Beaver Island & Block Island Ferry Comparison

Open Discussion - for our Readers, Islanders, and Web Site Visitors alike. Discussion regarding any and all aspects of Beaver Island are welcome here. Also a place for general Beaver Island conversation and discussion.

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stardust
Posts: 158
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 4:11 pm

mirco housing

Post by stardust »

I have brought up Mirco homes many months ago http://www.beaverbeacon.com/forum/viewt ... ight=mirco

Once someone builds the first mirco home and it is approved then the flood gates will open
Mojave Bob
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2016 9:55 am

Post by Mojave Bob »

First, I also want to say that I have always been very pleased with the staff and service of the Boat Company. I, too, would love a cheaper ticket, and simply getting to and from the island is a major portion of our visits. But, that fact does not detract from the excellent service provided.

The fact is that there is no single magic bullet that will solve all of the island struggles. Being a remote place is one of our biggest hurdles. It is also one of our biggest assets. We could set our eyes on becoming another Mack, but I, for one, hope we don't. Beaver Island has its own unique and beautiful character.

The island needs jobs - we seem to agree on that. Every "job" is associated with some sort of "business", and that "business" requires customers who will pay for those services. This is true if you are a contractor, a fudge shop, a grocery store, a cab driver, a clinic, a sewage treatment plant or a government. Somebody has to need what you provide.

If the pool of paying customers who live on the island is not big enough to support a service we want, then we need to get more people to help pay for it - more summer cottages, or more year-round residents, or more vacation or daily visitors.

The rub is how to get those people to come without fundamentally changing the character of the island. If we opened our shoreline to hotel or condo or casino developers, we would see a major influx of people and cash, but at a terrible price.

Instead, let's focus on the things that will actually make the island even better at what it is already good at. First of all, not only residents read this forum. We can refrain from snarking at each other, and instead present ourselves as the open, caring and friendly people that I know we are, working together to build a better place.

We can look at what events fill our rooms now, and build on that - music, culture, nature, art. Let's have a "lifestyle" event every weekend of the season -- whatever week you come, there will be something going on for the whole family. Not all of them have to be a huge deal, but it is a killer when you look at the calendar for the week you want to come, and there is apparently nothing to do.

Let's make the island a wedding destination, with special packages for lodging and transportation.

Also, can we test the waters for micro homes, with a special ordinance to allow a set number of them, or a specific area of them? They hold a lot of potential, and we can require them to be built to a specific standard.
carolburton
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 10:27 am
Contact:

Post by carolburton »

Micro homes? Why not go a little bigger? The minimum is not a huge amount of space. Also, what about water, septic, and power(solar,batteries,generator,propane)? If you need those things why a micro home? I live life off the grid and have to deal with those problems in unique ways. In the long run some of those things make it way more costly. Ask anyone who lives this way about the reality. It is not as easy as one might think to live in a room. Also renting? Why would a family choose this option? Who is going to explain turning an inverter on and off or making sure something doesn't blow up. Watch Green Acres (you can only plug a 2 and a 5 not a 6 or kaboom) :-) I think the idea is great for someone traveling and wanting to move their home around so why not motor homes or campers? I have listened to this magic idea for a long time but no one has addressed any of these issues. They look cute but are they realistic? Also have any of you tried it? I suggest living in a camper with you family for a long period of time (say 6 months) as a test run and see what you think, we did it. One thing I can say is it will make you close :D
burton
Mojave Bob
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2016 9:55 am

Post by Mojave Bob »

Carol -- you point out valid needs for infrastructure that apply to any home, but none of them disqualify microhomes as a valid option. Why NOT a microhome, if it is what fits a person's needs?

I suspect that there may be some mis-impressions of microhomes, stemming from how television has portrayed them. Most of what they show are just over-built camping cabins with no provision for hygiene, and dependent on a surrogate house for power and water.

On the other hand, until recently I owned a microhome that was 225 square feet. It had a full kitchen, a cozy but comfy living room, a dining area, a double bed, and a full bathroom, and had lots of storage. It was grid-connected with power, sewer, and all the amenities, and sat on a concrete foundation. And, because it was well insulated, I was able to heat it all winter (northern Indiana winters) for about $1 a day, using baseboard electric heat.

This is the kind of microhome that I believe could benefit the island. The cost to build, maintain and power one of these homes puts it into the reach of a lot more people.
carolburton
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 10:27 am
Contact:

Post by carolburton »

Mojave Bob, I am glad that you have a real understanding of a micro home as you have lived in one. My son and daughter in law want to do this so I may send them to you with their questions. I agree they are great for single or couples wanting a low cost simple living space or home. I also see no problem with people having them if that is what they want. Freedom of choice that is what we all want. However my point is mostly that none of these properties have power with out it being installed $$$$ or sewer/without septic $$$$ or water $$$$. All 4 digit numbers to get put in place on Beaver Island. The impression is that you can just plop it up (as we have been hearing this for awhile not just on this thread). What I want people to consider is that there is not an easy or efficient way to get those amenities so the micro home here would still be somewhat expensive. There are not any ways in place to get around this and the options like solar and composting toilets are not approved or the most efficient for our climate. If they really want this to happen here on the island someone needs to actually work on these issues and what rules would be in place. If they are just put in without solutions and answers to these issues it will just generate another problem. I believe it would be accepted if someone who wants this actually did the work to see it happen.
burton
stardust
Posts: 158
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 4:11 pm

Micro homes

Post by stardust »

Not only are they easier to heat and cool. there is a lot less materials needed ,less drywall, less feet of wire.... they would help with economy on the island people could put one up on their lot (260 sqf), do a well septic and power for around $15,000 VS a 700 sqf cabin for $80,000
Jill Fedewa
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:30 am
Location: michigan

Post by Jill Fedewa »

The ferry runs on a schedule. The boat travels if there is one passenger or 200. Every year I see less passengers and more empty seats. I have been going to the island for over 40 years and have seen nothing but a steady decline in passengers on the ferry. I really think they have a poor business model. It is crazy to raise prices when there are so many empty seats. In a private business this would be a formula for bankruptcy. Years ago the boat was about half of the plane which would put it around 26 dollars for an adult one way.
esalveter
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:16 pm
Location: Coldwater, MI

Post by esalveter »

I think the boat company does a great job, and the cost isn't all that high.

I don't see anything wrong with Beaver Island remaining fairly remote and not too populated, with an economy based on construction and tourism. The biggest problem, as I see it, is that the biggest part of the tourist season is only 5 or 6 weeks long. The answer, I believe, is to extend the tourist season.

Fall on the island is beautiful, at least on the days that it isn't raining. Is there a way to promote color tours or something along those lines? I think it would be easy to attract more hunters to the island, but I am not sure that is what the residents want.

What about winter sports such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling? It would probably take a rental business to facilitate such a promotion, and/or a way to run the boat longer into the winter. Cross country skiing would probably be the easiest to start with, since people could bring their skis on the plane. It wouldn't take much equipment or time to groom some trails around Gull Harbor or out towards Donegal Bay or even the Kuebler Trail. I am intrigued by the ice fishing tournament that is coming up on Lake Geneserath. Maybe the results could be publicized and it could become an annual event.
Ed Salveter
stardust
Posts: 158
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 4:11 pm

get some glass's

Post by stardust »

Tourist season being 5 to 6 weeks is news to us whom rent out vacation homes. The island's economy based on construction maybe that was ten years ago not today. The cost of building materials is not bad it's the cost of the freight and labor that puts building out of reach of most people wanting to build.

To create a stable tourist economy there has to be some thing to do sunset dinners on the boat, bike tours of the island, maybe a dinner play of the history of the island, the island economy is not going to fix itself with out outside funding.

As for the boat running longer it come's down too safety and repair cost's.
duffer
Posts: 302
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2012 8:47 pm
Location: beaver island

micro houses

Post by duffer »

my son Levi and I have built a micro house and I am planning more, its a great idea and could help, I mean really we can build 20.000 square foot homes but not micro homes, who cares if someone lives in a refrigerator box thats their choice but to regulate size dosent make sense, many people here like the Burtons and I came and lived in small homes that are affordable and worked for our needs, ill never forget someone visiting from the school to check out our situation? my kids grew up with out running water and electricity for a few years, they have both gone on to be successful because they learned the value of family, i will never regret it and it was a good reality in what most of the other world live like, we even had a foreign exchange student and every one loved him. we need to make this place viable again. if interested in a small home contact me, i can even do solar work for more savings in utilities cost. i got on the grid because my work place needed it, just as the burton have a in town shop, and if you need anything fixed i can do it from welding to auto building and dirt work. f need call 231 448 3132, and ask for jeff. were here to help
duffy
esalveter
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:16 pm
Location: Coldwater, MI

Post by esalveter »

We too have a vacation rental property. It is pretty much filled from July 4 through the island reunion in early August. The rest of the year is hit and miss. I am glad you have a longer rental season. Families from other States probably don't come here in late August since their schools are starting. Michigan families should take advantage of the beautiful weather here in late August since most Michigan schools don't start until after Labor Day.

Keep throwing out ideas, maybe some will come to fruition. My wife particularly likes the idea of dinner cruises on the boat.

As for outside money, there probably are grants available. It just takes a good idea, and someone to write the grant application.
Ed Salveter
stardust
Posts: 158
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 4:11 pm

duff got it right

Post by stardust »

I get the townships point of larger the home greater the tax base, but when are the townships on the island going to change with the times. Land owners of yesteryear had the spare cash to build now lets fast forward to 2016. NO new 5,000 sqf + homes being built, I say home's not one or two a year 10 to 20 a year. That is what the island needs, there should be a grant to help off set the cost of the boat for tourist.
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