Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette Tiff DeGroot discussed WUPPDR's housing programs and services and how they can assist those struggling with housing instability. A product being worked on is a website that lists affordable housing.

HOUGHTON — The Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce held its Wake Up Keweenaw event Wednesday. The event was sponsored by the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Developoment Region (WUPPDR) with presentations focusing on housing and other regional projects. WUPPDR Regional Planner Lisa McKenzie presented statistics regarding the cost of homes from 2015 to 2024 within Houghton County. She said the average list price in 2015 was $109,821 and the average 2024 listing price was $225,000. Average sale prices increased by 214 percent from 2015 to 2024. The statists she presented reflect only structures listed and sold by realtors and do not include private transactions.

The numbers shifted when focusing on the city of Houghton and not the overall county. The average listing for a home in Houghton is $312,666 at a 232 percent increase from 2015 to 2024. The sale prices increased by 241 percent at $308,746. Hancock’s average list price in 2015 was $99,834 and in 2024 rose to $244,932 at a 245 percent increase. Sales prices rose 263 percent within that timeframe.

“We feel that the home prices are going to continue to rise, but at a more moderate pace and demand is going to be sustained, fueled by demographic shifts and people wanting to move up here,” McKenzie said.

WUPPDR Housing Planner Tiff DeGroot focused on WUPPDR’s housing programs and services. She mentioned the Regional Housing Partnership which rounds up stakeholders for a regional action plan, such as ending homelessness. DeGroot said those who are experiencing housing instability are brought to the attention of local resources. This can include ordinances for long and short term rentals, which is about to be reviewed by WUPPDR’s committees and then be ready for adoption for interested municipalities.

There was a discussion on products to assist those struggling with housing being. “We’re also working on creating a housing finder website for the Western U.P., which will have listings available for affordable housing,” DeGroot said. “It’ll have resources for landlords as well as for people seeking housing.”

Houghton Housing Commission Executive Director Sherry Hughes said the area’s affordable housing units are at capacity with an increasing waiting list. She said there has been a focus on trying to create affordable housing for median income citizens. “We’ve been focusing on workforce modeling and the missing in the middle budgets,” Hughes said. “We’re researching innovative building methods for bringing costs down and speeding up delivery, ensuring homes are practical and sustainable, whether it be revitalizing an old school or building or even looking at modular construction.”

Keweenaw Economic Development Authority Executive Director Jeff Ratcliffe presented multiple projects KEDA is involved with including the Skyline Commons, the future site of U.P. State Bank, the old Kirkish building and more. Projects like the U.P. State Bank location at the end of College Ave. will assist with the topic of housing by providing residential buildings, Ratcliffe said.