Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Already well into a renovation project, these two buildings, in the 300 block of Fifth Street, in Calumet, have been awarded a $1.5 million state grant to convert the blighted buildings into a boutique hotel and upscale restaurant.

CALUMET – Two blighted historic Fifth Street buildings are about to begin a new chapter.

A press release from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced that two long-vacant historic buildings, the Quello Block and the adjacent Kirby building, will be redeveloped into a 17-bed boutique hotel and upscale restaurant, representing the largest private investment in downtown Calumet in recent history.

Development of the new hotel is being supported by a $1.5 million Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grant and will bring a total anticipated capital investment of $5,665,965 to the area.

“This project is really exciting,” said Calumet Village Manager Megan Haselden, “because it is converting two historically blighted buildings into what will be, really, a cornerstone for not just tourists and visitors to come and stay, but for our community to to able to go and hang out, because they are planning on having a restaurant and lounge that will be open to the community.”

Haselden said the business will also drive more foot traffic into the 300 block of Fifth Street. “For a long time, traffic was really concentrated in the 100 block,” she said, “because, of course, you’ve got the amazing Copper World, Cafe Rosetta, the Keweenaw Coffee Works, and now we’re starting to see the rest of Fifth Street coming along as well.” Haselden said the developers working on the project fell in love with the history of the area, as well as the historic architecture of the buildings.

Rhonda Maas, developer, owner and president of Building Restoration Specialties, has extensive experience with historic building restorations in Denver and has recently relocated to the Copper Country, where she has already invested in restoring a historic home in Calumet into a short-term rental, the MEDC release says.

“When this project started, I wanted to select a neglected building in Calumet to save and rebuild,” Maas is quoted as saying. “My goal was to create an anchor project that would showcase the ability to revive a neglected structure using the skills of the craftsmen of that era.”

Haselden said the developer has been has been working on the project for several years, and now the funding is finally in place.

At a Meet the Developers public meeting in May, 2023, Maas said the Quello building required all three floors to be shored up. While the masonry was “pretty darned good,” the entire roof was removed, the masonry on the tops of the walls was rebuilt or repaired, as necessary. They installed all new laminate beams and joists and a complete new roof system.

The Kirby building, Maas said, needed to be completely gutted, a wooden addition on the rear of the building, which was not original, was removed. The back wall of the building was rebuilt (single-story attached structure, will be a conference room).

Maas said that when the renovations of these two buildings is complete, the Quello Block will be a 17-room hotel, which will include a bar, restaurant and conference center. The facility will be equipped with an elevator located in the rear of the building.

“Thanks, of course, to the MEDC for that, and to Jeff Ratcliffe, with KEDA (Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance) for working with them to make all this happen.”

Additionally, the project will create 12 new jobs, averaging $19 per hour, and impact local businesses with increased foot traffic in the downtown area, the release says.

The Quello Block has been home to a number of businesses since its 1900 construction, including the Ed Haas Clothing Store. But the building also has an interesting connection to the legendary Strike of 1913.

Attorneys A.W. Kerr and E. LeGendre, who represented the Western Federation of Miners during the strike, both had offices on the second floor of the building, according to Michigan Tech’s Copper Country Architects website. At the same time, the law firm of Larson and Galbraith had offices on the third floor; Galbraith would represent the side of management during the strike.

The Village of Calumet will hold a groundbreaking event today for the Hotel Calumet project.