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Below are some photos from a recent tour of WMU's Richmond Institute for Design + Innovation. This is the new home for the University's new Industrial Design program, which was recently resurrected from the dead. It's a very small, young program (less than 1 year in operation), but the facilities are among the most impressive I have seen, coming from an A & E background. Progressive AE is the Architect on this one; it is an interior remodel of the entire first floor and a portion of the third floor of Central Kohrman Hall. It is a great asset to the area's local manufacturing companies. https://s72hhq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://sb2hhq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://tl2hhq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://ul2hhq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://t72hhq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://sr2hhq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://tb2hhq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://tr2hhq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://q72hhq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://rl2hhq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://s71y4w.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://tl1y4w.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://sb1y4w.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none |
Advia Credit Union will be relocating its headquarters from Parchment to Oshtemo Township. We first heard about this way back in summer of 2017, so it has taken a long while to get to this point. Site work has begun for what will be a 150,000 SF, three-story structure at 6404 W Main St, near the burgeoning suburban landscape at the intersection of 9th St. and W Main (west of Kalamazoo city proper).
It will be quite a difference from what was there previously. Good news for Oshtemo, bad news for Parchment. I don't know what will become of their current office building - it could still serve as decent office space for something, but businesses aren't exactly flocking to Parchment these days. Quote:
Source: MLive | Courtesy Advia Credit Union By the way, Bronson held its groundbreaking ceremony for the new 5-story cancer pavilion a few weeks ago, on May 9. Once The Exchange and 400 Rose are done, this will likely be the largest thing under construction in the downtown area for a while. https://q71y4w.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Facebook | Diekema Hamann |
The new Portage Northern Middle School is close to done (opening this Fall for classes). The old Middle School, soon to be demolished, will be replaced with new parking configurations. Demo of that structure will begin after classes end in mid-June.
https://q73xbg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://ul3xbg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://tb3xbg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://tr3xbg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none A few steps behind Portage Northern MS is Portage Central MS, which follows a very similar floor plan (just different finish colors) and will be complete and open for classes next year. Both of these projects are part of a $144 million bond vote that also includes new athletic fields and natatoriums at both campuses, as well as renovations to Portage West Middle School. https://s73xbg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://tl3xbg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://sb3xbg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://sr3xbg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Images Source: MLive These are nice-looking schools. They will be among the most up-to-date and well-equipped middle-school educational facilities in the state. Quote:
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Happy June. A few photos from walking around town yesterday in the rain.
100 E Water St https://sb34gg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none 400 Rose https://tl34gg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://s734gg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://sr34gg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://t734gg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://ul34gg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Bronson Labs https://tb34gg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://tr34gg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none The Exchange https://q734gg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://rl34gg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none |
Nice update, thanks!
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I walked around WMU's campus today. The last remnants of McCracken Hall are quickly being erased from the landscape. This is all to make way for the new student center.
https://9r9nsa.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://979nsa.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://7l9nsa.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://7b9nsa.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://9l84dg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://8784dg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://9b84dg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none And wow, the new South Neighborhood student housing project is a lot further along than I thought. Roughly half of the building is framed up right now. https://8r84dg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://pl84dg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://9784dg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://pb84dg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://7l84dg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://9r84dg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Separately, Mayor Hopewell gave his final State of the City address Thursday night, in the still-under-construction Exchange building. He will not be running for reelection, after 12 years serving in this role. Bobby leaves the city in a better state than when he started, and he will be widely missed as mayor. If you have any interest, you can listen to the full 45 minute address at the link below - lots of good points about affordable housing, construction, development, infrastructure, and community engagement, among other things. Quote:
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Not new, but here are a few more photos from that walk around Western's main campus on Friday.
Richmond Center for Visual Arts https://wetbgg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://v0tbgg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Fountain Plaza (Richmond Center and Miller Auditorium in the backgrounds) https://7lppcw.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://wutbgg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Sprau Tower https://w0tbgg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xetbgg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Sangren Hall https://xutbgg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xktbgg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none The Oaklands (a Bed and Breakfast on-campus) https://uutbgg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Faunce Student Services Building https://7bppcw.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Haenicke Hall https://wktbgg.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none |
An update on some of the other projects happening around town, which I have not been documenting yet.
