Updated: Sep 11
New Community Vision celebrated the successful completion of the $10 million campaign to purchase 200+ acres between Omena and Northport at a donor appreciation event on June 25, 2025. A lovely summer evening was the backdrop for a tented event attended by 200 guests at Verterra Winery, which overlooks the majesty of the recently preserved property.
John Sentell, NCV Board President shared the NCV Board’s deep appreciation to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) for their key partnership securing a major grant from NOAA--including $6.5 million for land acquisition--and to all the donors who generously contributed over $3.5 million additional funds that were needed to secure the property deal. This successful effort to acquire the property is also detailed in the Campaign Report released at the event, and that can be accessed here.
As reported in the local press, the former Timber Shores property was acquired at the end of 2024 with the majority of the property permanently protected as a nature preserve. A smaller, 25-acre portion is set aside for local attainable housing.
Listed below are the key updates shared by New Community Vision (NCV) and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) in the June 25th donor appreciation event program. GTB now owns and is the steward of the majority of the acquired property that is now a nature preserve called Mashkiigaki. NCV owns the 25 acres of adjacent property which has been set aside to create attainable housing for Leelanau.
Key points on Mashkiigaki:
Returning 188 acres of the former Timber Shores property to the Grand Traverse Band (GTB) is not just meaningful—it’s historic. For generations, these lands were shaped by indigenous stewardship that kept the land and water healthy. By conserving this place, the GTB is renewing a sacred connection as well as preserving nature.
The protection of Mashkiigaki represents one of the most significant opportunities for our greater community to experience the importance of returning ancestral lands to Indigenous stewardship, and in many ways allows both the GTB and surrounding communities to work toward healing the relationship between people and place. By acknowledging and applying the lessons and wisdom of past generations and paying forward what we learn and restore today, future generations can find safety and comfort in coming home to the land from which they and their ancestors came from and had part in restoring. This landscape--restored by and for the Anishinaabek and for all beings to cherish and heal relationships to this place--was nearly lost to the sheer velocity of time and enterprise.
The GTB anticipates federal funding for the restoration and planning phase to arrive in late 2025, which will allow the tribal-led visioning process to begin--a planning and visioning process which will include planning for public access. The GTB underlined the importance of taking time so that decisions consider the natural rhythms of the land and sustain the deep significance of the property. Patience will be needed as the current focus is on re-introducing the GTB community to their once lost space of Mashkiigaki.
Tribal stewardship is similar to other kinds of preservation work, but it is a deeper approach. Indigenous stewardship leverages the value of partnerships in stories like the one we are creating around Mashkiigaki. Powerful co-management involves authentic, respectful, and meaningful co-creation of decision making and responsibilities.
Key points on the 25 acres set aside for local attainable housing:
A hybrid conservation development approach is planned for the 25-acres of land set aside for local attainable housing. Plans for creating housing for those who live and work in Leelanau are progressing, led by New Community Vision. The goal of the parcel located adjacent to Mashiigaki is to align community needs, right-sized housing and strong environmental standards.
A 4-step, professional conceptual planning and community input process is underway to inform making this property available for future development. NCV has contracted national land planner Urban Design Associates (UDA) for this process. UDA has a proven track record in this area having worked with Peninsula Housing on a 10- acre parcel in Suttons Bay that is being developed for attainable housing.
Preliminary site analysis has been done on the 25 acres as part of the UDA process, and five stakeholder input sessions have been held with local employers, local employees, direct neighbors, and donors to the property acquisition campaign. There are also continued consultations with the GTB.
In broad terms, these stakeholder sessions have underscored the urgency of the need and significant appreciation for NCV’s work to contribute to local attainable housing needs with this site.
If you have questions or comments, please email info@newcommunityvision.org
Selection of photos from the June 25th Donor Appreciation event:
