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Volume 4, Issue 14 August 28, 2026
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Village of Shelby to see construction of new DON'T FORGET to SIGN UP to downtown residential units by mid-September keep receiving our newspaper
By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent
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SHELBY - Two corners in downtown Shelby are scheduled to be under construction very soon, according to a report from Village Manager Phil Morse at Tuesday’s Shelby Village Council meeting. Presented that evening were renderings of two downtown projects being undertaken by Shelby Village Holdings LLC, one to begin construction for a new, two-story residential/ commercial unit; another to begin site prep for a new, three-story residential/ commercial unit, both by mid-September. Construction of the anticipated residential unit at the corner of 4th Street and Michigan Avenue, to be named “The Browne,” has been in the works for a number of months. The new mixed-use building will be two-storied, with the ground floor featuring three commercial spaces as well as a residential-only laundry room, and eight residential units on the second floor. “The name of the new building came from former Shelby resident, Samuel A. Browne, a prominent businessman, who along with other individuals, purchased the original 40-acre
The Browne farm which today is the sented by Morse, the cost Village of Shelby,” Morse to build The Browne is shared. an estimated $4 million; The second project set the rent being considered to begin mid-September would range from $1,000 to is the demolition of the $1,400 per month, with the former Rankin Hardware estimated years to pay off building at the corner of the cost of the building be3rd Street and Michigan ing anywhere from 21.6 to Avenue. The demolition 30.3 years, based on what would make way for the amount of rent is charged proposed “Shelby Com- for each unit. mons.” If approved, this The estimated cost to three-story residential unit build The Shelby Comwould feature eight units mons is $8.5 million; the on both the second and approximate rent being third floors for a total of considered also ranges 16 residential units; and a from $1,000 to $1,400 per proposed two commercial month, with the estimated units on the first floor. years to pay off the building “The really neat fea- from 28.1 to 39.4 years. ture of ‘The Shelby ComMorse noted the wamons’ is the rooftop patio,” ter and sewer income that Morse pointed out on the could be realized per year rendering he shared with based on the village’s 2026 council. “Future construc- rates and two usage units tion proposed for the oth- per commercial/residener side of the street (south tial unit, as $9,213 for The of 3rd Street and Michigan Browne and $12,684 for Avenue) will mirror the The Shelby Commons. The construction on this cor- water and sewer income ner. Morse added that the generated by Shelby Acres, renderings council was once the development is viewing were paid for by fully complete, is expected the MEDC (Michigan Eco- to be $52,015. nomic Development ComPublic participation mission), a benefit of the followed Morse’s report, village’s Redevelopment and resident Leo Padot adReady Community desig- dressed the council, saying, nation. "I've lived here for six years. According to a spread- I love Shelby. I love the old sheet prepared and pre- buildings. I think you need
Walkerville to install new speed zone signage By Sharon Hallack
RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL POSTALCUSTOMER CUSTOMER POSTAL ECRWSS ECRWSS
The Shelby Commons to have a presentation for not our place to advertise the public, like you did for what is taking place. It’s the water and sewer rates. I not prudent or approprihaven’t seen this reported ate. ‘The Browne’ project in the Echo or any village has already gone through newsletter. I don’t think the Planning Commission. people know what is going 'The Shelby Commons’ has on. I commend you guys not. The demo permit (alfor what you are doing, but lowing them to start demoI think you need to save lition) is an administrative the historic buildings (old action, not council action. fire department, false-front I only brought it before buildings) and let people council last night because I know what is going on. have been involved in a lot Otherwise it’s going to be of discussions as part of the ‘Anywhere, USA.'” village’s Vision and ImpleVillage President John mentation Team.” Sutton replied, saying they Morse invites all resihad toured the old fire de- dents to sign up for village partment building and it updates and information is in need of a lot of work, on social media by subincluding electrical and scribing to the village’s ADA compliance. DPW YouTube channel (@villaSuperintendent Jeremiah geofshelby218), or followHellenhouse told those as- ing their Facebook page sembled the village had al- (VillageOfShelby). Resiready decided that any his- dents and stakeholders can torical parts of the building join the 207 residents and that could be saved would stakeholders also receiving be utilized elsewhere. regular emails by visiting The Oceana Echo the village’s website www. reached out to Morse fol- shelbyvillage.com, going lowing Tuesday’s meeting to the “Contact Us” tab for further clarification. and selecting “Sign up for “I understand why peo- Alerts.” ple may say, ‘Why don’t The next Shelby Village we know?’ However, if a Council meeting is schedzoning request aligns with uled for Monday, Sept. 14 our village zoning laws, at 6 p.m. The next village we have to approve it. Planning Commission That’s why you need good meeting is scheduled for zoning ordinances. It’s September 15 at 6 p.m.
The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent WALKERVILLE - At their August 20, 2026 council meeting, the Village of Walkerville voted unanimously to install new speed limit and speed zone signage within the village limits. The action came about after an officer from the Oceana County Sheriff's Office, who was out on patrol, noticed the village was missing numerous speed limit and speed zone signs at vil-
lage entry points. Walkerville Chief of Police Brian Hintz told The Oceana Echo following the meeting, “Without proper signage, it makes it difficult to enforce speed limits. It really handicaps what law enforcement can do when making traffic stops.” Councilors voting in favor of the action included Mary Johnson, Gerald Dudley, Jennifer Koch, Sue Budde, Ernie Gilbert and Kellie Payne. Village President Mark Metts was absent.
Speed within most residential areas is 25 mph. However, the starting point of the village’s 45 mph speed zone and where the speed limit is reduced to 25 mph are unclear. Hintz also reported that anytime posted
speeds are reduced by more than 10 mph, a ‘Reduced Speed Ahead’ sign must be posted. While some village speed limit and zone designation signs are in place, others are missing or unreadable. For most, however, it has been years since they were installed. Exactly what types of signs and how many will be determined once Hintz is able to research village records and take a village road tour with Metts, who is also the street administrator.
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