1. Interior demo work and some site utility work has clearly begun at the former Rose Street Market Building (former former Masonic Temple Building). This will become the Hilton Garden Inn. A debris chute is seen at the rear of the building. The parking area will eventually (hopefully) give way to a new Home2 Suites. https://uuuraw.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://wuv29g.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none 2. Bronson Cancer Pavilion site work and foundations are in progress. Not too much to look at yet. https://weuraw.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xkuraw.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://gnqoyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none 3. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is farther along than I had thought. https://xuuraw.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://w0uraw.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xeuraw.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://g6bdsw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none 4. And some early site work has also begun for what will be The Creamery. Again, not much to see yet, but encouraging to witness signs of this moving forward. This corner could soon look quite different, after being vacant for decades. https://ukuraw.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://rl01sw.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none |
In Battle Creek -
Firekeepers Casino held a groundbreaking for a second hotel tower. It will be pretty transforming for the property when complete in 2020. By the rendering, I think it will look pretty sharp. Quote:
Image Source: WBCK NewsTalk | Courtesy JSJ Architecture And new brewery "Handmap Brewing" is coming soon to downtown Battle Creek. The fact that a brewery was coming was announced last year, but the name has been kept secret until recently. Quote:
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Now that state funding has been received, this new housing project at the Harrison Street roundabout might hopefully get going soon. The article mentions that construction could begin this fall. Of small note, previous renderings showed 4 stories, but the current one shows five. Interestingly though, the unit count has not changed between the two. Everything else looks exactly the same - just added a floor.
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https://w0v29g.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive | Courtesy NOMI From Fall 2018 https://gaa64q.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive | Courtesy NOMI |
Battle Creek's Heritage Tower (a.k.a. The Milton) as photographed yesterday.
https://wevhva.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xkvhva.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xuvhva.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://w0vhva.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xevhva.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://uuvhva.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none |
I have not visited downtown Battle Creek in many years. I think a surprising majority of Kalamazooans would be in a similar situation. For only being 20 miles apart, there does not seem to be a lot of overlap between these two similar-sized population centers (Kalamazoo's ~74,000 vs. Battle Creek's ~52,000). If you consider the two MSA's, there's a bit more disparity (Kalamazoo is about 2 1/2 times greater - ~335,000 vs. ~136,000 in Bttle Creek). But both cities share an abundance of similarities - both anchored by a few key entities, both situated along the Kalamazoo River, both settled around 1830, both feature unique downtown settings, and some great architecture, and both are trying (and, I would argue, succeeding) to maintain vibrancy, relevance, and a sense of identity in the post-industrial landscape. Battle Creek and Kalamazoo both receive more than their fair share of negativity. True, both cities are challenged by persistent issues of economic disparity and homelessness, but they are fighting back.
Anyway, here are some more photos from my walk around Battle Creek - not all new construction (although some of it is). Really just a mix of things - there's a lot I did not get to. I thought about posting this in the photos section, but I wanted to keep it tied to the overall development thread, since it gives greater context for a city probably not too many outside of Michigan are familiar with. Kellogg's office building, with 21-story Battle Creek Tower beyond (built 1930-1931) https://wkss4a.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Kellogg's Headquarters Building https://wuss4a.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://v0ss4a.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Shipping container shops, corner of McCamley and Hamblin https://wess4a.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Wave Square, corner of McCamley and Michigan https://xuss4a.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Other views of Battle Creek Tower https://xkss4a.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://w0ss4a.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Recently demolished buildings (see before here) https://xess4a.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Former Arcadia Brewing Company space https://uuss4a.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Inside https://ukss4a.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://wuv9pq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none This vacant beauty is at the corner of Michigan and Carlyle https://wkv9pq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Battle Creek River through downtown https://xuv9pq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Central Field House, a pretty cool throwback basketball arena (here's an inside shot) https://v0v9pq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none The former Battle Creek Sanitarium, now part of the Federal Complex since the 1950's https://xkv9pq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://wev9pq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://w0v9pq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Kellogg Manor, housing the Battle Creek Housing Commission https://xev9pq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none This long-vacant art deco building at the corner of Van Buren and Washington was once The Hart Hotel https://uuv9pq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Seventh Day Adventist Temple, on Washington https://ukv9pq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none McCamley Park https://wutiyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none |
