[deja vu]

Muskegon -

Here's another big one for Muskegon, with a lot of moving parts involved -

Last August, the city announced its plan for a $15 million downtown convention center, to be located adjacent to the LC Arena and Holiday Inn. This will be a joint public / private venture, with the city, the county, and the hotel owner working as partners on the development. Under the current arrangement, the city will own the center and arrange financing, but the actual money to pay off the debt and for operating expenses will come from Muskegon County and the hotel owner, Parkland Properties (Jon Rooks). Muskegon County would provide the guarantee on the bond payments. The city and county came up with a clever way to secure the financing. By passing a decision to levy a new tax on hotel rooms only within the city of Muskegon, the only yes vote needed to approve the 4% assessment was from Jon Rooks, because he is the only hotel owner in the city.

The Center will be built on land donated by Rooks behind his hotel, and is estimated to be between 40,000 and 50,000 SF. It is estimated to break ground in 2019 and to be open by 2021. The idea of a downtown convention center has been discussed for decades, and, after a 2014 feasibility study, those involved now believe that they have the demand and finances in order, and are ready to start design work. This is evidenced by the recent news that a local Architect has now been awarded the contract for design services - Progressive AE, out of Grand Rapids -

Muskegon convention center plan moves forward with architect selection
Ben Solis | MLive
February 7, 2018

MUSKEGON, MI - A renowned Grand Rapids-based architectural design firm has been tapped to begin work on a proposed $15 million convention center in the heart of downtown Muskegon. The Muskegon City Commission recently voted to engage Progressive AE to determine the size, location, amenities and costs for the convention center. Commissioners agreed to pay Progressive AE a total of $832,800 for architectural and design fees, plus other reimbursable expenses...

Conceptual Rendering of the new Convention Center, showing connections to the existing Holiday Inn and Arena -

Source: MLive | Courtesy Progressive AE

Conceptual Site Plan, Arena on bottom left -

Source: MLive | Courtesy Progressive AE

Related to this convention center proposal, it was also announced last August that the Holiday Inn will receive $2 - 5 million in renovation dollars and will be re-branded as an upscale chain, more befitting of a convention center hotel. According to the owner, on Rooks, the re-branded hotel will most likely be either a Crowne Plaza or a Radisson. The hotel renovations will begin after a formal agreement on the convention center is signed -

Holiday Inn to get millions in renovations to go with convention center
Lynn Moore | MLive
August 23, 2017

MUSKEGON, MI - Construction of a convention center in downtown Muskegon will prompt millions of dollars of upgrades to the downtown Holiday Inn in preparation of it operating under an "upscale" brand. Hotel owner Parkland Properties is working with the city of Muskegon and Muskegon County to build and finance the convention center that would be attached to both the hotel and the adjacent LC Walker Arena...

Photo of the current Holiday Inn, a 201-room, 8-story hotel -

Source: IHG / Holiday Inn

And in another small, related development, a new restaurant, Rad Dad's Taco & Tequila Bar, is being built and will be connected to the LC Arena -

Source: MLive