where one of the largest historic preservation projects in the country is currently underway.

We met with the re-developers of this unique renovation of dozens of historic buildings, at the village of Grand Traverse Commons.

- It isn't just the beautiful buildings and beautiful grounds, you know, it's that sense of community that we're creating.

(acoustic guitar music) - [Voiceover] When you step on the campus of the village of Grand Traverse Commons, the sense of community is overwhelming in a really great way.

The 63-acre property is a true neighborhood with people living, working, and playing on the grounds.

- [Voiceover] It all started with a huge inventory of old buildings that were falling apart and that was a daunting task to find people with enough vision who saw our ideas for reusing this place who were able to see beyond the deterioration.

- [Voiceover] The deterioration Raymond Minervini is speaking about was that of the original buildings built in the 19th century as a place to care for the mentally ill.

- [Voiceover] At first, it was the Northern Michigan Asylum, and then the Traverse City State Hospital, and closed in 1989, and languished while the community to figure out, the state tried to figure out, how the property should be used.

Should all the buildings be torn down?

Should it be redeveloped in some way and preserved?

It was a very long community discussion and in the mean time, the building slowly started falling apart, because nobody was caring for them.

- [Voiceover] And that's when Raymond's father, Ray Minervini, got involved to save the quarter mile long main building on campus, building 50.

- So, when I heard about the fact that they were considering demolishing this building, I got active with the Preserve Building 50 group, and one thing led to another, and I was appointed to the Grand Traverse Commons redevelopment corporation with the intent of trying to come up with a plan for the disposition of the building.

- [Voiceover] And the plan was created, to preserve one part at a time.

- [Voiceover] It's a daunting task, rehabilitating a million square feet of historic building.

Especially in the condition that they were in.

It's like telling your kids to go clean their room.

You know, they walk in the room, and they sit on the bed and say, you know, it's just too much, it's overwhelming, you know?

You start by just picking up one piece at a time, you know, and that's what our philosophy was, and that's the way that we did it, and it worked.

You know, we started at the south end where Stella the restaurant's at, and then completed that section of the building.

And then moved on to the North.

And now, all of building 50's complete, a major accomplishment, we're really proud of.

- [Voiceover] In building 50, or the Mercato building, there are residential condominiums and professional offices on the upper levels where the Minervini group broke down the walls between the old state hospital patient rooms to expand the space.

They blocked off the doorways and preserved the existence of the rooms that were once here.

- [Voiceover] So, what we had to do is not run away from what this place was.

We had to embrace it, you know?

We had to own it, but, what we would always tell people is that there may have been stories here that are not pleasant, but, there are stories from central neighborhood, or from slabtown neighborhood that are not pleasant either, and that's just the human condition.

And that the noble intent of this place was to take care of our fellow human beings, and that's the part we try to celebrate.

You know, the grand buildings were built at great expense by the state, a huge expense, but it was because people needed care and the state felt it was justified to step in.

So, what they did at the time, was actually very ambitious.

You know, they didn't have all the answers, and I'm sure mistakes were made along the way, but, the outcome was of a good intent, and that's the part we try to celebrate to people, it's like, how is that a bad thing that a building was built to provide the best level of care for the day to other neighbors and citizens?

And what's bad about living or working in a place that started off like that?

(upbeat music) - Now the lower level of the Mercato building is filled with retail shops.

At one point, the space was used for maintenance and storage purposes.

It's an area you can visit daily as a shopper or a diner, as there are many stops for foodies to enjoy too.

As you can see, the walls are adorned with art and creativity emits from every door front.

The Minervinis kid that in the main building and the others surrounding it, you will find the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker, or basically, everything you need in a small, diverse community.

- [Voiceover] What we try to do is celebrate these elements of community and conviviality, about people coming together, those chance interactions, you know, the indoor farmer's market in the Winter, or events on the front lawn or a game of bocce.

Those elements of the neighborhood allow us to celebrate what this place is, but, never run away from what it was.

- [Voiceover] The village of Grand Traverse Commons encourages the public to learn more about the history of the campus by attending one of their historic guided tours.

A couple highlights of these tours include taking a walk through an amazing Brick-Steen tunnel built in 1883 and exploring a historic building that has yet to be renovated.

- [Voiceover] We've completed about 55% of the whole project at this point, so in spite of the fact that we're really proud about what we've accomplished thus far, we still look ahead of all the things that are yet to do.

It's kinda humbling.

- We're subject to a historic easement for the building, so we can't make changes recklessly, we can't tear down buildings without showing a proper cause or justification to do that, and we don't want to.

What makes this a special place is that you have a beautiful campus and these amazing buildings, and so we try to preserve them and reuse them.

We create a really cool neighborhood, bring the right people that are attracted to this kinda place, and that's what gives it a life beyond what we would be able to do on our own.

(light acoustic music) (whooshing sound effect) - A list of residential spaces, retailers, restaurants, events, and tours are on the village of Grand Traverse Commons website.