Renovare Development, the developers spearheading the $18 million construction project in downtown Munising, announced a new partner to help with the renovation of the Munising Firehall property.

Detroit Rising Development (DRD), a real estate development firm out of Detroit, was announced as a new development partner on Monday, June 26. Known for projects like Detroit Shipping Co. and Lansing Shuffle, DRD is known for mixed-business development projects that reuse existing business structures.

According to Renovare leadership, DRD’s background will fit the Firehall project.

“The vision takes a vacant building full of character in the heart of a community with the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore nearby and transforms it into the place to go,” Renovare wrote in its announcement of the new developer. “Our redevelopment of the historic Munising Firehall will include a Micro-Market Accelerator, which will offer opportunities to makers, brewers and distillers at various stages of business establishment so they are able to learn, grow, and collaborate.”

The Firehall project is part of the combined downtown development project headlined by the new Munising Marketplace, which could break ground as soon as October on the south side of the 200 block of E. Superior Street. Recent action by the Munising Downtown Development Authority, Alger County Land Bank and City of Munising allowed the Firehall project to qualify for additional grants that would stabilize the foundation before further development of the property.