(Part 2)
https://wktiyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none The Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center. This building underwent a pretty major transformation from its original purpose, which was the ill-fated Kellogg's Cereal City tourist trap, which was built in the 1990's to recreate a (fake) factory tour experience after the real factory tours ended in the 1980s. I remember going there once as a kid with my dad. https://v0tiyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Other views of Kellogg's HQ https://wetiyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xktiyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none This building on Carlyle will be the future home of the recently-announced Handmap Brewing. https://xutiyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none And this building, at the corer of McCamley and Michigan, will be the future home of New Holland Brewing's Battle Creek satellite. https://w0tiyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xetiyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://uutiyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Just a few buildings over from future New Holland, there are plans for this space to be converted to an indoor climbing gym. https://uktiyq.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none This interesting facade is adjacent to the under-remodeling heritage Tower. https://wuud3q.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none The W.K. Kellogg Foundation building https://wkud3q.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Mill Race Park, across the street from the Foundation. The waterfall effect is cool, and quite loud. https://v0ud3q.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xkud3q.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://xuud3q.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://w0ud3q.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://weud3q.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Battle Creek Enquirer Offices https://xeud3q.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none First Baptist Church https://uuud3q.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none First United Methodist Church, with Sojourner Truth memorial in foreground. Sojourner Truth was born a slave in New York, but Battle Creek eventually became her adopted home after she gained her freedom and left New York to join the Seventh Day Adventist Church and become a leading abolitionist. Unique 6-story, wedge-shaped building at S Monroe. https://wuvoaa.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none McCamley Plaza Hotel, which is undergoing a multi-million dollar remodeling and rebranding. It will soon be a Doubletree by Hilton. https://wkvoaa.sn.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none |
Nice pics.
I LOVE that waterfall and the surrounding stone. Beautiful. |
Great photos. It’s a shame how many buildings downtown Battle Creek has lost. It used to be much more dense and Battle Creek Tower and The Milton weren’t so dominating.
The building where the indoor rock climbing gym is planned was originally a JC Penney and was a common design. I’m glad to see a unique attraction going there. |
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Thanks for the updates and the photos. I really like that area and have several friends (urban planning minded folks) who have moved there in recent years and love it.
I'm from the Tri-Cities and have always been jealous of how much better things seemed in the Kalamazoo area than Saginaw. I'm not sure what the economic forces are - perhaps that GM did not up and leave like much of the I-75 corridor. Midland has always had Dow and retains a sense of otherness due to the influx of money and Texans. They've always kept an arm's length from Bay City and Saginaw, to their detriment I think, but if that place's lights ever go out it's game over for Midland. Kalamazoo and BC may have suffered a lot, but for some reason their methods of revitalization seem to be more thoughtful. I'm sure the colleges have something to do with Kalamazoo's success, too, though. I went to school in Lansing and really had a good time at first but as I aged out of the college scene and went on to live there for years afterwords my heart really broke when I started to understand how the development community and the planning folks worked in that community. If I could do it all over again, I'd probably have gone to Kalamazoo College or Western. I have a lot of hope for Southwest Michigan communities and it makes me really happy to see the west side of the state doing so well in general. |
Happy to share. WMU, K-College, and KVCC have definitely helped Kalamazoo build and retain vibrancy and a downtown culture. Besides these institutions, I think its major employers, which are all health related in some way (Bronson and Borgess Hospitals, Stryker, Pfizer, Zoetis) really help stabilize things. Throw in several big industry manufacturers like FabriKal, Landscape Forms, and Rubbermaid, and Kalamazoo has secured a pretty strong base from which to grow. Battle Creek has suffered a lot as we know from Kellogg losing jobs, and all of the major industries in the area shifting production to other states / countries. Battle Creek needs to reinvent itself and it knows it and it has been trying to. There's great urban planning initiatives in both cities.
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Another great tour! I'm in Chicago currently and I'll be heading back to Detroit tomorrow. I think I'll stop in Kalamazoo on the way. I haven't been downtown since before The Exchange began construction. Looking forward to see the impact it's had on the skyline.
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