Well I walked by here again recently and they've added some seating and some planters. So it's still improving, slowly -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v6qf9unk7t...%201.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6hkfcudlgp...%202.jpg?raw=1

Another small community improvement - Sturgis (MI)-based Five Lakes Coffee just opened a new location in a long-abandoned KFC, along West Main Hill. Really excited about this because it is within walking / biking distance of my house. A neighborhood coffee shop is a good addition to the area, and they have pretty decent coffee -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/d2d8jw9gj6...ffee.jpg?raw=1

Lastly, some fun sidewalk crayon art, depicting a view of the intersection it was drawn at, spotted downtown. The artist is Daniel Staggs / @danicornicopia -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i6hqfvuvxt...halk.jpg?raw=1

Here's a summary of the Kalamazoo region's 2020 Census Data. I thought it's not significant enough to share this on the main US Census Bureau thread. But maybe some of you will find it of interest. The area is stable, with modest growth entirely within Kalamazoo County and minor declines in surrounding counties.

The Kalamazoo-Battle Creek-Portage CSA experienced modest growth, 1.4% to 1.8%, depending on how you define it:

4-County Region (Kalamazoo, Calhoun, St. Joseph, & Branch - I think this is the more technically correct definition):

CSA - 2010: 493,020
CSA - 2020: 501,781
Numerical Change: 8,761
Percent Change: 1.8%

Adding a fifth county - Van Buren (which, personally, I think makes sense to include, since Van Buren County is part of the Kalamazoo-Portage MSA):

CSA - 2010: 569,278
CSA - 2020: 577,368
Numerical Change: 8,090
Percent Change: 1.4%

Kalamazoo County as a whole had modest growth. It fell a bit short of its 2019 estimate, but still grew at a better rate than the State overall. The 3-4 other counties in the MSA all shrank, but barely (a range of -0.6% (St. Joseph) to -1.3% (Calhoun):

Kalamazoo County - 2010: 250,331
Kalamazoo County - 2020: 261,670
Numerical Change: 11,339
Percent Change: 4.5%

Somewhat surprisingly, Kalamazoo (city) lost a few hundred people, and Battle Creek (city) gained a few hundred. Portage had the most positive growth of the three primary urban zones in the CSA, at 5.6%. If Portage keeps increasing, it could soon overtake Battle Creek as second-largest city in the CSA:

Kalamazoo City - 2010: 74,262
Kalamazoo City - 2020: 73,598
Numerical Change: (664)
Percent Change: -0.9%

Battle Creek City - 2010: 52,347
Battle Creek City - 2020: 52,721
Numerical Change: 374
Percent Change: 0.7%

Portage City - 2010: 46,292
Portage City - 2020: 48,891
Numerical Change: 2,599
Percent Change: 5.6%

Sources:
2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts

Another observation: Texas Charter Township continues to have some pretty "explosive" growth (percentage-speaking), at 20.4% from 2010 to 2020. It's still small - we're only talking 3,000 additional people - but it gained more people than Portage. And that's following 34% growth from the previous Decennial Census (2000 - 2010):

Texas Township - 2000: 10,974
Texas Township - 2010: 14,697
Texas Township - 2020: 17,691
Numerical Change: 2,994
Percent Change (2010 - 2020): 20.4%

I think that the loss in population is because of Covid19 and the lack of many on campus students in 2020. East Lansing, Mt Pleasant, MI, Bloomington, IN, Athens, OH, ect... all lost population. This in spite that the 2019 population est. had shone a growth in population in all of those collage towns. Even Ann Arbor lost population compared to the 2019 est. In short, Covid19 made the 2020 census in accurate for most college cities as they lost their dorm population for that year.

Here is an article out of Arizona from September of 2020 that stresses concerns about college towns losing population in the census count because of Covid19.

https://www.onlineathens.com/story/s...ount/43140055/

This article deals with concerns of Tempe, AZ (suburb of Phoenix) and its student population from ASU. In 2019, Tempe had a est population of 195,805 but the 2020 census count only came in at 180,587. That is more than 15,000 students that were not counted!

I think you make a good point. Just look at this map of housing occupancy - the less than 50% occupancy tract is WMU -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7r9kx5mkuv...azoo.JPG?raw=1
https://mtgis-portal.geo.census.gov/...ed2b2fd7ff6eb7

Thant map is very informative! Arcadia neighborhood normally has very low vacancy, but last year it was under 50% full. Further, the surrounding neighborhoods that are very heavy with apartment houses also had unusually low occupancy.

Battle Creek (Emmett Township) -

Firekeepers Casino celebrated the opening of its second hotel tower on Monday, August 16. The ceremony was graced by tribal drumming and a 450 ft. long tightrope walk between the two towers by none other than master tightrope artist Nik Wallenda. You can watch a recording of the festivities on Facebook (the actual recording starts at 1:14:08; Nik's actual walk starts at about 2:00:00). The most impressive thing is that they basically interview him and have a conversation with him wile he conducts his walk.

