The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) has entered into a $19.5 million purchase agreement to acquire 35 acres of land in the Village of Elberta. The property includes 578 feet of Lake Michigan frontage, 3,125 feet of Betsie Bay shoreline, and 10 acres of steep, forested dunes. 

According to GTRLC, the organization's board of directors has until August 28 to approve the project. Prior to that, "GTRLC will conduct due diligence to discover any environmental issues, have conversations to identify potential uses for the property, and explore partners and fundraising feasibility," the organization states.

"It is of critical importance to our board of directors that the Village of Elberta and the community support the goal of protecting the parts of the property that have high conservation and recreational value while also balancing other community economic development needs," says GTRLC Executive Director Glen Chown.

Chown continues that GTRLC tries to work with "communities to find balanced solutions in land conservation and resource-based placemaking." In addition to the protection of various natural and shoreline areas, the project offers the "opportunity to develop other portions of the former industrial property in a way that meets the goals and needs of the village," according to Chown.

More project details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, according to GTRLC.

Photo credit: Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy