Fresnel Lens

[John Bolton]

Looks like the crossroads of the future are coming faster than the generational turnover....The Lens situation is a symptom... not the problem.
Perhaps all the listings will sell... most likely not for the asking prices by any means ( sorry Steve, Island RE prices have dropped dramatically since the high days of the late 1990's.)
New blood, new opportunities...the island... and life, goes on...
OR
... will it go like the ghost towns of the old west, or the communities of Garden Island and High Island, (and abandoned towns in the U.P.)... not enough influx of new, well... new everything.
With each passing of the generations, the island's economy could just fade away.

The infrastructure is here, new school, two fire houses, excellently staffed and equipped medical center, improved Municipal airport, new parks, and improving roads, two fully operational community governments for the islands <500 residents. All creating jobs for the full time residents. .
All that is a taxed base economic model that does not bring in new dollars.

RE taxes are such now that in many cases family members who inherit houses here are selecting to unload them rather than deal with the tax burden, even though they received the house for free.
As part time, nonregistered, (nor eligible) voters they have no say in how the community runs its' business, even though in Northern Michigan, non resident property taxes makes up about 80-90% of the tax base.

That situation, in turn, is depressing the RE market to the point that many of the private businesses in town can not survive on the few remaining tourists that manage to come here.

Things are picking up over on the mainland. Why not here?
The Island's historic fishing economy is long gone, as is the timber industry and the selling of firewood to passing steamers...
Beaver Island is now selling tourism

Many potential tourists are taken aback at the considerable cost that it takes to even get a family over to the island. If a family is not committed to spending at least a week or more here, then the return on their tourist dollars just for transportation costs alone are not conducive to visiting Beaver Island and spending the rest of their hard earned tourist dollars.
When a tourist rents a cottage for a week, that money mainly goes to a part time resident who in turn uses it to pay their property tax burden.

The economic model and transportation bottlenecks are considerable and the problems should be recognized and given attention.

Well, this is what I hear from many part time residents as we do talk and compare notes other ways than just this forum.

[Sharolyn]

I have added this beautiful lens to my tour. It is a highlight. Thank you for putting it on display for all to see.