As in cities across the nation, Michigan urban areas experienced neglect and deterioration in the middle of the twentieth century. Not only have large numbers of city residents relocated, but industries and retail stores have also left their urban location for greener pastures. What is left behind in the cities is abandoned commercial property, under-utilized infrastructure, a reduced tax base, and urban decay. Everyone knows that revitalizing urban areas is expensive and complex, but as more planners and managers are becoming aware, redeveloping within population centers, with existing infrastructure, is actually less expensive in the long run than sprawling into the countryside, and is a good investment in our cities.
Urban problems become opportunities if examined from the right perspective.
The most successful endeavors are the result of community leaders and residents recognizing and capitalizing on the history, location, and other attributes that make their city special. Professional associations and planning centers provide good forums for exchange of ideas and information on techniques that work. Many state and federal programs also provide technical and monetary assistance to local communities. Hundreds of projects have been funded since Michigan's program received federal approval in 1978 under the authority for the federal Coastal Zone Management Act. The Village of L'Anse is situated along the shore of L'Anse Bay within Lake Superior's Keweenaw Bay.