Could a new dawn be on the way for Traverse City’s Logan’s Landing? Once a thriving hub of retail and restaurant activity, the Garfield Township development has been in decline for decades, despite scenic Boardman River views and proximity to a well-traveled corridor. Now half of Logan’s Landing has a new owner, while the other half is for sale. And with the popular Boardman Lake Loop Trail now bringing more foot and bike traffic, 2024 could be the year Logan’s Landing gets the makeover locals have been dreaming of for years.

Local realtor Carole Higgins of Cygnus Real Estate confirms to The Ticker that she recently closed a sale on the western half of the Logan’s Landing complex to a downstate real estate developer, though she declines to share that person’s name.

Higgins says the buyer “doesn’t have a firm plan right now” for how he wants to utilize Logan’s Landing West, but bought the property “because he felt like it was a good opportunity” that came along at the right time.

“It was kind of a ‘Let's buy it now and figure out what we do with it after that,’” Higgins explains. “So, for the time being, he’s just holding it, cleaning it up, repairing the roof, and fixing a few other things. I also think that there is a lot to understand about the building, and that’s what the new owner is trying to do right now. It’s going to be a long process, but I think [the buyer] will learn about the property as he goes along and start to see what’s possible. Then he can decide where to go from there.”

Higgins adds that her client “actually has another development project currently underway in Traverse City right now” and is going to “focus his attention on that” in the immediate future. She expects he’ll turn his energy to Logan’s Landing once that project is finished.

Logan’s Landing has been something of a conundrum for would-be developers over the years due to its age and a tricky location. While the complex is situated on the busy South Airport corridor, it’s also considered a nonconforming building under Garfield Township zoning, which poses big hurdles for any kind of redevelopment. Built in the 1960s, Logan’s Landing straddles the Boardman River, with its two halves situated right on the opposing banks. A bridge across the water even connects the two sides, which have long been under separate ownership. It’s the kind of structure that would never be built today, mostly because zoning in Garfield Township has evolved to incorporate more stringent rules around water quality protection and wetland preservation.

Article 5 of the Garfield Township Zoning Ordinance stipulates that, “to preserve and protect the water quality of the lakes and streams of our region,” every new “commercial, industrial or multi-family residential building” in the township must be “set back at least 75 feet from the watermark or normal stream bank.” That rule doesn’t apply to buildings that existed before it was adopted, though, which means Logan’s Landing is grandfathered in as a “nonconforming structure.” Per Article 8 of the zoning ordinance, “Such legal nonconformities shall be permitted to continue until they are lost or removed,” but “shall not be enlarged upon, expanded or extended,” with few exceptions. Repairs, improvements, and other maintenance are allowed, but only so long as they don’t “constitute replacement” of core parts of the original structure, such as “replacing an exterior wall.”

These restrictions and others in Article 8 make Logan’s Landing a challenging target for redevelopment. Tearing down the buildings for a new development isn’t possible because of setback restrictions, but renovation and modernization of the existing buildings is also somewhat limited.

Meanwhile, Higgins says that certain outdated aspects of the building make it challenging from an accessibility perspective, such as a preponderance of tiered floors, with steps up and down into different sections. Finally, Logan’s Landing has dimmed as a restaurant and retail hub, losing several of its anchor tenants over the years. Plenty of businesses still call the complex home, though, and Higgins says the new owner plans to carry on relationships with all existing commercial tenants at Logan’s Landing West.

Might the new owner also be interested in buying Logan’s Landing East? Higgins tells The Ticker she thinks he would consider it.

Vincent Amroian, owner of Vince's Fine Jewelers, bought Logan’s Landing East in 2012 and moved his shop there from Grand Traverse Mall. He has owned it ever since, but has listed the property for sale numerous times over the years – including now for $1.6 million. Per Higgins, that price is likely a tad too hot for her client, noting that she sold the west side for a lower dollar amount even though it offered more square footage and more land. Still, Higgins thinks her buyer would be interested in uniting the two sides if the right deal could be struck.

One thing that could be a major consideration as the new owner considers a next chapter? The Boardman Lake Loop Trail, which routes huge numbers of walkers, joggers, and cyclists right past the development every day. Speaking to The Ticker in 2022, TART CEO Julie Clark expressed interest in creating more meaningful connections between the Boardman Lake Loop Trail and Logan’s Landing businesses. During the first 11 months of 2023, TART Trails recorded 212,243 trail counts at Medalie Park/Logan’s Landing.