Trudy Galla, a representative from the consulting firm, Fishbeck, and Jenny Herman from Leelanau County Planning attended the Empire Village Council work session last month order to give a presentation on the possibility of using tax increment financing (TIF) and a Brownfield redevelopment plan to revitalize the iconic Empire schoolhouse.
The plan to redevelop the schoolhouse was brought by the owner of the structure, Joe Van Esley and Revitalize LLC, earlier this year. Van Esley’s plan is to turn the property into “something like a YMCA” with women’s and men’s locker rooms, pickleball courts, basketball courts, batting cages, and possible retail or restaurant space.
“I plan on giving this town more recreation than it can stand,” said Van Esley at a village council meeting in July and received cheers in response to his comment.
