Fennville’s agritourism sector to be complemented by $4.8M ‘regeneration project’ of historic hotel

What’s happening: The planned restoration and redevelopment of a historic hotel in downtown Fennville dovetails with the community’s growing agritourism sector, a cohort of local businesses that includes Crane Orchards, Palazzolo’s Artisan Dairy, and Virtue Cider. Vacant since 2020, the 115-year-old Stevens Hotel at 312 E. Main St. in downtown Fennville will re-open as an 11-room boutique hotel with restaurant and event space on the ground floor.

What it is: A fixture of downtown Fennville since 1910, the two-story Stevens Hotel closed in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The DePree family from nearby Holland has acquired the property and plans a $4.8 million restoration and reinvigoration of the historic site.

What’s planned: The DePrees plan to restore much of the building’s historic features while repurposing it as a modern boutique hotel with 11 rooms. Ground floor space is to feature a bar, restaurant, and entertainment space among its planned amenities.

How they’re doing it: The developers have received a $999,964 Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grant from the State of Michigan recently announced by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The state’s RAP program offers financial support to place-based infrastructure development and real estate rehabilitation and development projects throughout the state.

Why it’s important: “We are thrilled to be working with the MEDC to restore Fennville’s iconic historic hotel and bar/restaurant,” says developer Dori DePree. “The regeneration project will provide new jobs and tourism, boosting the local economy and helping to support Fennville as a premier West Michigan destination.”

More for Fennville: The southwest Michigan community recently celebrated another win in place-based development as its City Square Park project successfully reached its $50,000 crowdfunding goal, earning a $50,000 matching grant from the MEDC toward the project. City Square Park will be built atop a vacant lot in the heart of downtown Fennville, featuring an outdoor amphitheater, public greenspace, splash pad, and more.