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Yeah, I stopped in Kalamazoo on my way home from Chicago last weekend. Are there any plans for the reuse of the old Parchment Mill? I stopped by there too before leaving the area. Huge place!

I haven't kept up with it. There have been several different plans that have fallen through. It's all tied-up now in legal battles and finger-pointing, mostly related to groundwater contamination. Georgia Pacific, which had the most recent ownership when it was a working facility, is fighting with DEQ and EPA over who's responsible for the recent PFAS drinking water contamination in the city (of Parchment). Parchment has since had to hook up to Kalamazoo's (relatively) clean water supply in the meantime. It's the west side's version of what went down in Flint.

More info on the Graphic Packaging International Expansion. It's actually a pretty big deal for the region -

Quote:

Worldwide business plans $600 million expansion in Kalamazoo County
Callie Rainey | Newschannel 3 WWMT
September 24, 2019

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. — Graphic Packaging International, a worldwide business with an already large footprint in West Michigan is planning to expand. The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved plans to support the project in Kalamazoo County. The expansion is expected to cost upwards of $600 million. Strategic fund incentives for the project included a state essentials services assessment for up to 15 years valued at about $7.2 million. Another is support for brownfield redevelopment, up to $21.9 million, which will include demolition, lead and asbestos abatement and infrastructure improvements...

The downtown arena saga takes a small step forward -

Quote:

State bill would allow Kalamazoo County to fund a proposed downtown arena
Michael Krafcik | Newschannel 3 WWMT
September 23, 2019

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A new bill before the Michigan House of Representatives might pave the way for a long-awaited downtown Kalamazoo event center. Kalamazoo area leaders have pushed for the arena for more than a decade, but have yet to get the public on-board. Now, state Rep. Brandt Iden, R-Portage, is sponsoring House Bill 4816, which would modify current Michigan law regarding accommodation taxes, also known as hotel-motel taxes...

Bronson Methodist Hospital is rapidly expanding into the community, with seven separate primary-care facilities being built simultaneously -

Quote:

Bronson Methodist Hospital building 7 new primary-care facilities
Lindsay Moore | MLive
September 25, 2019

KALAMAZOO, MI -- By summer 2020, Bronson Methodist Hospital’s healthcare system will have expanded to seven new locations in Kalamazoo County. Construction on five of the seven buildings began in August, and work on the two remaining sites will begin this fall, according to a Bronson Healthcare news release...

I missed this in my update from yesterday, but The Creamery project is also moving along with vertical circulation cores rising now. This is not a tall one (only 3 stories) but it will do a lot in the way of density for the growing commercial corridor area in Edison Neighborhood (Washington Square area).

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Source: LinkedIn | Byce & Associates

Kalamazoo Complete Streets Workshop - tonight -

Quote:

City of Kalamazoo Street Design Meeting

The second street design meeting for the City of Kalamazoo will take place on October 23 from 6:30-8:30 pm at 600 East Michigan (The Foundry).It is an OPEN HOUSE meeting; please come when you can and stay as long as you are able.It is a HANDS-ON meeting, with activities to help set priorities for vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit travel.

WMU getting in on the autonomous vehicle action -

Quote:

Western Michigan University unveils self-driving shuttle pilot program vehicle
Jorge Rodas | WWMT Newschannel 3
October 21st 2019

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Western Michigan University on Monday unveiled two autonomous shuttles that will help students with disabilities get around campus. The university said the shuttles will run as part of a two-week pilot program, after the Michigan Mobility Challenge was issued by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Department of Transportation...

This is fairly big local news - confirmation was made recently that FedEx will be the occupant of a new proposed distribution center in Portage (codename: Project Spartan). It is claimed that this could potentially bring 900 jobs to the area.

Quote:

FedEx confirms it will occupy Portage distribution center; facility could house 900 jobs
Genevieve Grippo | WWMT Newschannel 3
November 6th 2019

PORTAGE, Mich. — FedEx Ground confirmed Wednesday that it will occupy the planned Project Spartan distribution center in Portage, Michigan, a facility expected to create up to 900 new jobs.

"The site was chosen because of its ease of access to major highways, proximity to customers' distribution centers and a strong local community workforce for recruiting employees," FedEx spokesman David Westrick said in an email confirming the delivery company is moving to Portage...

Great photos of The Milton! I'm excited to see how it looks when it reopens. That lobby space is going to be amazing.

The other day I was thinking about remaining vacant high rises in Michigan, and I believe this is the last one in the state west of Lansing and Jackson. Lansing has the Farnum Building, which should be under renovation soon, and Jackson has the old Hayes Hotel. Everything else is in or around Detroit. One by one our urban centers are coming back to life.

