schedule………………………………………………..73 Maps Muskegon County Water Bodies……………………………………………………………….4 Major Nonnotarized Trails……………………………………….……………………………….5 School Districts……………………………………………………………………………….…….34 Attachments A - Materials Reviewed B - Impact of Natural Resource-based Tourism (excerpt) C- Resolutions, Notice and Adopting Minutes D- Public Comment E – Grant Funding History 2 Muskegon County Plan: 2015-2019 I. Overview & Planning Purpose We live in a wondrous place! Michigan has extraordinary and majestic resources.
    [Show full text]
  • Brownfield TIF 2017 Annual Report
    Local Amount of Amount of Amount of Amount of Amount of Non- Principal and Captured Taxable Res. Units Sq ft of Linear feet of Site Reporting No TIR capture/reimbursement Total Amount of TIR Amount of School Amount of State Amount of Local TIR Amount of Local Amount of Local Initial Taxable Amount of Actual Sq ft of Sq ft of Public New Jobs MI County Account Name Compliant Project Name Street City Tax Capture Status Beginning Date of Tax Capture Date Brownfield Plan Approved Only County TIR State TIR Local-only TIR Environmental TIR Environmental Interest on Value on Eligible Constructed or Rehabilitated Sq ft of Retail Sq ft of Commercial Sq ft of Industrial Public Year Reported CY Collected Prior 2013 Operating TIR Received Education TIR Received Received ISD TIR Received TIR Expenditures Value Capital Investment Residential Infrastructure Created Plan? Received Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures TIR Expenditures Indebtedness Property Rehabilitated Residential Infrastructure Alcona County of Alcona BRA Yes 2017 Established BRA, no TIR collected No $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Alger County of Alger BRA Yes ROAM Inn 815 W Munising Ave Munising 2017 Capture started 7/1/2017 12/19/2016 Yes $0 $0 $0 $2,255 $10,048 $984 $0 $0 $13,287 $0 $0 $0 $174,600 $445,300 $1,400,000 - - - 21,015 - - - 6 Alger County of Alger BRA Yes 2017 No $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Alger City of Munising BRA Yes Bayshore Redevelopment Project M-28 Munising 2017 Capture started 7/1/2006 9/13/2004 Yes $24,034 $0 $0 $683 $2,697 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $21,542 $135,221 $0 - - - - - - - - Alger
    [Show full text]
  • Muskegon County Blueways and Greenways Plan: Public Access Inventory and Linkages
    Muskegon County Blueways and Greenways Plan: Public Access Inventory and Linkages July 2010 WEST MICHIGAN SHORELINE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (WMSRDC) The WMSRDC is a regional council of governments representing 120 local governments in the West Michigan counties of Lake, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana. The mission of WMSRDC is to promote and foster regional development in West Michigan… through cooperation amongst local governments. James Rynberg, Chairperson Robert Genson, Vice-Chairperson James Maike, Secretary Sandeep Dey, Executive Director Project Staff: Erin Kuhn, Program Manager Kathy Evans, Program Manager Stephen Carlson, Associate Planner Financial assistance for this project was provided, in part, by the Michigan Coastal Management Program, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Muskegon County Blueways and Greenways Plan: Public Access Inventory and Linkages Table of Contents Chapter I: Introduction & Plan Overview .................................................................................1 Introduction and Synopsis of the Plan ............................................................................................. 1 Purpose for the Planning Process ..................................................................................................... 1 Definition of Blueways, Greenways, and Green Infrastructure ....................................................... 3 Chapter II: Muskegon County Growth Trends
    [Show full text]
  • Allegan County Historic Resource Survey 98
    Allegan County Historic Resource Survey 98 Blue Star Highway, Ganges Township Blue Star Highway, Ganges Township Church Blue Star Highway, Ganges Township Barn Allegan County Historic Resource Survey 99 Blue Star Highway, Ganges Township Taylor Cemetery The cemetery was deeded to the Ganges Burying Association on May 10, 1878 by Dr. Philander Taylor and his wife, Nancy. A Civil War monument in the cemetery reads “Defenders of Our Union 1861-1865” and lists the names of the Ganges volunteers. 2320 Lakeshore Drive, Pier Cove O. C. Simmonds House and Arboretum Chicago-based Prairie school landscape architect Ossian C. Simmonds purchased a Greek Revival farmhouse in Pier Cove for use as a summer home at the turn of the twentieth century. At the time the land had been logged off and was barren. Simmonds created an arboretum across from the house to test how different species of plants would react to Michigan’s climate. After his death, Simmonds ashes were scattered under this tree in the heart of the arboretum. 14 Ferry Street, Douglas West Shore Golf Club According to an article in the Saugatuck Commercial Record a group of summer visitors first met on August 10, 1916 to discuss the formation of a golf club for the Saugatuck-Douglas area. Plans included establishing a membership fee of two hundred dollars and borrowing ten thousand dollars to erect buildings and layout a nine- hole course. The course design for the West Shore Golf Club is attributed to George Ferry. According to a February 24, 1916 article in the Saugatuck Commercial Record, a George B.
