Lenders, City of Grand Marais and Cook County officials, representatives from the Iron Range Resources Rehabilitation (IRRR), the Cook County Real Estate Fund, Representative Roger Skraba, and others broke ground on The Heights, a 36-unit apartment building in Grand Marais. All photos by Brittany North

By Brittany North - Boreal Community Media - June 3, 2025

Coming later this year to Grand Marais is The Heights, a new housing development born out of both crisis and opportunity. What began as a response to a downtown disaster evolved into a broader mission to support those who live and work in the area.

Following a fire a few years back that destroyed three downtown businesses, a group of concerned community members came together to discuss how they could provide a remedy to the situation. The affected properties had separate ownerships, which complicated redevelopment; however, the group found a path forward by partnering with REVocity, a group that helps small towns form local investment partnerships. The resulting investor group focused on impact investing, specifically on housing that would serve the Cook County workforce.

Grand Marais was a natural choice for the development. It’s where the majority of local jobs are based, yet a common issue persists throughout the county: new hires are offered positions but struggle to find suitable housing within the short turnaround time of one to two weeks after their job start date. Many end up declining the job offers. The solution was to purchase land within city limits (immediately to the east of Up Yonder along Highway 61) that already had access to water and sewer, and begin building housing intentionally for working residents. The Heights will include 36 units, with 18 available at market rate and 18 available at reduced rates for qualified residents who live and work in Cook County.  This first phase of the development will be called The Bluffs. 

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The project’s goal is to fill the units quickly with people who are currently living in or plan to live and work in Cook County. Features include three stories with an elevator, a community room, in-unit washer/dryers, and outdoor amenities such as children’s play equipment, a gazebo, barbecue area, picnic tables, a community garden, a rain garden, an EV charger, and pet-friendly policies. Solar panels will be incorporated, and the overarching goal is to “create a community in which you would like to live,” Gary Latz, one of the project manager and owner, told Boreal Community Media. 

The community’s response to The Heights has been overwhelmingly positive, says Gary. While there have been questions, there has been no pushback, and both city and county officials have strongly supported the plan. The project has been in the works for over three years, and despite some major challenges, particularly financial ones, it’s now moving forward. With a total cost of $9 million, the project required 17 types of financing, including $5 million in loans, $3 million in owner equity, and nearly $1 million in grants. Gary described the 49 investors behind The Heights as like-minded individuals focused on improving their community. Another hurdle was that the site itself presented logistical challenges, as it’s primarily bedrock, which increases construction costs. Leasing is expected to begin as soon as July, with full completion and occupancy slated for late 2025. Thanks to modular construction techniques, with components arriving from Detroit Lakes, the timeline is moving quickly.

A groundbreaking event on June 3rd, which included lenders, City of Grand Marais and Cook County officials, representatives from the Iron Range Resources Rehabilitation (IRRR), the Cook County Real Estate Fund, Roger Skraba who represents District 3A in the Minnesota House of Representatives, and others who have helped bring the vision to life (see photos from the event below). 

The team behind The Heights emphasizes that no single housing project can meet the needs of everyone, but they are focused on their chosen mission - to build housing for the local workforce. They hope that by solving a specific piece of the housing puzzle, they can help local businesses thrive and support the overall well-being of the community.

 Grand Marais Mayor Tracy Benson spoke during the groundbreaking event.