Related to the previous post, here's more info on the Allied Paper site, an EPA-designated Superfund cleanup area.
The large site that sits vacant today served the Kalamazoo paper manufacturing industry for over 100 years, from the 1890s to 1990s. Bryant Paper opened there in 1895 and it eventually became Allied Paper, which shut down in the 1980s, along with most of Kalamazoo's other paper factories. A few attempts to revive the factory in the 1990s were short-lived, and massive demolition took place in 2004 to eradicate the abandoned factory buildings - there's lots of incredible photos documenting the mill, and its subsequent demolition here and here. I wish I had been around to see it before it was gone - here are a couple of my favorite shots from alliedpaper.org: The 1920s-era power plant: https://gxuv9q-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: alliedpaper.org Scrap metal in front of the power plant from demo: https://ghuv9q-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: alliedpaper.org View from inside the power plant: https://fbuv9q-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: alliedpaper.org Turbine Room: https://gaz6ba-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: alliedpaper.org Catwalk view of power plant: https://fruv9q-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: alliedpaper.org So, all of that is now long gone, and what was left behind is the largest EPA-designated Superfund brownfield site in the city. Of the 89 acre site, 70 acres of Allied Paper was confirmed as polluted with PCBs. The site is just one of six "operable units" within an even larger zone spanning Allegan and Kalamazoo counties along the Kalamazoo River, where it has been calculated that hundreds of tons of PCBs were dumped during the region's industrial days. From the City: Quote:
In Fall of 2016, the EPA approved a (controversial) cleanup plan for the site, referred to as "The Hybrid". Under this plan, the contaminants will all be moved to one area of the site, freeing up about 20 acres of cleared land for new development. Several earlier proposals calling for complete removal of all contaminants was deemed too costly to do, at a price tag of around $180 million. https://iruv9q-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: City of Kalamazoo https://hhuv9q-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: MLive For context, here's an aerial view of the entire site - north is to the right. The future home of the Health Department / former Illinois Envelope Building is at the far right. The shaded blue region is 1 mile long. The landfill area is on the left and borders Portage Creek, which drains into the Kalamazoo River. https://hxuv9q-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: Google Maps |
Western Michigan's Heritage Hall was awarded LEED Platinum on June 2 by USGBC, making it the first LEED Platinum-certified building in Kalamazoo County. It was previously considered the least energy-efficient building on the campus, and it is now probably the most energy-efficient. Almost justifies the destruction of most of their original campus ...
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Recent soil samples taken at Arcadia Commons West have tested positive for soil contaminants. No detailed results yet, but it is a wrinkle in the plans for that area. Arcadia Commons West is the site of a planned four-block development involving multiple stakeholders, including a new Kalamazoo County courthouse estimated at $80 million.
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I overhauled the Project Rundown on Page 1 of this thread. Major Updates Include:
I will add more content as I have time to do so; it was just getting too cluttered. |
A few construction updates from today, mostly non - City of Kalamazoo projects this time around:
This is the new Consumers Credit Union Headquarters, going up in the "Groves Center". Designed by HOK, it's probably the most interesting thing being built in the area right now. It's a three-story glass structure that floats above the ground plane: https://eaabsw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none This is the new Cold Storage Warehouse at Pfizer. As you can see, it is a big concrete box: https://gaabsw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none These next four are of construction progress at Portage Central High School's new natatorium: https://g6ycka-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://gqaixw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://eqabsw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://f6aixw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none There's an attractive community garden tucked between two wings of the school: https://haaixw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Here's a peek inside the new Portage Pediatric Dentistry on Old Centre Road. It is pretty large: https://gaaixw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none The next three are of the Portage Memory Care facility, on Centre Avenue. It has been taking a while to wrap up: https://hkycka-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://gkaixw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://gqyhuw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Here's a view of the earthwork happening at Portage Northern High School, where new athletic fields and stadium are to be built: https://f6yhuw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none A view of Trade Centre III - on the other side of I-94: https://hkaixw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none And these last few are of the Vicksburg Lee Paper Mill. I wanted to see if anything was happening there yet with the big redevelopment plans. Zero activity today, but there is some evidence that roof work was being performed recently: https://g6aixw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://hqaixw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://eaaixw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://eqaixw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none I'll end with this tree stump, found in the cemetery behind the mill - it was huge! At least 7 feet in diameter. There were a few of about this size - pity they're gone now: https://gayhuw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none My size 12 feet... https://gkyhuw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none |
The vacant Hardings at the bottom of Westnedge hill has been a big blank façade fronted by an empty parking lot since the grocery store closed several years ago. Now it looks like it is getting new life. I wish that this whole property could be developed more wholeheartedly, with new construction at a greater density, rather than just a renovation of an existing strip mall, but it's still good news for the neighborhood.
