TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – A Northern Michigan Indigenous Tribe plans to buy a waterfront campus in Traverse City for $27 million.
Northwestern Michigan College agreed to sell its Boardman Lake Campus to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa for that purchase price. Officials have signed a letter of intent for the land sale, and the deal could be finalized by spring.
The campus is off Cass Road along the western shoreline of Traverse City’s Boardman Lake and includes 62,000 square feet of office space.
Officials said a community recreational trail that crosses the property won’t be impacted. The campus is near the pedestrian and cycling bridge across the southwest corner of Boardman Lake, a key feature of the Boardman Lake Loop Trail.
NMC has owned the property by Boardman Lake since 1989. For the last 30 years, it served as the college’s University Center, where more than 10,000 students earned degrees from four-year universities that partnered with the Traverse City community college.
Those classes have been moved to NMC’s main campus on Front Street at the base of Old Mission Peninsula.
“We are deeply grateful to the community members and donors whose vision helped make the Boardman Lake Campus a place of opportunity for thousands of learners,” said NMC President Nick Nissley in a statement.
The college asked for rental proposals for the satellite location in October. That prompted the Band’s purchase offer.
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The agreement prevents the Tribe from using the property for gaming activities. Instead, it’s expected to become a centralized governmental services center in Traverse City.
The federally recognized Tribe is based in Peshawbestown, north of Suttons Bay in Leelanau County. There are tribal citizens living across a broad region that also includes Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse and Manistee counties.
Tribal officials could not be reached for comment while their offices have been closed for winter break.
NMC Board of Trustees Chairperson Laura Oblinger said the college thoroughly vetted the Tribe’s purchase offer, and on Dec. 15 trustees voted to respond. It was a careful decision, she said.
“We weighed what the Boardman Lake Campus has meant to our students and our community, and we believe this path best supports NMC’s mission now and into the future,” Oblinger said.
College officials said the proceeds of the land sale are expected to be invested into the main NMC campus with projects like a new power plant and expanded student housing, which is now at capacity.