    [Show full text]
  • Storm Water Standards for Muskegon
    OFFICE OF THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER 141 E. Apple Avenue, Muskegon, Michigan 49442-3404 231-724-6219 (Fax) 231-724-3480 www.co.muskegon.mi.us/drain Muskegon County Site Development Rules with Procedures & Design Standards for Storm Water Management Adopted June 2016 Revised: January 2017 Nonpoint pollution from storm water runoff continues to be the nation’s primary water pollution problem. This is also true for Muskegon County. Muskegon County is rich with surface water; it has hundreds of miles of streams, thousands of acres of inland lakes, and its westerly boundary is defined by Lake Michigan. Good surface water quality is paramount to Muskegon County’s (and Michigan’s) economy and quality of life. Clean surface water is also an important part of Muskegon County resident’s lifestyle. The standards for storm water management found within this document are put forth to meet Michigan Department of Environmental Quality‘s storm water management permit requirements. Left & above; examples of nonpoint water pollution. Right & above; examples of good storm water management practices. Prepared by: Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. 1515 Arboretum Drive, SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Project Engineer: Claire Schwartz In collaboration with: Macatawa Area Coordinating Council (MACC) 301 Douglas Avenue Holland, MI 49424 Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner 12220 Fillmore, Room 141 West Olive, MI 49460 Allegan County Drain Commissioner 113 Chestnut Street Allegan, MI 49010 Muskegon County Drain Commissioner Central Services Building 141 East Apple Avenue Muskegon, MI 49442 Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC 4151 Okemos Road Okemos, MI 48864 Funding provided in part by the MACC through a State of Michigan Storm Water, Assett Management and Wastewater (SAW) Grant for FY 2014 A portion of the funding for this document was provided by the Muskegon Area Municipal Storm Water Committee TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS I.
    [Show full text]
  • City of Muskegon Master Land Use Plan April 1997
    City of Muskegon Master Land Use Plan April 1997 Planning Commission Members John Aslakson Jane Clingman-Scott Charles Davis Lisa Fodrocy Kenneth Griswold George Harrison Michael Kleaveland Bryon L. Mazade Blanch Smith City Manager Bryon L. Mazade Community and Economic Development Director Jim Edmonson Planning Director Cathy Brubaker-Clarke Planning Staff Bassem Bitar Matt Dugener Brenda Moore Lead Consultant Westshore Engineering & Surveying, Inc. Consultants Concept Graffix The Chesapeake Group, Inc. Diane Casey Consultants Day & Associates DeStigter/Smith Architects Langworthy LeBlanc, Inc. Progressive Engineering Table of Contents Master Land Use Plan 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................1 1 2. Population and Socio-Economic Characteristics ......................................................... 2 1 Historic Population Trends ..........................................................................................2 1 Gender, Racial & Ethnic Composition..........................................................................2 5 Income........................................................................................................................2 7 Housing .....................................................................................................................2 14 General Conclusions ..................................................................................................2 18 3. Existing Land Use.......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Escort Notes
    Group Tours Escort Notes Muskegon County is located in the western part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan along 26 miles of unspoiled, sugar-sand Lake Michigan shoreline. The city of Muskegon is equidistant to both Chicago and Detroit, 183 miles, and 100 miles from the State Capitol in Lansing. We derive our name from Chippewa meaning “river with marshes.” Heritage Village is a eight-block area that exemplifies Muskegon’s history and includes the Muskegon Museum of Art, the Hackley Public Library, Hackley Park, Monet Garden, Muskegon Heritage Museum and the Lakeshore Museum Center. The Lakeshore Museum Center also oversees: • Hackley and Hume Historic Sites - This site preserves the homes of Muskegon's most famous lumber baron, Charles H. Hackley, and his business partner, Thomas Hume, bringing late 19th century craftsmanship to life. • Fire Barn Museum - A re-creation of the C. H. Hackley Hose Company No. 2 building, featuring a collection of antique fire fighting apparatus. • The Scolnik House of the Depression Era - This Victorian home has been extensively renovated to reflect life in the 1930’s complete with furnishings and household objects of the time. Learn the story of the three families who came to share the home during the Great Depression. • Michigan’s Heritage Park at Hilt’s Landing - This living history park explores 10,000 years of Michigan history in a natural woodland setting. A gentle half-mile trail winds through the park with first-person encounters along the way. Tour a restored WWII Submarine, a Prohibition-Era Coast Guard Cutter and the wonderful exhibits at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum! Experience what it was really like to sail a sub trolling the waters of the South Pacific 60-plus years ago.
