Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Jonathan Julien (left) and Jennifer Julien, co-owners of The Vault, talk about their boutique hotel in a third-floor room last August. Jennifer Julien was recently named to the Houghton Planning Commission.

HOUGHTON — The Houghton Planning Commission has a new member.

The Houghton City Council appointed Jennifer Julien to fill the spot vacated by Gary Lubiniski. She will represent the recreation and tourism sectors. The partial term expires Dec. 31, 2022. 

Julien and fellow candidates Ben Ciavola, Don Lee and Norma Veurink answered questions submitted by the city, which they had received ahead of time. 

The other candidates spoke over Zoom. Due to a family emergency, Julien did not attend the virtual meeting; her answers were read by Clerk Ann Vollrath. 

Candidates were asked seven questions, covering their interest in the commission, relevant experience, their assessment of Houghton currently and their vision for the city’s future.

Julien owns four properties in the downtown: The Vault hotel, Citrus Hotel, the Franklin Square inn and a mixed-use building on Montezuma Avenue. 

Previous experience includes the Keweenaw Community Foundation, Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau and the UP Health System — Portage Board. 

Her experience as a real-estate developer and while getting her civil engineering degree also gave her knowledge of zoning ordinances, she said. 

“I’m passionate about our downtown, the people that invest in, live and work there and the people that choose to visit the area,” Julien said in her written statement. “I’m interested in helping the downtown sustainably grow in a positive manner that supports those who reside and work there.”

Julien sees the role of the Planning Commission as actively fulfilling the city’s master plan and working with investors, developers and community members to ensure the community’s needsand a clear vision for growth are at the forefront of decision making.

Houghton’s weakest elements are actively attracting new businesses and young professionals to live and work in the area, Julien said. Its biggest strengths are the historic downtown buildings, the proximity to the waterfront and the accessible outdoor recreation opportunities. 

Julien’s vision for Houghton in 10 years is as an attractive small town to live in, work in and visit, with attractions including historic downtown buildings, waterfront accessibility for pedestrians and boaters and attractive options for housing and hotels. It would both attract more young professionals and be more accessible for people in retirement, she said. 

“I imagine a well-oriented, walkable downtown, a large green space in the downtown area for community and tourist gatherings and a few well-thought-out developments that increase the amount of housing and hotel rooms downtown,” she said.