An area man is floating big plans for a prominent and long vacant building in Empire, though he’s several steps away from this dream becoming a reality.

Dozens of people gathered in Empire recently to hear Thompsonville-area resident Dylan Tull talk about plans to transform the former Empire Hardware building, which sits on Lake Street across from the western terminus of Front Street.

The historic building housed a lumber office, hardware store and more over the years. It’s been vacant since about 2010, when current co-owner Jim Bagaloff, who developed the nearby Storm Hill neighborhood, had offices there.

“We thought we would try to develop it, but we never got it off the ground, so now we’re selling it,” Bagaloff tells The Ticker. “I’m up in years now…and starting a development at this stage, it’s just a little too late in our lives, I think.”

Because of its size and prominent location, the property – which along with the 11,000 square foot store includes a historic 7,400 square foot livery barn and more than five total acres – has long been a topic of conversation, much like the former school building at the other end of town. The entire package is listed at $1.5 million, though the barn can also be purchased separately for $870,000.

Enter Tull, who wants to turn the property into a mixed-use development that would include a grocery store, café, bar, restaurant, community garden and more. Snazzy renderings show an inviting, updated space that would inject some life into the village by providing jobs and commercial activity.

But Tull does not yet own the property, nor has he made a formal offer. He tells The Ticker he’s inspired by places like Commongrounds Cooperative in Traverse City, which has a degree of community ownership (and got off the ground with a round of community fundraising).

“The goal is to do a few different rounds of fundraising,” Tull says. “In the first round we’re looking to raise two million dollars to procure (the property) and do some of the initial legwork, and that’s going to be done hopefully through a small group of local investors. The other round...will be more of an open round, crowdfunding sort of model somewhat similar to what Commongrounds did.”

Tull says he’s having productive conversations with investors and hopes to make an offer soon and close on the property sometime this fall. He estimates the project in total would cost north of $15 million.

“In an ideal world, we would close by end of August, but it's probably more likely September, November,” he says. “And then from there, we want to move into a sort of winter planning phase… and be breaking ground next spring or summer if all goes well.”

Bagaloff says Tull “seems to be really creative and he’s got a unique vision for” the property. Bagaloff wants the building to play a positive role in the community going forward, and he’s willing to work with Tull if he can make an actual offer.

“I’m willing to talk to anybody when they get serious…about purchasing the property, but so far I’ve just seen a lot of pictures,” he says.

Village planning commission Chair Bob Chase said he couldn’t make any comments on behalf of that body or the village in general, as the project has yet to be formally presented. Speaking for himself, he said most village residents would love to see the building be something other than empty.

“The building has been vacant for many years, and it would be good to see something done,” he tells The Ticker. “Having a piece of property that size at the end of Front Street…I don’t think there’s anyone that would not want to see something go there.”

Meanwhile, Joe Van Esley, who owns the historic school house on the other end of town, says he's making progress on plans for his own mixed-use development there.

“I’ve got multiple tenants that I’m negotiating with…and we’re getting ready for our brownfield meeting with the village...and we’re submitting to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation soon,” he tells The Ticker. “So, we’re moving forward.”