Cooley School, vacant since 2010, with scaffolding as masonry, window and roof work moves forward for conversion to apartments.
Cadillac, Michigan, August 31, 2025
The Cadillac City Council will consider a staff recommendation to hire Pinnacle Construction Group as construction manager for Blight Elimination Program (BEP)–funded work on the long‑vacant Cooley School. The $676,127 BEP grant will cover masonry, window and roof scopes that protect the building’s structure as it is converted into 23 apartments, at least 12 of which will be reserved for households at or below 120% AMI. City staff recommend Pinnacle as the single manager for BEP scopes with no mark‑up; Garrett Family Community Partners will pay contractor invoices up front and be reimbursed after completion.
The Cadillac City Council is set to consider hiring Pinnacle Construction Group, Inc. of Grand Rapids to serve as construction manager for the Blight Elimination Program (BEP) funded scope of work on the Cooley School redevelopment project. The redevelopment plans call for converting the historic building into 23 apartments, with at least 12 units reserved for households earning at or below 120% of the area median income. The proposal highlights that the BEP grant amount totals $676,127.
Under the BEP arrangement, the city would use the grant to oversee specific elements of the project. City staff indicate that Pinnacle would manage BEP-related tasks with no management markup, ensuring grant funds cover project costs rather than administration fees. The city also notes that it would incur no costs outside the BEP grant coverage, and that Pinnacle is already the overall project construction manager for the Cooley redevelopment, not limited to BEP scopes. City staff say this approach is the most effective way to supervise all contracts tied to the project.
As part of the project administration, contractor invoices for BEP work will be paid upfront by the Garrett Family Community Partners—the purchaser/developer entity connected to DKD Development—before BEP funds are transferred to Garrett at the conclusion of the BEP-related construction. Pinnacle would compile and approve these invoices, with copies provided to the city for oversight. City staff have recommended waiving competitive bidding to award the contract to Pinnacle, in order to maintain streamlined oversight of BEP scopes and related contracts.
The council agenda also includes a plan to set a public hearing for September 15 on a proposal to permit short‑term rentals in the B‑3 district via a special use permit. The council meets on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at the Cadillac Municipal Complex, located at 200 North Lake Street.
Plenty of sunshine. High 77F. Winds light and variable.
A clear sky. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
Lots of sunshine. High 77F. Winds light and variable.
Clear skies. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
Weather snapshot: Clear 50 78 53 Today 78 53 Monday 80 54 Tuesday 79 55.
Update timestamps for this story were recorded as August 31, 2025 at 6:30 a.m. and August 31, 2025 at 6:10 a.m.
The project involves the Cooley School building, a historic 1923 structure that has been vacant since 2010 and previously housed a variety of community uses. The redevelopment is positioned as addressing a local housing need by creating units aimed at younger professionals and working families, with a portion priced for income-qualified residents. The work is framed within a strategy that uses a brownfield tax increment financing plan and an obsolete property rehabilitation district to secure state grants and incentives to support the project’s financial viability.
The BEP grant is administered through the State Land Bank Authority and is intended to fund environmental cleanup and phased construction activities at the site, including masonry repairs, window removal and replacement, and roof removal and replacement. The overall project cost has been discussed in multiple updates, with public coverage mentioning figures around about $4.7 million for the redevelopment package. The developer’s plan notes that environmental considerations such as asbestos abatement will be addressed as part of the work.
In summary, the Cadillac City Council will deliberate on hiring Pinnacle Construction Group to direct BEP-scoped tasks on the Cooley School project, while Garrett Family Community Partners would fund the upfront contractor payments and receive BEP reimbursements as the work concludes. City staff emphasize that this arrangement is designed to minimize risk, maintain grant compliance, and keep the project aligned with the goal of adding affordable housing within the community.
The Cooley School redevelopment has a long planning history, including rezoning from single-family to multi-family use and the creation of an obsolete property rehabilitation district and a brownfield redevelopment plan to access state grants and tax incentives. The project is aligned with the goal of repurposing a century-old building to serve as housing for the local workforce and those seeking affordable options. The development entities involved are tied to a larger redevelopment effort that has been described across multiple updates and local coverage as a means to address housing shortages while preserving a historic structure.
| Key feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Project goal | Redevelop the Cooley School into housing units, including affordable options for local workers. |
| Total units | 23 apartments planned; minimum 12 units designated affordable (≤120% AMI). |
| Funding | BEP grant of $676,127 funding selected scopes of work and project management. |
| Construction manager | Pinnacle Construction Group, Inc. of Grand Rapids chosen to oversee BEP scopes and general project oversight. |
| Developer/purchaser | Garrett Family Community Partners, connected to DKD Development; purchase agreement linked to Cadillac Area Public Schools. |
| Key scopes funded by BEP | Masonry repairs, window removal/repair/replacement, roof removal/replacement. |
| Procurement approach | City staff recommend waiving competitive bidding for the Pinnacle contract to streamline BEP oversight. |
| Payment flow | Invoices paid upfront by Garrett; BEP funds transferred to Garrett after BEP construction completion; Pinnacle oversees invoicing. |
| Public engagement | A public hearing is planned for September 15 on a separate zoning matter related to B‑3 short-term rentals. |
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