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MARQUETTE -- Almost eight years after the City of Marquette bought Founders Landing, construction at long last, has begun.

"Well we got the foundation in for the first building, and the pipes are being laid under the the floor," says architect Barry Polzin of the Landing Development Group.  "In he next couple of days, the floor slab will be poured and next week, you'll actually see some walls going up."

After previous developers fell by the wayside, the Landing Development Group managed to purchase parcel one from the City of Marquette last September, and the first building will be completed this November.

The plan for the parcel is a seven building, 38-unit row of condominiums, ranging in price from $135,000 to $800,000.

Construction on the second building will begin in the early fall.

The same group has also just signed a purchase agreement for the adjacent parcel three.

"We've got a nice mixed-use development planned for that parcel," Polzin said.  "It's got a hotel, retail and office space, and it's got about 40 to 50 additional condominium units."

The group is currently in negotiations with three hotel developers, and their plans are to break ground on the hotel in the spring of 2010.  Before the plans are finalized, the developers are waiting for approval of the Brownfield-TIF credit.  Those are funds they'll get for making public improvements at the site.

According to Marquette City Commissioner Don Ryan, it's a great deal for the developers and for the city.

"There's a lot of good development that could occur with it that I think many people in Marquette would enjoy," said Ryan.

The Brownfield-TIF funds could help build a marina, a waterfront promenade, a fishing pier or additional public parking.

As for parcel two, nothing is happening at the present time.  The city will eventually sell the property, but with all the development taking place, it will probably be a little while before anything develops with the parcel.