50 Voices of the North

credit: specialkidstn

What makes northern Michigan special? Why do folks move here? What might our future look like in the next decade, for better or for worse? These are the questions the Northern Express asked 50 people from across the region.

And along the way, we found countless new reasons to love, enjoy, protect, and invest in this beautiful place we call home.

What originally drew you to northern Michigan and/or why have you stayed? Anna Dituri, President of Up North Pride and City of Traverse City Planning Commission Board Member: "Traverse City has been my home my entire life.

In recent years, the region has become a destination for bachelorette parties, weddings, and vacations."

Amanda Holmes, Executive Director of Fishtown Preservation Society: "I do worry about the pressures of growth on the small towns, farms, and special places like Fishtown."

JT Olio, Chief Architect at Storj Labs: "After downloading the geospatial climate projections out through 2090 from leading research institutions, my wife and I narrowed in on three areas in the US, rented a van, and explored them.

We concluded that the Traverse City area is a top-tier 'climate haven' and is perhaps one of the best places in the United States to raise a small child."



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