Cooley School, vacant since 2010, with scaffolding as masonry, window and roof work moves forward for conversion to apartments.
Cadillac, Michigan, August 31, 2025
The Cadillac City Council will consider a staff recommendation to hire Pinnacle Construction Group as construction manager for Blight Elimination Program (BEP)–funded work on the long‑vacant Cooley School. The $676,127 BEP grant will cover masonry, window and roof scopes that protect the building’s structure as it is converted into 23 apartments, at least 12 of which will be reserved for households at or below 120% AMI. City staff recommend Pinnacle as the single manager for BEP scopes with no mark‑up; Garrett Family Community Partners will pay contractor invoices up front and be reimbursed after completion.
Updated: August 31, 2025 @ 6:30 a.m. — Earlier update: August 31, 2025 @ 6:10 a.m.
The Cadillac City Council will consider a staff recommendation to hire Pinnacle Construction Group, Inc. as construction manager to oversee federal Blight Elimination Program work on the Cooley School redevelopment. The city secured a $676,127 BEP grant to pay for specific repairs, and the project calls for converting the long‑vacant school into 23 apartments, with at least 12 units reserved for income‑qualified households at or below 120% area median income (AMI).
City staff are asking the council on Tuesday to waive competitive bidding and award a contract to Pinnacle to manage BEP‑funded work that includes masonry repair, window removal/repair/replacement, and roof removal and replacement. Staff say Pinnacle is already serving as the overall construction manager for the Cooley project and that assigning the BEP scopes to the same firm is the most efficient way to manage contracts and documentation tied to the federal grant.
The BEP grant, administered through the State Land Bank Authority, is specifically earmarked for exterior and shell repairs: masonry, windows and roof work. City documents state that Pinnacle will manage those scopes with no mark‑up, meaning grant dollars will go to construction costs rather than management fees. City staff state the city will not incur costs beyond what the BEP grant covers.
Under the proposed arrangement, contractor invoices will be paid up front by Garrett Family Community Partners, the not‑for‑profit purchaser/developer entity working with DKD Development that holds a purchase agreement with Cadillac Area Public Schools. Pinnacle will compile and approve invoices, provide copies to the city, and once BEP‑associated work is complete the city will transfer the grant funds to Garrett to reimburse the expenses.
Staff recommend waiving the usual bidding process on the grounds that Pinnacle is already integrated into the broader project and can provide continuous contract oversight across both BEP and non‑BEP work. City documents emphasize risk minimization for the city and compliance with federal grant requirements as key reasons for the recommended approach.
The Cadillac City Council meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Cadillac Municipal Complex, 200 North Lake St. In addition to the Pinnacle contract consideration, council may set a public hearing for Sept. 15 on a proposal to allow short‑term rentals in the B‑3 district via special use permit.
The Cooley School building was constructed in 1923 and closed as a school in 2010. It has been vacant for years and figures in long‑running efforts to redevelop the site into housing. Rezoning and planning actions in 2023 converted the site from single‑family to multi‑family use, established an obsolete property rehabilitation district, and adopted a brownfield redevelopment plan and tax‑increment financing to pursue state grants and make the project feasible.
Earlier reports show DK Design (also referenced as DKD Development) purchased the school and annex in 2022 and has been involved in planning a conversion to apartments. Initial concepts called for apartment units in both the main building and the annex; the current plan aims for 23 apartments, with at least 12 kept affordable for households at or below 120% AMI. Project cost estimates shared in public comment have placed the overall redevelopment near $4.7 million, and environmental work — including hazard cleanup and asbestos abatement — is part of the scope.
City leaders and project planners have framed the redevelopment as a way to add “missing middle” housing, preserve a century‑old building, and help address a local shortage of rental homes for working households and professionals. Officials have used incentive tools such as brownfield TIF and rehabilitation districts to attract funding and reduce development costs.
Plenty of sunshine. High 77F. Winds light and variable. A clear sky. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Lots of sunshine. High 77F. Winds light and variable. Clear skies. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Current conditions: Clear 50 78 53 Today 78 53 Monday 80 54 Tuesday 79 55.
For more information or questions about council agenda items, the city clerk or municipal staff can be contacted through the city offices during normal business hours. For media contact provided in project documents: clamphere@cadillacnews.com.
If the council approves the Pinnacle contract and the recommended procurement waiver, the firm would formally take on BEP construction management duties and begin coordinating BEP scopes with Garrett Family Community Partners and project contractors. Reimbursement from the BEP grant would occur after BEP‑funded work is completed and invoiced per the outlined process.
A: Council will consider hiring Pinnacle Construction Group, Inc. as construction manager for the parts of the Cooley School redevelopment that are funded by a $676,127 Blight Elimination Program grant.
A: The BEP grant will fund masonry repairs, window removal/repair/replacement, and roof removal and replacement on the Cooley building.
A: The redevelopment aims for 23 apartments, with at least 12 units set aside for income‑qualified households at 120% AMI or below.
A: City documents say Pinnacle will manage the BEP scopes with no mark‑up and that the city will incur no costs beyond what the BEP grant covers.
A: Contractor invoices will be paid up front by Garrett Family Community Partners and later reimbursed using the BEP grant funds after BEP work is completed and invoiced.
A: The council meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Cadillac Municipal Complex, 200 North Lake St. A public hearing on short‑term rentals in the B‑3 district may be scheduled for Sept. 15.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project | Conversion of Cooley School to apartments |
| Planned units | 23 apartments |
| Affordable units | At least 12 units for households ≤120% AMI |
| BEP grant amount | $676,127 from State Land Bank Authority |
| BEP scopes | Masonry repairs, windows, roof replacement |
| Proposed construction manager | Pinnacle Construction Group, Inc. (Grand Rapids) |
| City cost | City documents state no out‑of‑pocket cost beyond BEP grant |
| Developer/purchaser | Garrett Family Community Partners / DKD Development |
| Historic note | Building built in 1923; closed as school in 2010 |
| Estimated overall cost (public comment) | Approximately $4.7 million (earlier public estimates) |
| Environmental issues | Asbestos and other hazards require cleanup; brownfield tools proposed |
| Next council action | Meeting Tuesday, 6 p.m.; possible public hearing set for Sept. 15 |
Austin, Texas, September 5, 2025 News Summary Easy Street Capital, an Austin-based private lender, has increased…
Santa Barbara, CA, September 5, 2025 News Summary Concord Summit Capital arranged a $16.5 million C-PACE…
United States, September 5, 2025 News Summary Manufactured housing is emerging as a lower-cost, faster-built alternative…
San Francisco, California, September 5, 2025 News Summary San Francisco-based HappyRobot closed a $44 million Series…
Villa Rica, September 5, 2025 News Summary Villa Rica-based Caliber 1 Construction is expanding its Building…
New York, September 5, 2025 News Summary Pave Finance closed a $14 million seed round that…