Berrien Springs -

Berrien Springs Public Schools - Arts & Athletic Center - August progress -

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Source: LinkedIn | Millies Engineering Group

Allegan -

This is actually a pretty cool company. I've spec'd their products on projects in the past, and it's good to see them expanding in the area -

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Source: The Lakeshore | Courtesy

Muskegon -

The 30-acre site redevelopment called "Adelaide Pointe" has grown from a $150 million to $250 million proposal (this is the former West Michigan Steel / Westran Corp. site). There are some more developed conceptual renderings now, compared to what was made public before -

Project specs include:

• 275-slip marina
• 3-story mixed-use building, to contain an event center (3rd floor), restaurant (2nd floor), and boat dealership (1st / ground floor)
• 300 condominiums
• Three public parks
• 72 watercraft slips for visitors
• 200-slip in-and-out boat service
• 165,000 square feet of winter boat storage (the largest of its kind in West Michigan)
• 25-yard pool
• New public beach
• "Softened" peninsula edges with vegetation
• Solar panels for each facility,
• Green roofs
• Mass Timber construction

Edgewater Resources (President - Greg Weykamp) is serving as site architect and designer to the developer (Ryan Leestma - co-founder). Crews have already cleared about 100 trees, filled and leveled the land, and removed about (120) 20 CY dumpsters of debris from the site. The in-and-out docks are currently being installed, and work is ongoing in the boat storage facility.

The revised development timeline from the developer's website:

Phase I – 2021
Complete restoration and environmental remediation of site and existing buildings, assembly of team and creation of site engineering and architecture (in-progress / on-track)

Phase II – 2022
Begin construction of first 55-unit mass timber condo building and infrastructure, commence restoration and construction of parks and marina basins

Phase III – 2023
Installation of 270 slip marina, begin mass timber condo/retail building II

Phase IV – 2024 and beyond
Construction of mass timber condo buildings, expansion of retail development, construction of other vacation and rental residential dwellings

"Soft Reveal", from August 2021 -

• Video Link

June 2021 Promo Video -

• Video Link

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Some aerial views of the site -

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Source: Wood TV 8 | Courtesy Adelaide Pointe

Another article on Adelaide Pointe, including this site plan -

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Source: MiBiz | Courtesy Adelaide Pointe

Muskegon -

It would be great if this actually started moving now. This former bank building has been vacant for four years. It was completed in 1962 as National Lumberman's Bank of Muskegon. Most recently, it was home to Huntington Bank. Apparently, the tower was designed and built to house the state’s first rooftop heliport, which, if true, is pretty impressive for lil' 'ol Skeeg.

There could be 16 - 22 market-rate apartments on the upper four floors. The helipad area would be converted into a roof deck with amenities for residents. Plans include a new restaurant and retail space in the ground floor, with commercial space above that. There is also a separate drive-thru bank building on the property that could be converted into another restaurant or a bar.

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Source: MLive | Rose White

I grew up in Michigan wondering why there were so little resort-style development along Lake Michigan. I get that for like 5 months out of the year most people probably don't think of going to the beach, but there are a lot of indoor style activities that could offset this it would seem. The west coast of Michigan may never be Florida, but can anyone tell me why more development like that hasn't happened, particularly with all of the Chicago tourism?

It’s been a bit of a mystery to me too. It’s often sites that being in lake effect territory stunted cities like Muskegon while the main urban centers of GR and Kzoo are 50-60 miles east a bit too far to influence until recently.

Muskegon is a good example of the heavy industry and shipping dominating its waterfront making redevelopment more difficult.

But one of the biggest factors even for fellow great lakers many find it hard to imagine just how beautiful Michigan’s coast is especially with the leeward winds birthing wide sandy beaches and of course dunes.

Traverse City is a good example of the direction other west coast MI cities are heading, granted its special up there but there’s plenty of what makes NW lower great dunes, beaches and picturesque towns. That there’s definitely a flow from Chicago and Detroit of people permanently locating now that working from home is becoming so well excepted.

