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Longyear introduces Forestville, a unique new residential neighborhood
Promotes an active lifestyle with an environmental focus
MARQUETTE, Mich. (Sept. 28, 2022) — Longyear announced plans today for Forestville, a unique residential community that will bring higher-quality new homes to outdoor-active people that access Marquette, and Michigan’s largest all-season trail network.
The innovative neighborhood will feature thoughtfully built homes, utilizing regional forest products crafted into modern U.P. lifestyle floor plans. Forestville will unveil housing designs and neighborhood plans in late 2022, and begin taking reservations in spring 2023 for move-in in 2024.
The Forestville community will be ideally situated for scenic views and access to the surrounding landscape. The new neighborhood is expected to attract a wide variety of home buyers locally, regionally, and from outside the U.P.
Forestville offers features that are distinct from other Midwest housing developments:
- Immediate access to the adjacent trail networks and waterways.
- Environment-friendly construction featuring locally sourced materials from regional forests.
- A variety of housing options for active young professionals, families, retirees, and others ranging from townhomes to single-family homes.
- An active neighborhood concept that inspires healthy living, comfort, and environmental stewardship.
- Hundreds of construction jobs throughout the project’s lifespan.
“Forestville has been inspired by the active people of the U.P. who love spending time outdoors in our beautiful natural surroundings,” says Longyear CEO Steve Hicks. “Our community will offer high quality, thoughtfully designed homes in a neighborhood that gives people the escape they deserve.”
In development since 2021, Forestville is driven by the substantial demand for housing in the region, combined with the significant increase in active, outdoor-minded consumers. The project was undertaken as a way to address a growing U.P. trend — housing shortages. Two independent studies by InvestUP and Michigan Technological University found that the lack of available housing is both a significant challenge and the region’s greatest opportunity to retain and attract professionals and retirees to our area.
Forestville helps to solve a major housing crisis by filling the gap for a higher level of needed housing. It will help keep residents in Marquette while attracting new ones. Marquette County’s population has been declining at least since the 2010 census. Some of this decline can be directly linked to a lack of high-quality homes in favorable neighborhood settings.
Hicks notes that green space and a low environmental impact have been, and remain, very important considerations in Longyear’s approach to designing the project for future customers. “Longyear’s plan is to preserve 50% — a substantial portion of the property — as non-developable green space,” Hicks says. “We’re collaborating with our professional team and some key stakeholders to design our community to have the least possible amount of environmental impact.”
Forestville will be located initially on roughly 160 acres of Longyear-owned property in Marquette. Longyear has owned property in the Forestville area for more than 125 years, and has provided the community with free recreational access to the land for decades.
“The trails are a treasured asset for our whole community,” says Hicks. “We’re pleased that so many people have enjoyed the trails on Longyear land over the years. Forestville gives us an opportunity to work with the trail networks to strategically plan more recreation opportunities for future generations to enjoy.”
Forestville is the newest brand of the Longyear Corporation family of business across the U.P. Longyear has a 150-year track record of embracing opportunity and growing long-term value. Current companies include Able Medical Devices, JML Forestry and Northern Hardwoods. Collectively, these companies support 230 direct jobs and hundreds of indirect jobs.
Forestville will also have a direct positive economic impact on area residents. During the estimated five years it will take to complete the Forestville project, Longyear will create more than 100 additional family sustaining jobs and provide a new substantial tax base within Marquette Township.
To learn more about Forestville, visit www.liveforestville.com or contact Alysa Arwood at alysaarwood@jmlongyear.com.
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