Big update / catch-up list today. Some familiar things, but I also tried to highlight some of the less obvious things going on around the region. Let's start with some infrastructure improvements...
Flood Control in Kalamazoo
The City of Kalamazoo recently approved additional funds for additional dredging of some waterways, for better flood control in the Crosstown Ponds / Axtell Creek areas. The actual amount of material to be removed ended up being higher than initially estimated. This is by no means glorious work that will get SSP enthusiasts excited, but it is essential nevertheless.
Quote:
Kalamazoo spends $560K for more dredging; postpones street projects
Brad Devereaux | MLive
February 18, 2020
KALAMAZOO, MI — The city of Kalamazoo will spend an additional $560,768.50 for dredging meant to alleviate flooding following heavy rain events. The Kalamazoo City Commission approved the additional cost at its Feb. 17 meeting...
...The excess cost of the project was not included in the 2020 capital improvement plan, the city said, and funding will be made available through the following sources:
- $280,000: Local Streets 2020 Capital Improvement Projects from the deferment of the following streets projects: Weaver, Fulford, Broadway, and James
- $150,000: The reallocation of funds from excess available grant funds
- $130,769: Major Streets 2019 Capital Improvement Projects from project funds
The street projects mentioned needed to be postponed for construction sequencing or lead service line replacements, Kalamazoo Department of Public Services Director James Baker said. Funding will be re-appropriated once city staff aligns the construction schedules, Baker said. The project schedule allowed for the funding transfers, he said...
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Here are some photos from last May (more at the source link) -
Source:
Joel Bissel | MLive
Flood Control in Texas Township
Texas Township has also had some struggles with flooding, around the several lakes that are loaded with upscale residential development. Recently, the Township conducted a study to determine legal lake levels. This study will inform the proposed long-term solution to alleviate flooding, which includes plans to build a horizontal well and drainage system. This would be paid for through a special assessment district. According to MLive,
Quote:
"...Texas Township would pay 15% of the cost, the drain commission would pay 10%, the county would pay 10% and property owners in the area would be responsible for the remaining 65%. An assessment on each of those properties would be based on both the cost incurred and benefit derived, according to the task force’s October presentation..."
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This is clearly a big problem, and the numerous photos at the MLive link are compelling. I can't help but feel that residents, developers, and planners brought this upon themselves, although it doesn't change the fact that a solution should be sought.
Quote:
Flooding solution moves forward for township near Kalamazoo
Lindsay Moore | MLiveFebruary 18, 2020
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI -- A study to determine legal lake levels for the flooded lakes in Texas Township was unanimously approved by Kalamazoo County Commissioners Tuesday night. Texas Township’s long-term flooding solution hinges on setting legal lake levels for both Eagle and Crooked lakes. To get the process moving, support was needed from 66% of homeowners on each lake. The petitions came back with 72% of homeowners on Eagle Lake and 67% of homeowners on Crooked Lake signing in support...
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Photo from March 2019
May 2019
June 2019
A diagram from a presentation slide in January 2019, illustrating a temporary solution to move water from Eagle Lake to Crooked Lake to a wetland area with a series of pumps.
Source for all of these:
Joel Bissell | MLive
Cork Street Redesign
The City of Kalamazoo is starting work in March to reconfigure Cork Street from west of Lovers Lane to Sprinkle Avenue. The work will take most of 2020 and will be a "road diet". 4 traffic lanes (2 in each direction) will be converted to 1 lane in each direction with a dedicated center left turn lane and dedicated bike lanes on both sides (similar to what has been done on portions of Portage Road recently). There will also be infrastructure / utility upgrades.
Quote:
35-week project will rebuild Cork Street, add bike lanes, and more for $6.5M
Brad Devereaux | MLive
February 19, 2020
KALAMAZOO, MI — Traffic will be disrupted on Cork Street for construction work scheduled through November that will result in a completely redesigned and rebuilt road and other improvements, the city of Kalamazoo reports...The work is kicking off a $6.5 million project that is scheduled to last through most of 2020, with substantial completion scheduled for November, Public Services Director James Baker said. Some additional restoration work is scheduled for 2021...
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Source:
MLive | City of Kalamazoo
KPS Transportation Facility
This is kind of infrastructure-related too. Construction progress continues on a new transportation center to serve Kalamazoo Public Schools. This is one part of the many projects funded by the largest public bond ever passed in the district's history. I think the
location for it on Ravine Road is rather bizarre. It is northwest of the city center in a pretty remote area and surrounded by industry and gravel pits. But I guess the land was cheap. I would have rather seen this be an infill project closer to the city center, and where it could be accessed by pedestrians or cyclists (to encourage alternative transportation methods for staff / bus drivers).
Source:
LinkedIn | Tower Pinkster
Affordable Housing in Portage
Here's an article about the oft-overlooked problem of affordable / equitable housing in the more affluent city of Portage. Poverty and homelessness / home instability is still an issue here. The article discusses Portage's new affordable housing project off Centre Avenue, named Selinon Park. It also mentions the new FedEx distribution facility, which is under construction on Portage Road, near-ish the airport.
