Building damaged by fire sold to local developer

Posted: 11.05.2011 at 9:40 PM

Mike Lahti, a U.P. real estate developer, has bought the three-story building that was damaged in a fire that killed four people in 2009

HANCOCK (AP) -- An Upper Peninsula real estate developer has bought a Hancock apartment building destroyed by a fire that killed four people in 2009. Mike Lahti bought the three-story building on Quincy Street that has been empty since July of 2009.

Lahti plans on renovating the space that will include commercial space on the ground floor and eight apartments on the upper floors.

Charges against Ronald Kemppainen accused of setting the fire were dropped earlier this year. The renovations are expected to be finished by early next year.