State-managed property up for auction in Michigan

This 0.16-acre parcel in Barry County features frontage
on Shelp Lake. Minimum bid is $5,000.

Desirable, state-managed properties – with discounted starting bids – available at auction, ends Aug. 1

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in collaboration with the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority (MLB), today announced the sale of 140 properties—over 2,400 acres of land throughout the state—in a sealed-bid auction at www.michigan.gov/landforsale.

The auction began June 20 and will close on Aug. 1, 2012. Bids must be postmarked by Aug. 1.

The properties are scattered throughout the state, but primarily located in northern Michigan. They are suitable for a variety of uses including hunting, camping and development.

Some of the highlights are:

• Four properties in the Sugar Springs community (Gladwin County), one of mid-Michigan’s finest recreational communities, offering over 4,000 acres of golf, tennis, swimming, boating, hiking and two all-sports lakes.
• A 10-acre recreational build site in Cheboygan County, within five miles of several water bodies.
• An approximately 1-acre site off I-94 in Benton Township (Berrien County). It is zoned residential but also has possible commercial/industrial uses.
• 200 acres of vacant forest land in Chippewa County, between St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie.
• A wooded and marshy parcel across the road from Lake Huron in Iosco County. 
• 1.4 acres with 100 feet of Lake Michigan frontage on Beaver Island (part of Charlevoix County).

Many of the properties have been listed on previous auctions but, as a result of the collaboration between the DNR and MLB, are now available at new, lower starting bids.

“We recently lowered the starting bid on many of our properties to provide an easy and affordable way for individuals to buy land for personal use,” said DNR Director Rodney Stokes. “By partnering with the Michigan Land Bank, we’ve added even more variety and value to this year’s auction.”

The DNR uses proceeds from land sales to improve access and recreation opportunities for the public and to enhance management capabilities on existing state-managed land.

“This partnership allows the MLB to return this property to productive use at an affordable price to bidders,” said MLB Executive Director Kim Homan.

The MLB utilizes revenue from land sales to invest in Michigan community stabilization and economic development.

Information on the land available for purchase, including photos, property descriptions, terms and conditions and instruction on submiting a bid, is available at www.michigan.gov/landforsale by clicking on Land Auction.

The Michigan Land Bank has additional tax-reverted and mortgage-foreclosed properties available statewide for purchase at www.michigan.gov/landbank.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

The Michigan Land Bank is dedicated to stimulating economic development and community revitalization through fostering partnerships with local units of government, non-profit organizations and the private sector. Please visit www.michigan.gov/landbank, for more information.