The proposed Bicycle Inn would include a basement, where bicycles will be stored and repaired, two retail stores and a bicycle rental on the first floor, and up to 25 hotel rooms on the second and third floors. The plan also includes a large window to be installed on the water side of the building to retain the view of the harbor that many visitors and residents have enjoyed over the years. (Image by Barry J. Polzin Architects) Just having begun preliminary steps in reinforcing Mackinac Island's National Historic Landmark status, the city faces its first dilemma as developer Ira Green wants to build a new three-story hotel and bicycle rental business downtown on the waterfront, across the street from McNally Cottage. The development will incorporate the old liquor store building that contributed to the Island's Historic Landmark status, and city officials fear that McNally Cottage could also be threatened.

Mr. Green, owner of several Island businesses, and his architect, Barry Polzin of Marquette, proposed to the Planning Commission Tuesday, September 9, a 25-room hotel, to be called the Bicycle Inn, which would include two retail shops, a hotel lobby, and a large bicycle shop on the street level. The building would span from the Shepler ferry dock to Orr Kids Bicycle Shop, utilizing the existing private park and Mr. Green's existing bicycle shop. The facade of the hotel will appear as if it were four distinct buildings.

Ducks often bask on the empty lot across the street from McNally Cottage. The lot, and the old state liquor store building next to it, could be developed for a new three-story hotel and bicycle rental business. The project has sparked concern at City Hall about whether it will diminish Mackinac Island's National Historic Landmark status. The waterfront parcel is part of the McNally Cottage property and was recently purchased by businessman Ira Green. Mr. Green purchased both the vacant waterfront property and McNally Cottage this summer. He bought the bicycle shop last year from the Iroquois Hotel. That building once housed the Donnelly and McNally meat market and, for awhile, was abandoned. Prior to its conversion to the bicycle shop, it housed the state liquor store.

McNally Cottage, built in 1889 of virgin white pine, is one of the buildings cited for designation of Mackinac Island as a National Historic Landmark. That building, and McNally Cottage, are termed "contributing" buildings to Mackinac Island's status as a National Historic Landmark.

Mr. Green told the Town Crier he will incorporate the building into the new hotel and will not tear it down. It will be one of the four building fronts to comprise the hotel. He did not want to divulge plans for McNally Cottage.

Concerned that the development may threaten the Island's National Historic Landmark status, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council consider appointing a Historic Preservation Commission and adopting the state's Historic Preservation Ordinance until the city has development guidelines in place that protect the historic buildings that contributed to its national status.

At Council's meeting Wednesday, September 10, Mayor Margaret Doud directed city attorney Tom Evashevski to review the state ordinance and write a similar ordinance that addresses Mackinac Island specifically. Mr. Evashevski said he will have a draft ready before the next regular city council meeting.

The Historic Preservation Ordinance, said Mr. Evashevski, creates

a framework for the city to begin creating a historic preservation

commission and designate districts

on the Island that are in keeping with its historic status. Its National Historic Landmark status has been put on "watch," according to the National Park Service, because it is concerned that noncontributing development is threatening to replace existing contributing buildings and landmarks.

Mr. Green's plan was tabled until the commission's October 14 meeting so commissioners can get more information about the project, such as sewer connection, lighting, balconies, garbage storage, and bicycle display and parking.

Near the end of the meeting, after Messrs. Green and Polzin had left, commissioners again discussed the project and its implications, and expressed their fear that McNally Cottage and its open view across the street to the lake would be lost to development.

"This isn't just for this [Mr. Green's project], but in general," said Commissioner Michael Straus. "It is an emergency type thing because it may not be this project we face but the next one, as well."

Mackinac Island's National Historic Landmark status rose to the top of the city's priority list this summer after city officials met with state and national historic preservation specialists who said the city must begin planning ways to protect the Island's historic assets or suffer the consequences of losing its national historic status. This, said City Councilman Mike Hart, would be devastating to the economy of the Island, which is based on tourism. The Island has always promoted itself as a historic destination.

