Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette Pictured is Mannerheim Hall on the former campus of Finlandia University in Hancock. The building and Nikander Hall are going through schematic designs to transform them into 47 housing units. The former Finlandia University buildings, now owned by the City of Hancock,  will go through $10 million renovations which will install sprinkler systems and complete the 47 units.

HANCOCK — The City of Hancock is in the design phase of efforts to convert two buildings on the former Finlandia University campus into residential units. The city has been in talks with Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance and the Michigan Economic Development Authority on the final schematic for designs regarding the Mannerheim and Nikander academic buildings. The city has owned the buildings since Finlandia’s closure in 2023.

During the Hancock City Council meeting Wednesday, City Manager Mary Babcock reported the design that had been agreed upon will total 47 housing units, cost $10 million in renovations and which will include a sprinkler system and completion of the 47 units.

In other action, Todd Gast of Hancock the DDA outlined the plans for the upcoming End of Summer Celebration on Quincy Green and the Huntington Bank parking lot on Saturday. The event will feature live music from Toni Saari and Friend, John Snyder and Matt Bradley and then Chad Borgen and the Collective will play for the street dance in the evening.

A pickle ball tournament will begin at 10 a.m. and teams must pre-register by calling or texting 906-482-2422. A cribbage tournament is taking place at Nutini’s at 2 p.m. with teams needing to pre-register with the same phone number. The cost to enter the tournaments is $10. A corn hole tournament will take place at the Huntington Bank property at 2 p.m. with teams needing to call 906-482-2720 to preregister. The cost to enter the core hole tournament is $20.

Activities for children will be available on Quincy Green starting at 2 p.m.

“We’ve got little kids games, balloon artists, face painting and bouncy houses,” Gast said. “We’ve got five organizations that are going to be at Quincy Green. They’re doing everything from Back to School to obstacle courses to scavenger hunts to story time. So it’s going to be a really great event.”

Food and craft vendors will be present at the Quincy Green starting at 1 p.m. and a beer garden which will raise funds for the City of Hancock Fire Dept. will start at the same time at the Huntington Bank building. A pingpong drop will take place on the Quincy Green at 4 p.m. The drop is hosted by the Hancock Business Association and they will provide 300 prizes during the event. Two separate drops will transpire, one for children and one for adults. The End of Summer Celebration will conclude with a laser light show at 10 p.m. at the Quincy Green.

“Hancock Lights the Night” Christmas event is moving into its planning stages for the upcoming winter season. 22 sites have been assigned to businesses and families which have signed up to decorate with light displays throughout the city’s campground where visitors will be able to pass through and enjoy the visual splendors. Lights are planned to be placed up in the fall, and Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock said 70,000 sets of lights are needed for the project’s anticipated size.