CADILLAC— In Wexford County, some area businesses are reacting to seeing big increases to rent space at the Cadillac Commons in the new year.
Cadillac’s Downtown Development Authority now in charge of managing the Cadillac Commons.
They said rates have not increased in nearly a decade, and with all the recent investment, they need to keep up with covering the cost of keeping those spaces open.
DDA Director Travis Owens said they have invested more than $1.5 million into the spaces and with hundreds of thousands worth of upgrades to the market building alone to turn it into a year round space.
“The Cadillac Commons is a community event space. It’s kind of the crown jewel of our downtown. It’s a really great space,” said Owens.
Owens said this is the first time ever that they have a year round space for things like weddings, conferences, reunions and more.
“The market received just over $800,000, in updates in grant funding, overhead doors, heat. We have tables and chairs for that space. So we really see an opportunity to make sure that we can maximize utilization of the space,” said Owens.
Owens said some businesses were paying discounted rates for events like the Cadillac Farmer’s Market, paying as little as $27 dollars a day.
He said the new rate increase bumps those rates to $337 per day and the former rates weren’t covering the costs to keep the facilities running.
“A recurring event that was $27 a day didn’t cover the cost of utilities, didn’t cover the cost of toilet paper. So essentially, that space was being used by a for profit business at a rate that was subsidized by taxpayers.
Marla Courtney founder of the non-profit, ‘Jam & Bread’ regularly rents out space at the Commons for their concert series featuring the Clam Lake Band and their Thursday night concert series-among other arts minded events.
She said the rate increase will impact her non-profit but she’s not sure what the new rates will be yet. Non-profits get a reduced rate.
She said regardless of the impact to her organization, she understands the need for the increases.
“The truth of the matter is that it was cheap. We put a lot of money into this, and there’s been a lot of great upgrades to the Commons,” said Courtney.
Owens said non-profits will likely see an increase as well.
“So even those nonprofits are likely to see an increase in their rates. And we’re having those conversations. Our application window closes February 15th. And for each one of those applications, whether it’s a community member or a nonprofit, or a for profit business, I’m going to be reaching out to them and talking to them about the new rate structure and how it will impact their specific event,” said Owens.
“The DDA will be holding a meet and greet next Monday February 9th from 4 to 6pm inside the market building to review the new rates,” said Owens.