Mr. Green's project has received an Architectural Review by city architect Rick Neumann, who, in an interview with the Mackinac Island Town Crier Wednesday, September 10, said that, if done right, the new building would not threaten the Island's National Historic Landmark status. As far as losing the open view, however, he said, "If the property is zoned to allow a new hotel, then you can only say that you've been lucky to have had that view for that many years," Mr. Neumann said.

In his review, Mr. Neumann said that the appearance of the 100-footwide building as four units "would be sympathetic in massing with the larger blockscape and with many other historic downtown commercial buildings.

"Conceptually, the division of the 100-feet-long building into four units is appropriate to the rhythm of the streetscape resulting from historic land platting and property development over the years," he continued. "The proposed variation in storefront heights and Huron [Main] Street facade treatments would also help break down the size of the new building into separate units compatible with downtown."

He further said the choice of materials and details of the building should be given more review by the Planning Commission.

"As long as the building isn't made to look overtly historic, as it should look somewhat neutral, and is in keeping with the characteristics and rhythm of its surrounding area, the building could look good and fit into the downtown area nicely," Mr. Neumann told the Town Crier.

The building will be 40 feet high, the maximum height allowed downtown. It will include a 3,000-squarefoot basement, where bicycles will be stored and repaired, a 2,000- square-foot space for the bicycle livery, and between 1,000 to 1,200 square feet for both retail stores, according to Mr. Green. There will be a passenger elevator installed and what Mr. Green calls an equipment lift, which will serve as an elevator to transfer bicycles, laundry, and garbage between the basement and main floor.

Moving his bicycle rental shop away from Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry dock, off the street's curb, and into the building's lobby will relieve traffic congestion in that area of Main Street, Mr. Green said, which has been a chronic problem, owing to the people coming on and off the boat and taxis and drays parked in front of the dock for pickups.

The bicycle livery and lobby will have a 16-foot-wide corridor with a large window on the lake side to provide a scenic view of the harbor.

"We're maintaining an open view as a community asset," Mr. Polzin told the Planning Commission.

Both Mr. Polzin and Mr. Green said they are open to any suggestions that planning commissioners and Mr. Neumann may have about aesthetic design of the building.

Since sewer connections are limited, as the city ponders whether it expand its treatment capacity, Mr. Green said he may be able to acquire enough capacity this year to open the hotel rooms on the second floor, but may have to wait one or two more years before he can open the third floor rooms.

If his hotel is approved, Mr. Green plans to begin construction in October, finish the exterior of the building, and open the retail shops, the bicycle rental shop, and the hotel's second floor by next summer. He will hold completion of the third floor until he receives sewer permits for the bathrooms there.

He said he expects to provide jobs to at least 50 people to operate the complex, and will provide housing on the Island for them.

Shed, Fence Addition for

Cannonball Drive-in Tabled

Although he had already built them, and was fined for not having purchased building permits for both beforehand, Jack Armstrong may receive building permits for a fence addition and a four-foot by eight-foot accessory building to store supplies for his Cannonball Drive-in at British Landing. Approval could come at the October meeting.

The building is zoned as a Non- Conforming Class B structure on a single family lot, thus, Mr. Armstrong needed a variance to build the accessory building and would have to bring the request to the city's Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Evashevski said if the city changes Mr. Armstrong's building to a Class A Non-Conforming structure, he would not need a variance. Planning commissioners tabled the issue until next month.

City Building Inspector Dennis Dombroski explained to commissioners that existing Class B structures are those that existed before the city's zoning ordinance was in place and owners enjoy certain exemptions from updated regulations, however, any additions or improvements need a variance.

Class A structures, he said, are more acceptable because they meet city code, and, said the mayor's assistant, Kelly Bean, "they are structures that the community wants to see retained."

Although the Cannonball is spot-zoned within a residential area, it has been there for many years and has become a traditional destination on the back side of the Island for visitors and residents, said Ms. Bean.

New Home Approved

Marge and Rich Lind of Grand Rapids will be new residents of Mackinac Island, as their single family home in Trillium Heights was approved by the Planning Commission.

It will be a one-story, 1,564- square-foot home with no basement and two bedrooms.