The first hotel tower opened on December 12, 2012, about three years after the casino opened on August 5, 2009.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e9tsfz4u5t...%202.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce

Not the greatest news, for Battle Creek -

The industrial / manufacturing base there is diverse enough though that I'm not too worried about any major implications.

Recently, I took some skyline photos of Kalamazoo from a new perspective (at least for me). These are from the top level of a parking deck at Bronson Methodist Hospital north campus -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tffu6d5lqv...%201.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o3mvubfgiw...%202.jpg?raw=1

Rooftop air units being installed for new restaurant Brick+Brine (in the first floor of the Radisson) -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/05zrwbak0f...0RTU.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | CSM Group

Texas Township -

Construction was delayed because of the pandemic. Groundbreaking is now scheduled for mid-October, with a targeted opening in spring 2023. This will be built near I-94 and 9th Street as part of a bigger "village" campus envisioned for the 52-acre site -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qierceh8m0...nter.jpg?raw=1
Source: MiBiz | Courtesy Bronson

Another month of progress at the downtown justice facility -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6pg8szc9bw...lity.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | CSM Group

Site plan review drawings have been submitted for 1430 Alamo Ave. Never have I been more excited for a drug rehab. facility project. This building, a former skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, has been vacant for years. Hobbs+Black is the design architect. It seems like a fairly straightforward conversion, given the previous use, and it doesn't look like there is any sort of proposed exterior addition. Exterior upgrades include new windows & finishes. Given the age of the building, I'm sure a lot of the expense will be in abatement and building systems.

Portage -

A second anchor tenant is set to vacate The Crossroads mall. Unlike Sears, which closed in November 2019, Burlington is not closing so much as relocating. Once Burlington moves to vacant space in the Maple Hill Pavilion in Kalamazoo (formerly occupied by several furniture outlets and seasonal Halloween shops), there will only be two out of four anchors left at the once-bustling suburban mall (Macy's and JCPenney). Exact closure / reopening dates were not provided.

I think there's a little irony in the fact that a Kalamazoo (well, technically Oshtemo Township) mall is now pulling business from the Portage mall (the reverse happened when The Crossroads opened in 1980 and contributed to the demise of both Maple Hill Mall & West Main Mall). Now Maple Hill & West Main Malls have been resurrected as successful "power centers", while Crossroads continues its slow plod towards dead mall status. I don't know the specifics of why Burlington is moving, but I have to guess that the main reason is that there is higher traffic at Maple Hill Pavilion these days (it also is home to Target, PetSmart, Marshalls, Hobby Lobby, Bath & Body Works, Five Below, and ~ 15 other stores).

Kalamazoo -

Somewhat surprisingly, hotel demand hit an all-time high this summer. Maybe this means that we will see other hotel proposals move forward into construction (like the planned hotel at the Trade Centre on the northern edge of Portage) -

City officials and Westnedge Hill residents celebrated a ribbon cutting and welcome event at Crane Park yesterday. The work was completed a while ago, with the support of funds from the Foundation for Excellence. The park received:

• A new entrance area
• A new walkway made from the brick road that previously divided the park
• New pickle ball and tennis courts
• A redesigned wedding room and ornamental garden

Kalamazoo -

WMU's new Student Center & Dining Facility, from a few weeks ago now. It's incredible how much this campus has transformed in a few years (and there's much more yet to come) -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/eevprn0wsv...%201.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/h070sa3m0p...%202.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a4os3lxm6z...%203.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/raw18n5oxk...%204.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ed3rw2hlxt...%205.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/66fzng4m2h...%206.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | Walbridge

We can officially call the 180 E Water St. / Catalyst 12 Development complete. Also, it will apparently be known as the Warner Building now, due to housing offices for Warner Norcross + Judd -

The adjacent Haymarket Plaza is also complete and awaiting it's official dedication on 9/16.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yjbijdo93e...ding.jpg?raw=1
Source: MiBiz | Courtesy of Catalyst Development Co. LLC

Quite a change from this (taken 5/29/2018, looking the other direction), and it only took 3 years + 4 months!

https://dm2305files.storage.live.com...&cropmode=none

While it's not the most exciting kind of development, I suppose this is good news for BC -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5lhshhpl1l...reek.jpg?raw=1
Source: Battle Creek Enquirer | Provided

I don't know what to say about this announcement other than it seems like a kitschy, college thing that might do well initially but will not survive for long. Maybe it's just the oddly-written article that makes me roll my eyes. But it's probably better than an empty building (530 W. Kalamazoo Ave.) -

In Battle Creek -

I hope at least some of this comes to fruition. Video at the link.

'tis the season for ribbon cuttings.

Ascension Borgess Cancer Center and WMU celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier today to mark the completion of the the first development in the Business Technology and Research Park North (Oshtemo Township) -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a6rjspqmuu...%201.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ampcj7bg7...%202.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/c2zyoun9a8...%203.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hdjuikfapw...%204.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | Southwest Michigan First