Ray Minervini Lands Milliken Leadership Award

Traverse City developer Ray Minervini was awarded the 2014 Milliken Distinguished Award for his role in redeveloping the former Traverse City State Hospital grounds into the mixed-use Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Minervini was presented with the award by former Governor William Milliken at the Michigan Land Use Institute's (MLUI's) inaugural Harvest@TheCommons event last weekend.

MLUI created the award to recognize "community leaders who embody the legacy of Governor William Milliken and the late Helen Milliken, and the belief that a clean, healthy environment is necessary for a prosperous economy." MLUI selected Minervini as this year's honoree for his efforts to transform "the old hospital into a dynamic, diverse community where people can live, work, play, shop and dine, surrounded by historic, beautiful architecture and nestled among northern Michigan's natural splendor."

According to MLUI Executive Director Hans Voss, a core goal of MLUI is to "support thriving communities" that feature vibrant, walkable places to live. "Whenever we need a perfect example of those ideas at work, all we have to do is look at what Ray's accomplished," says Voss.

Photo credit: Gary Howe