Log Facade Planned for Old Theater
By Paul Gingras

This rendition of the future facade of the Mackinaw Crossings entrance on Nicolet Street was presented to the Mackinaw City Village Council and the public Thursday, November 16. Crossings owner Jim Wehr hopes to complete new facades at all entrances and transform the former Mackinaw Theater into an outdoor equipment and clothing store by May 2007. (Artwork courtesy of Ryan La Haie, Refined Design

Builders, managers, architects, and Mackinaw Crossings owner Jim Wehr packed the Mackinaw City Village meeting Thursday, November 16, awaiting approval of a site plan to transform the Mackinaw Theater into an outdoor equipment store. The group came to answer questions related to construction, said Ryan La Haie, leader of the architectural team.

Council unanimously approved the site plan, which will include reworking all exterior facades, changing it from Victorian aesthetic to a rustic, log, outdoor theme that reflects the decor of Jim Wehr's Mackinaw Outfitters, the business replacing the theatrical stage.

Mr. La Haie represents Refined Design Group of Berkley, which received authorization to do major structural work inside the building to prepare it for retail operations. The sloping floor built for the theater will be altered, he said, and a second floor will be added to increase floor space from approximately 23,000 square feet to about 30,000 square feet.

The next step in the process is to submit construction plans to the Cheboygan County Building Department. The project should be completed by May, Mr. LaHaie said.

In other business, Council approved Northpointe Inn's plan to add an indoor water park to its facility.

Community Development Director Steve Schnell said this reflects a national trend. In the past five years, Council has approved several site plans for water parks in Mackinaw City.

"Indoor water parks are the main thing these days," he said. They raise customer interest and create competition for other hotel owners. Once one hotel puts in a water facility, others fear losing business, so they do it, also. Water parks draw attention, he said, but they are also costly.

"Water parks require a lot of room, a lot of heat, and a lot of water," he said. "And if you're going to have kids playing, it has to be potable water, too, so businesses pay a lot for filtering."

The increase in water attractions will not have any significant impact on city infrastructure, he added.

Next year, Mackinaw City will have twice as many water parks as it had in the 2006 tourist season. Comfort Suites as well as Aqua Grand Inn and Water Park used their water facilities to draw visitors. In 2007, they will be joined by Northpointe Inn and Travel Lodge Bayview. Travel Lodge plans to build a three-fountain structure where children can play.

Trustee Sandra Planisek, reporting on the efforts of the safety commission, said Mackinaw City's annual toy drive will be replaced this year with a program called "Shop with a Cop," in which the police department and the school will select 20 children who otherwise may not be able to purchase Christmas gifts for family members, and take them shopping.

Police Chief Pat Wyman said children selected for the program can buy anything they want in the store. He did not reveal the spending limit each child would have, but he added that the program is geared for children to buy gifts for family members.