Hilltop housing development near Sleeping Bear Dunes to be auctioned

By Justine Lofton | MLIVE
 

A ready-to-build development site in Northern Michigan near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will be auctioned off later this month.

Bidding will start at $700,000 for the 56-acre site dubbed Laurel Ridge Lake Views that was started by three former NFL players in 2008. The online auction through Interluxe is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Michigan native Joel Smeenge, who played in the NFL from 1990 to 2000 with the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars, was part of the original ownership group that sold to the current owners in 2013.

Smeenge, a defensive end, played college ball at Western Michigan University and went to Hudsonville High School near Holland. His partners on the project were NFL teammates quarterback Mark Burnell and offensive tackle Todd Fordham.

When one of the partners who bought it in 2013 backed out, selling the “turn-key” property became the best course of action, said Alex Goodman, of Interluxe Real Estate Auction Marketplace.

Millions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure, including roads, utilities and septic, he said. With 24 home sites, two commercial parcels and a planned 17-acre vineyard, the property is ready for construction. Two homes and a pumphouse are already built.

The property is set 165 feet above its surroundings and offers “panoramic views” of Lake Michigan, Crystal Lake, Platte Lake, Little Platte Lake, South Manitou Island and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Goodman said.

“It’s really stunning,” he said. “That’s the design of the development – the idea that the original owners were trying to achieve was to magnify those views.”

The property, 8245 Wild Laurel Lane in Beulah, is off U.S. 31. It’s a 10-minute drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes and about 15 minutes from Crystal Mountain ski resort. It’s one mile from Crystal Lake. The drive to Frankfort is about 10 minutes; it’s about 45 minutes to Traverse City.

Laurel Ridge offers “boundless options for a creative builder or developer looking for a rare and unrivaled project,” according to a news release from Interluxe. “Laurel Ridge Lake Views is unequivocally a true north, Pure Michigan destination.”

More information, including due diligence and procedures for registering to bid, can be found at Interluxe.com/12513. The property is listed with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan.

Once the auction begins, registered bidders can see bids in real time. They can also set an “auto max bid,” which will automatically bid for them following the bidding increments up to their all in number, Goodman said.

To schedule a viewing, call Interluxe at 888-415-5893.