Up North Pride has announced the opening of a new temporary community center, meeting space, and office on Eighth Street in downtown Traverse City.

The site, formerly home to Copy Central, is targeted for a future workforce housing development through the Traverse City Housing Commission. In the meantime, however, SBK Properties owners Sean and Blythe Skarshaug provided the space to Up North Pride for its organizational use.

"After we came to agreement with the Traverse City Housing Commission, we knew there would be a waiting period," says Sean Skarshaug. "We felt that it would be a shame for a downtown building like this one to go unused during that window. It was important to Blythe and I that the space be used somehow in a positive way, and to find an amazing organization to give it life until the TCHC is ready for it. Up North Pride is the perfect fit."

Up North Pride Executive Director Adrienne Brown-Reasner says the space "came along at the perfect time for us, as we’ve been adding more programming and collaborations throughout the year. Having our own space gives us the chance to explore a wider variety of program offerings, and to test out what is wanted in a community center, what kind of space works, as we continue to grow Up North Pride and our year-round presence for the 2SLGBTTQ+ community."

Community volunteers offered time to clean, re-do carpeting, move furniture, and work on landscaping, with carpet donations provided by Bodamer Brothers and a new banner for the outside sign provided by Copy Central. Decorative bricks on the walkway from the parking lot to the door were painted as part of a community art project at a special event during June Pride Month.

The space at 314 East Eighth Street is the first physical location for Up North Pride. The building is expected to host a variety of meetings and programs, including a monthly art night, game night, teen group meetup, a special line dancing event, and meeting space for the Up North Pride team.