    [Show full text]
  • West Michigan Pike, the First Continuous Hard Surface Road Along the Lake Michigan Shore, Had Already Been Completed
    Recreation/Entertainment – Theaters 246 The Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, 425 West Western Avenue, Muskegon Originally known as the Michigan Theater, the theater was built in 1929 by Muskegon movie mogul, Paul Schlossman. The Moorish themed theater was designed by Michigan’s premier theater architect, C. Howard Crain of Detroit, and cost $690,000 to build. It opened on September 17, 1930. Almost thirty years later the theater was “modernized.” It closed in the 1970s until a citizens group organized to save it. Funding came from the Community Foundation of Muskegon County through a gift from local industrialist A. Harold Frauenthal. In 1992 Muskegon County voters approved a bond issue to renovate the theater and work began in 1998. Getty 4 Drive-In Theater, 920 Summit Road, Muskegon This drive-in was constructed in 1949 by Nick Kuris of Muskegon and was originally known as the N-K Drive-In. Jack Loeks purchased the outdoor theater in 1967, changing the name to the Getty Drive-In. In 1980 the Getty added three additional screens. The original screen was damaged in an October 2005 storm and removed in 2006 for safety reasons, though the metal frame still remains. Harbor I & II 1937 Lakeshore Drive, Muskegon The theater originally opened in 1921 as the Rivoli Theater. It was renamed Our Theatre in 1931. In 1977 the theater suffered a major fire. It was gutted and reopened in 1979 and an additional screen was added in 1981. Recreation/Entertainment – Theaters 247 Strand Theater 25-41 E Broadway, Muskegon Heights The theater was built in 1920, when Paul Schlossman became the secretary-treasurer of the Strand Amusement Company of Muskegon Heights.
    [Show full text]
  • Muskegon Lake Resiliency Plan January 2017
    MUSKEGON LAKE RESILIENCY PLAN JANUARY 2017 Acknowledgements This project is part of the Michigan Association of Planning’s Master Planning for Sustainability and Resiliency grant program. Financial assistance for this project was provided, in part, by the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program, Office of the Great Lakes, Department of Environmental Quality, under the National Coastal Zone Management Program, through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Cover photo taken by Nick Kroes, mostlymuskegon.com Contributors Cindy Winland Delta Institute Olga Lyandres Delta Institute Megan Walton Delta Institute Kathy Evans West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission Stephen Carlson West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission Jamie Way West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Why resilience? ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Goal ........................................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Muskegon County Visitors Guide
    Official 2018 Muskegon County Michigan Visitors Guide VISITMUSKEGONwww.visitmuskegon.org YOU’LL NEED MORE THAN A WEEK! 26 MILES OF BEACH 14 MUSEUMS 65+ MILES OF TRAILS AMUSEMENT & WATER PARK YEAR-ROUND FESTIVALS & EVENTS BREWERIES & FARMERS MARKETS Ann Arbor 166 mi. Chicago (35 min. flight) 185 mi. Cleveland 340 mi. Detroit 198 mi. Fort Wayne 217 mi. enjoy the journey Grand Rapids 42 mi. Lansing 107 mi. Muskegon County is located in West Michigan along the beautiful Lake Michigan Milwaukee (via Lake Express) 89 mi. shoreline. Boasting three state parks, miles of cycling trails, two major canoe/ South Bend 129 mi. kayaking rivers, and 26 miles of beaches, Muskegon is the outdoor recreation hub of Michigan’s sunset coast. St. Ignace 276 mi. Toledo 226 mi. Muskegon is easily accessible: just three hours from Chicago and Detroit via Traverse City 148 mi. major interstates, a two-and-a-half-hour ferry ride from Milwaukee on the Lake Express Ferry, and an hour and a half drive from Lansing. The Muskegon County Airport (MKG) offers daily flights to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), with 180 connections to destinations across the United States. So Visit Muskegon on a one-tank trip, enjoy a girlfriend getaway, or plan a week’s vacation along our little slice of Lake Michigan shoreline. There’s always something to see and do in Muskegon County! Go to www.visitmuskegon.org or call 800-250-9283 to learn more. Traverse City 75 Lake Michigan 10 131 Milwaukee 75 94 Grand Rapids 96 Lansing 23 Wisconsin 31 Kalamazoo Ann Arbor 94 to Detroit Detroit
    [Show full text]
  • Opportunity Zones Explained
    Reinvesting along the Lakeshore: Opportunity zones explained Opportunity zones in Muskegon county, mich. Opportunity Zones are a new federal tax incentive program found in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to spur private investment and economic activity in specific distressed or low-income census tracts. Muskegon County has five Opportunity Zone census tracts – three in the city of Muskegon and two in the city of Muskegon Heights – as designated by e n the state of Michigan. o z y t i n u t At their core, Opportunity Zone allows for those with federal r o p p o capital gain liabilities to delay or eliminate their tax burdens by making n w to n w o substantial investments in the designated zones. Capital gain liabilities can d n t i en pm be generated by the sale of real property, businesses or stocks and bonds. C elo onstr dev uction of mixed use Opportunity Zone funds can be set up by financial institutions or groups of individual investors through a “self-certification” process with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Using Form 8996 with a federal income tax return, an eligible corporation or partnership can become a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Qualified Opportunity Funds can receive three types of federal tax benefits by investing in Opportunity Zones. An investor can defer federal taxes on any income that generates a capital gain. Opportunity Zone investments held for a minimum of five years receive a 10 percent tax break and a 15 percent tax break if held for seven years.
    [Show full text]