Former school land parcels for sale

The former home of a school in western Marquette County is now being put to a different use.

The Marquette County Land Bank Authority has six lots of residential land for sale in Ishpeming Township.

Four of the lots are on Silver Street and two are on Marble Street, but all six are on the same block that the West Ishpeming School used to be on.

“The school sat vacant for quite a long time, and of course it was demolished in 2010,” Land Bank Authority chair Anne Giroux said. “It’s taken a little while to get the property developed, but if you look now, there are actually three homes being built on the site and then additional lots that are available for sale.”

The West Ishpeming School was built in 1916 and remained open until 1986.

The property went into tax foreclosure in April 2010, and the building was torn down about six months later.

“This is kind of an exciting development, though, because it’s right in a residential area,” Giroux said. “It’s served by township utilities, and there is some development happening.”

Asbestos, lead paint, mercury and other chemical contamination was also cleaned up during the demolition process.

Each lot is 75 feet by 100 feet and will cost $12,000.

Giroux says anyone who’d like more information can call her at (906) 225-8425.