Former Medical Center May Become Housing for Police
By Karen Gould

The old Mackinac Island Medical Center, which was replaced by a $3 million facility three years ago, will become employee housing once planned building renovations are completed. Passing in front of the Market Street structure are Mackinac Island Carriage Tour horses Molly (left) and Dorothy.

Conversion of the old medical center building on Market Street to a dormitory for city employees is scheduled to begin this fall. The Mackinac Island City Council approved $15,880 for architectural services at its Wednesday, May 24 meeting and will make its first payment of more than $4,000 to The Architect Forum of Mackinaw City by August 1.

To fund the renovations, the city is selling two Rowe House condominium units, one housing two officers and the other used by Police Lieutenant Pete Komblevitz and his wife, Cindy. Eventually, the city plans to relocate the Rowe House residents to the renovated medical building. Those moving into the building will be required to pay rent.

If the condominium sales fall through, the city may consider obtaining a loan to finance the project.

The project includes adding occupant quarters, bathrooms, an upstairs dormer window, and a sprinkler system. The 1,900-square-foot first floor will be gutted and converted to five sleeping rooms, each for two people. Residents will have a common kitchen, laundry, and living areas.

The 1,330-square-foot second story already contains two apartments, which will receive some remodeling. One apartment will be reconfigured to better utilize the kitchen area, while the second apartment, which has one bedroom, will get a dormer window.

Plans for the 1,900-squarefoot basement include a common area.

There are tentative plans to add more sleeping areas, but an exit to the outside would need to be added.

The old ambulance garage will be used for storage.

The architects have divided the project into four phases. The first phase includes preliminary designs that provide the best utilization of available space within the structure.

Phase two includes approval of preliminary plans and a construction cost estimate.

Phase three involves completing the renovation drawings and preparing mechanical, plumbing, and electrical drawings needed for the bidding process. The final phase involve administrative work, including three construction inspections.

The building currently houses one Michigan State Trooper and two traffic officers. They are living in the two second floor apartments. The basement and first floor are vacant.

The old medical center was replaced in 2003 with a $3 million, three-story building that sits just up the street. Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace manages the new facility.