The Alpena Municipal Council is seeking public input on what it should do with the property where Decorative Panels International used to operate.

We urge every Alpena resident to share their thoughts on the future of that important property, either by emailing members of the council (their email addresses can be found at the city’s website, alpena.mi.us) or by attending the city’s 6 p.m. Dec. 2 meeting at City Hall, 208 N. 1st Ave. in downtown Alpena.

The council has considered changing the zoning to allow for mixed-use development (including some light industrial and perhaps housing) along the shores of Thunder Bay.

However, an attorney for DPI has threatened to sue the city if it moves forward because the company believes the change would make it harder to sell the property. The company plans to auction off the property next month with a starting bid of $1 million.

DPI closed in February and laid off more than 150 employees.

Since then, the hulking factory has sat vacant on what some in the city consider prime real estate that could open up the waterfront to more development, including potentially much-needed housing.

But is moving to open up that development worth the threat of a lawsuit?

Which would have more of an economic impact on the city, another factory or mixed-use development? Which would create more sustainable jobs? Which is more likely to attract more tourists (and their pocketbooks) to the region?

DPI was a major employer in the city and part of its identity for many years.

What happens at its property could change the very direction of the city for many years into the future.

So the council needs to hear from as many people as possible to get a sense of what residents want to see happen on those parcels.

We urge every reader to share their thoughts.