I think it's a combination of factors. Geography, weather, infrastructure, industry, local politics / policies, and the resulting development patterns over time. The west coast of Michigan is heavily tourism-based, it just looks a little different from Miami Beach. It's more of a "cottage-tourism". I think ideologically, a lot of people are attracted to that smaller-beach-town feel, because it can't be found in large metros & urban places like Chicago & Detroit. I think West Michigan towns recognize their uniqueness and try to capitalize on it by preserving the small-town feel with their ordinances and tourism programs.

And a lot of residents of these small beach towns tend to be against any sizable developments. There’s been plenty of cases where a developer wants to build a 3-4 story waterfront hotel and the locals freak out.

Those are all pretty much in the realm of what I figured to be the case. Still, there’s a lot of unincorporated beachfront combined with towns that have seen better days economically that could probably benefit from such development.

Grand Haven -

The first homes at Robinson Landing are under construction. Sorry there aren't better photos; this is as sexy as it gets, folks. This is Phase 1 of a 30-home development -

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Source: LinkedIn | MCC

Update on two of the bigger projects being built in Holland -

The River Place (5-story mixed-use / senior living) at the northwest corner of River Avenue and Ninth Street is fully-enclosed and the exterior finishes are mostly complete -

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Source: Cassandra Lybrink | The Holland Sentinel

At the Towers on River (5-story mixed-use / condos) at the northeast corner of River Avenue and Seventh Street, concrete structures are rising above-grade -

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Source: Cassandra Lybrink | The Holland Sentinel

Some more housing-related news, from Muskegon -

Muskegon -

The new 73-unit apartment development at 1021 Jefferson St., named Ten21, opened to residents last week. It is expected to be 100% occupied by the end of September, with 60 people remaining on a waitlist (maybe they could have built a few more floors). Tenants must meet income eligibility requirements, with rents restricted to 30-80% of the city’s area median income. A one-bedroom apartment ranges from $269 to $815 a month, and a two bedroom ranges from $460 to $950 a month -

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Source: Rose White | MLive

Muskegon -

Pigeon Hill has plans to convert their former production facility (at 441 W. Western Ave.) into a a multifaceted entertainment venue (right next to the new convention center, arts center, and the revamped Delta Hotel). They are counting on a ten-year tax exemption, which freezes the taxable value of the building and exempts any new real property investment from local taxes. To qualify for the tax exemption, the work needs to be completed within two years -

The $650,000 redevelopment will include a tap room, ice cream shop, meeting space, and retail suites. Remodel work has already commenced -

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Source: MLive | Lynn Moore

Albion -

I'm happy for the school & excited for the community that this project is moving forward. The groundbreaking ceremony for Albion College's new Body and Soul Center was held over the weekend. It is a repurposing of the 1928 Washington Gardner High School building -

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Source: LinkedIn | Albion College

Renderings, shared previously -
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Source: Albion College

Wayland -

The $100 million "Phase 4" expansion at Gun Lake Casino is finished. The project doubles the size of the gaming floor and includes expanded dining & entertainment options. With this work now complete, the owners can shift their focus toward the announced $300 million hotel addition...

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Source: Wood TV 8

Here's a tour from about two months before opening -

• Video Link

Marshall -

My first real job was the graveyard shift at the Shelby Township KMart (Van Dyke & 23 Mile Rd). That one closed down about 4 years ago. There's some photos through the decades at the article link of various stores. Anyone else nostalgic for KMart?!

Muskegon -

I can't imagine they would locate this so far from Grand Rapids, just to have a lakefront setting. Will keep an eye out for results of any feasibility studies to come.

The architect will actually be two design firms - Boston-based Ann Beha Architects (specializing in historic preservation) and Grand Rapids-based MATHISON | MATHISON ARCHITECTS.