^Absolutely. It goes without saying that if a structure like The Milton had been demolished, nothing even remotely similar in scale, style, or quality could ever have taken its place. It truly is a gem on the west side of the state. And yes, that atrium is going to be an incredible space when completed, and hopefully it will remain accessible to the public. A lot of fortune, lucky circumstances, good timing, and level-headed people contributed to its saving.

Back in Kalamazoo, Bronson Healthcare had its "topping out" ceremony yesterday (tiny tree and all) for the new Cancer Pavilion.

Quote:

Bronson places final steel beam on Cancer Pavilion project
Lindsay Moore | MLive
November 8, 2019

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Bronson Healthcare took a symbolic step Friday toward finishing its under-construction Cancer Pavilion. On Friday, Nov. 8, the final steam beam was signed by hundreds of cancer-care providers, Bronson employees, board members and community donors along with those who have worked on the construction project. The beam was raised with an American flag and a small evergreen tree, per “topping out” tradition...

I did not go to the event, but took a photo early in the morning, before it occured.

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Happy December everyone. Among other things, today is the start of legalized recreational marijuana sales in Michigan, making it the 10th state to do so.

Here are a few photos taken Thanksgiving morning. Just the "greatest hits" aka anything downtown of substantial size that is still u/c.

180 E. Water St.
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Home2 Suites (cores are topped out, steel framing has begun)
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Bronson Cancer Pavilion (steel is topped out - 6 stories + mech. penthouse)
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Quote:

Kalamazoo sets public hearing for $600M industrial expansion
December 3, 2019
Brad Devereaux | MLive

KALAMAZOO, MI — The city of Kalamazoo will hold a public hearing so citizens can comment on a planned $600-million industrial expansion in Kalamazoo. Graphic Packaging International LLC plans to install a new paperboard machine on a vacant brownfield site within an industrial development district at 1421 N. Pitcher Street. The city will hold a public hearing on Monday, Dec. 16, to receive comments on the proposed expansion of Industrial Development District #10 at the location. The hearing will be held during the Kalamazoo City Commission meeting, which begins at 7 p.m...

I might try to go - I think this expansion would be a good fit for the former Checker Cab brownfield site, (a complex of buildings that were regrettably plowed into the ground). It seems unlikely that anything other than industrial would succeed there.

Quote:

Kalamazoo City Commission approves affordable housing project
December 2, 2019
Will Kris | WKZO

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) -- The City of Kalamazoo has approved a purchasing agreement through the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) to begin a new affordable housing project in the North Side neighborhood.

During a meeting Monday night, City Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the project, which will be located at 447 West North Street...

I haven't found any other details on this one yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitSky (Post 8695206)

Yeah, I stopped in Kalamazoo on my way home from Chicago last weekend. Are there any plans for the reuse of the old Parchment Mill? I stopped by there too before leaving the area. Huge place!

Update: Parchment just bought this property back from developer River Reach LLC for $1, the same price they sold it for, over a decade ago.

Quote:

Parchment buys back blighted paper mill tied to city’s drinking water crisis
Lindsay Moore | MLive
December 27, 2019

PARCHMENT, MI -- Developers are eyeing the former Crown Vantage paper mill property in Parchment after 10 years of stalled rebuilding efforts. Parchment Mayor Robert D. Britigan III said developers have shown interest in using the property for multi-use but declined to name those that expressed interest. In 2008, developers River Reach LLC agreed to take the blighted property off the city’s hands for just $1. The city voted to buy it back for the same price on Dec. 2...

Great update, thanks! Kzoo is looking good.

Thanks.

Two articles out yesterday have me scratching my head. They both say that 180 E. Water. St. will add (4) more floors in 2020. That would bring the total floors on this u/c structure up to 11 stories. That would be awesome, but unless I really missed something or there was a big redesign that flew under the radar, I think this is wrong. The current renderings all show just 7 stories. The 7th floor was already u/c in 2019, as can be seen in my photos posted yesterday.

Quote:

Kalamazoo development plans for 2020 include changes to Arcadia Creek Festival Place
Jason Puhr and Trisha McCauley | WWMT Newschannel 3
January 1,2020

...Rebekah Kik, the director of community planning and economic development for Kalamazoo, said the growth of the building at 180 Water St. was very promising. She said it would be home to the Kalamazoo Promise and the offices of Southwest Michigan First.

"We're still gonna see four more stories go onto that building in 2020," Kik said. "As well as the complete redesign of Whiskey Alley, which is going to be right behind that."...

Quote:

New developments planned for downtown Kalamazoo; other areas
Will Kriss | WKZO
January 1,2020

A continuing operation is the construction at 180 Water Street. City officials say they will be adding four more floors to that development in 2020. Behind 180 Water is Whiskey Alley which is being completely redesigned this year...

I'd assume that the director for Community Planning & Economic Development Offices knows what she's talking about. But I'm surprised a change this big would not have made headlines.

:shrug:

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