Quote:
Sitting on the floor: High rent prices means no furniture
Kirk Mason | WWMT Newschannel 3
February 17, 2020
PORTAGE, Mich. — When Newschannel 3 met with Erin Powers at her Portage apartment, we sat on the floor. She doesn't have furniture; she can't afford it. "There are a lot of nights I have spent crying myself to sleep," Powers said. The tears come from constantly worrying about money. Powers and her son moved home to Portage from Florida. She said she escaped an abusive relationship, and returned to the city to be close to family...
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Bronson Health New Ambulatory Surgery Center
In addition to its seven new primary care facilities going up around the county, Bronson is moving forward with plans for a new ambulatory / outpatient orthopedic surgery center in Texas Township. The facility will be about 18,000 SF and is expected to break ground in the Spring. It will be immediately adjacent to the new primary care facility being constructed near the northeast intersection of I-94 and 9th Street in Texas Township (off of Beatrice Dr). According to the
press release, "Over the last five years, the number of surgeries performed at the hospital has increased 15%." It will cost about $21 million, and it will contain four operating rooms.
Source:
Bronson Health
New Chick-fil-A
It's official. Work on the new Chick-fil-A is actually starting. Demolition is proceeding for two properties on the northeast corner of West Main and Drake. It sounds like the big delay ended up being more related to the city's hang-ups over the business' religious / political discriminatory policies than anything to do with curb cuts or driveway access. But now we can thankfully all move on and soon we will be eating more chicken.
Source:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/treys...150834177-z-9h
Natural Flavors Expansion
This is a little old (I think the project wrapped up over a year ago), but I never shared photos. "Natural Flavors" is the name of a fairly large, local company that produces extracts used in food flavoring. It greatly expanded its existing facility recently. Tower Pinkster was the local architect, and recently posted some completed photos on LinkedIn.
Source:
LinkedIn | Tower Pinkster
Advia Credit Union HQ
Advia Credit Union just celebrated its topping out ceremony. OK, so it is only 3 1/2 floors, but it still marks a milestone for this large, suburban-ish headquarters. The purple beam was a nice touch.
Source:
LinkedIn | Byce & Associates
The same building, from a few days earlier -
Source:
LinkedIn | Byce & Associates
St. Augustine Cathedral Renovation
These photos are about 1 month old now, but St. Augustine Cathedral in downtown Kalamazoo is undergoing some extensive renovation work
Source:
LinkedIn | Miller Davis
180 E Water Street
180 E Water St is going gangbusters. Lots of glazing installed, sheathing and weather barriers ongoing,. We will be seeing exterior finishes soon. Photos I took today -
Hilton Hotels
Down the road, the dual Hilton Hotel projects are also cranking. Steel and framing is up to the 4th floor now. Workers seem to be taking advantage of the improved weather this weekend.
Stryker Nears Top of Best Places to Work Nationally
If rankings matter to you, Stryker was recently voted the #8 (out of 100) best places to work for in the entire country - not bad for the home team! That is up 3 spots from last year. It is the only company based in Kalamazoo / West Michigan to make the list, and only three other Michigan-based companies made the list -
- Plante Moran, Southfield (with locations in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo) - #21
- Quicken Loans, Detroit - #29
- Credit Acceptance, Southfield - #68
Quote:
Manufacturer ranks as 8th ‘Best Company to Work For’ in U.S.
Rachel Watson | GRBJ
February 19, 2020
...“Being named to the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ list for a decade is an honor that we attribute to our people and culture,” said Katy Fink, vice president and chief human resources officer for Stryker. “Our employees are driven to deliver on our mission to make health care better. We celebrate them and their many contributions that make Stryker a great place to work.” At the time of the survey, Stryker reported 19,941 employees at 120 work sites with nearly $14.9 billion in annual revenue...
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Firekeepers Casino Tower 2
Here is a time-lapse of the Tower 2 construction progress at Firekeepers Casino (near Battle Creek). It's not the greatest angle, but it shows progress through January of this year. More info
here.
• Video Link
Aerial Views
I flew in to Kalamazoo International Airport yesterday for the first time (normally, I fly out Detroit or Grand Rapids, but KZO had remarkably competitive prices for whatever reason this time). It turns out that the flight path yields some great aerial views of the city. You come in low, and circle the entire urban center before landing. The sun was low in the sky (it was late afternoon) and the window was scratched and smudged, but I still took some photos. I'll remember next time to try to schedule a flight for a better time of day, if it works out, so I can get clearer photos.
Coming in from the west, you can see I-94 to the far right, Stadium Drive just left of center, and US-131 connecting them (middle of the image, semi-horizontally). Downtown is toward the upper-left.
Similar to the other view, still approaching from the west. You get a better look at US-131 and Stadium Drive. You can also make out the Amtrak train tracks, bottom left corner and winding up (east-bound).
Here we have circled downtown, and are now looking west, while preparing for a landing approach from the north. Unfortunately the sun was right in my lens so I could not get a great shot. But you can clearly make out the Kalamazoo River and E. Michigan Ave. (and the railway bridge above it). If you squint, you can see the downtown skyline. Pretty neat
Cuius Amicus (man's best friend)
And this is my dog, wondering what the heck I'm doing for so long glued to a computer screen. Alas, he's given up on me. But I hope you enjoyed this update as much as I enjoyed compiling it.