(STURGIS) – A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday afternoon to mark the beginning of a major construction project in downtown Sturgis.

The groundbreaking took place at 108-114 West Chicago Road with representatives from Root and Branch Real Estate, the City of Sturgis, the Sturgis Area Community Foundation and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation attending.

Following the groundbreaking, an event was held at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. John Carmichael of Root and Branch Real Estate shared with the audience that this project, which will be called The Watershed, started as a vision to bring a renaissance to Sturgis. LINKC.

The 18 month project will see the demolition of the three current buildings at those addresses and then the construction of a five story building that will house a steak house on the ground floor and studio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments on the upper floors.

Demolition is expected to start in the next two weeks.