A Vision Becomes Reality: Happy 30th Bay Harbor!
History
the largest land reclamation project in North America
“I want to recognize Bill McCormick and especially CMS for their roll of complete environmental protection, for being a great partner and sharing the vision of unparalleled quality and also for being extremely nimble and allowing me this flexibility to evolve and perfect the Master Plan. I praise the Bay Harbor Team and the Victor International Team, for you turned the “Dream to a Reality.” ~ David J. Johnson
For over 100 years, mining operations and a massive cement plant had scarred over 1,200 acres and five miles of Lake Michigan shoreline on Little Traverse Bay. After the industry played out and the land lay desolate, various developers tried to reclaim the site. All of them failed. Then, in 1993, David V. Johnson dreamed of transforming this abandoned moonscape into the most luxurious residential community on earth.
The vision was to preserve the natural resources, and restore the natural beauty by repairing the 100 years of mining and scarring of the earth and an extremely low-density, high-quality development. The vision was shared with a great partner in CMS, which was led by CMS Chief Executive Officer William T. McCormick, Jr.
In 1993, David V. Johnson met with William T. McCormick, Jr. and formed Bay Harbor Company. It was formed on a fifty-fifty joint venture between CMS Land and Victor International Corporation. The arrangement was made with Johnson as the CEO of Victor International and CEO of Bay Harbor Company, who would develop and oversee the operations, which included five miles of shoreline for which he exchanged the developers’ fee for an unlimited environmental indemnity.
On July 12, 1994, his dream became reality with Governor John Engler on hand and thousands of spectators looking on, explosions demolished the century-old cement plant smokestacks. What followed, in March 1995 was another “big bang” – the explosion that would blast away the barrier between Lake Michigan and a quarry letting water rush in at one million gallons per minute. Within 24 hours, over 2.5 billion gallons would form the new “Nautical Center of the Great Lakes” in Bay Harbor Lake.
The vision was always to create the ultimate lifestyle, a year-round resort graced by boutique shopping, a deep-water marina, premier yacht club, equestrian center and a premier golf course with more water frontage than any course in North America. All of this would be part of a greater community which encompasses 32 neighborhoods, each with its own uniqueness including the tranquility of woodland living in The Preserve to the Victorian charm of Village Beach.
Bay Harbor was built to be generational – for families to come and enjoy the amazing beauty and hand it down to their kids and grandkids. The plan was to keep it low-density, with generous use of nature preserves with homes high on a bluff, or at the water’s edge or on the green of a championship golf course; all meticulously carved into the natural landscape and wrapped around Little Traverse Bay.
The addition of the Great Lakes Center for the Arts was a true game changer for Bay Harbor. It was truly a labor of love, and another dream that became an amazing reality. They have completely changed the landscape of the Village at Bay Harbor by bringing performances from across the globe to northern Michigan. The Center would not be possible without the support of many generous donors in Bay Harbor and beyond who are passionate about the arts and being a part of this amazing facility in northern Michigan.