Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Fred’s Auto Repair, which burned in 2023, will soon become a two-story building with commercial space on the Main floor and apartments above.

SOUTH RANGE — The village of South Range has much to boast in terms of recent growth and looking forward.

George Eakin, president of Village of South Range, provided an update on a local developer’s plans to create commercial space, housing, retail space and potentially a drive-through coffee shop. He shared the plans at last week’s Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce Wake Up Keweenaw Breakfast series.

Eakin said much of the proposed development in the village is owed to local resident, Craig Hamlin. “I think we should name a street after him,” Eakin said. “He’s building our town.”

Hamlin is the owner of 1902 Tap & Grill, on Trimountain Avenue and purchased the property that was formerly occupied by Fred’s Auto Repair, also on Trimountain Avenue. That business was destroyed by fire in April, 2023.

Hamlin’s plans for the property include adding a second floor on the existing foundation. Once construction is complete, there will be two apartments on the second floor, with a commercial use area on the first.

Eakin said currently the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is conducting testing in the area.

“EGLE’s all over town, they’re even in my yard,” Eakin said. “I live behind the gas station – they’re testing all the groundwater, they’re testing in my basement.”

Eakin said once the testing is completed, construction can begin on the site. “He (Hamlin) bought it a year ago, and he wants to start working on it right away.”

Hamlin also purchased a lot near the post office that once contained an apartment building. The building, nicknamed “the Pigeon House,” was condemned and razed several years ago.

Hamlin’s plans for the property are to construct a building, similar to that on the old Fred’s Auto Repair property, containing commercial space on the main floor and apartments above.

Hamlin is planning a third project with the same purpose on the lot across Trimountain Avenue from the South Range Pub. Hamlin also built an apartment with a two-car garage on a lot he purchased near the elementary school

“So, Mr. Hamlin, like I said,” Eakin said, “he’s helping rebuild our town.”

Hamlin, however, is not alone in redevelopment projects.

At Tina’s Katalina Restaurant and Motel, located at 59 Trimountain Ave., the motel, currently vacant, will be renovated into two 2-room apartments.

“It used to be six units,” Eakin said, “so that’s going to be some more apartments for us.”

Eakin went on to update the paving project at Whealkate Estates, which should be completed during the upcoming summer.

Mike Franchi, a Chicago businessman, who also owns property in and near the village, also owns the section of M-26 that was abandoned when the highway was rerouted.

“He has a 160 acres of that property set aside for backcountry snowmobiling and side-by-side use, which will be left untouched. He is also developing a quarter-mile, fenced, dirt track reserved for youth for motorcycle and snowmobiling riding, along with a recreation trail.

Eakin said the village experiences traffic congestion in the winter, largely from snowmobilers parking trailers near the Range Lounge. Franchi purchased a 13-acre Houghton County parcel near that location. He is reserving five acres of that parcel for a snowmobile trailer park.

South Range’s growth has been steady. Between 2020 and 2024, the village’s taxable value has increased from just under $13 million to over $15.7 million, an increase of $2.8 million.