Old Hardings Market building in Kalamazoo getting a facelift by WWMT Staff May 19, 2017 Quote:
Image Source: Google Maps |
Kalamazoo Humane Society plans new home
by Brady Gillum | WoodTV8 June 13, 2017 Quote:
Image Source: KAI |
A beautiful day in SW Michigan. Construction progress photos from around town today:
Foundation work at The Exchange is moving along - for more update photos, click here: https://vgsnpq-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none I haven't gone down Westnedge in a while. The Shoppes on Westnedge are already much further along than I thought. It sort of looks like a tornado came through though, the way they just left the old canopies upturned in the parking lot: https://swqmyq-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://uatdjg-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://sgqmyq-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://ugtdjg-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none The new RX Optical Headquarters is moving along: https://vqqmyq-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://vwqmyq-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://vaqmyq-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none And Trade Centre III is starting to get its glazing installed: https://uwtdjg-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://uqtdjg-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none |
Community Planning and Development presented an update today to the Board of Commissioners, on the progress of the City's Strategic Vision for 2025. This preliminary document (which can be accessed and downloaded here) will be followed by a more formalized draft on July 3. A final version will be considered by the Commissioners two weeks after that.
There's a lot of information in the current draft, but it has a long way to go. Quote:
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Construction progress continues on the perimeter parcels at The Corner @ Drake. While nothing is officially confirmed, rumors persist that the 'Natural Grocery" which will occupy about 13,000 SF of one of the structures under construction is going to be the first Trader Joes in Kalamazoo / SW Michigan. The next closest Trader Joe's opened in 2015 in Grand Rapids.
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https://sgtdjg-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: MLive | Al Jones https://vqtdjg-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: MLive | Al Jones |
Construction progress photos, taken at the new Consumer's Credit Union Headquarters on 6/21. HOK - Chicago is the design Architect:
https://ui81ha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://ty81ha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://to81ha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://u481ha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://vi81ha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://uo81ha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://r481ha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://uo9kjg-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://si81ha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://si9kjg-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://t481ha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://t4padw-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none |
The City of Kalamazoo is installing at least 52 new bike racks downtown this summer. This is just one part of the combined efforts of the City, Downtown Kalamazoo Inc, the Complete Streets Coalition, and Bronson Healthcare Group to promote bike use and access in the city.
The bike racks will increase bike parking opportunities in high-traffic areas the city, something that has been demanded by the avid cycling community for a long time. Quote:
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A new article in MLive reveals some more information about the redevelopment plans for the former Simpson / Lee paper Mill site in Vicksburg. It is now a $50 million, multi-phase project. With phase 1 likely to include a new brewery, and to kick off as early as Spring 2018 if funding is secured.
What I find notable (and good) is that the owner of Paper City Development LLC, Chris Moore, grew up in the area, used to work at the mill, and currently owns a successful brewery in Seattle called "Old Stove Brewery". It sounds like the brewery built here will have the same name. https://uyqqpa-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: MLive | Courtesy South County News Quote:
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Two updates on the Kalamazoo Commons property:
1. Talks are underway to find a new theater operator for the 'former' Alamo Drafthouse Cinema / 'former-former' Rave Cityplace 14, possibly by this Fall, although no details about what company yet, apart from it being a nationally-recognized "major theater operator". I hope whoever it is can do something about the exterior, which is terrible, in my opinion. Quote:
Image Source: Al Jones | MLive 2. In the same complex, all of the ground-floor commercial storefronts on all three sides of the building (with the exception of Farmer's Alley Theatre) are undergoing conversion to apartments, slated to open this August. The conversion, which involves about 17,000 SF of formerly-designated retail space, will create 8 apartments with one to three bedrooms each, going for $1,500 to $3,000 per month. There are already 17 fully-leased units on the second floor (with a three-level parking deck above these). Quote:
https://siqqpa-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: Al Jones | MLive |
A little bit of business development news for the area, from MiBiz's Growth Report last week:
1. Stryker Continues to Grow: Quote:
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Three restaurant / brewery-related developments in the area:
1. Bell's Brewery is investing $7M in new projects Bell's will be doing capital improvement projects at its Comstock Township and Downtown Kalamazoo facilities now through 2018. According to the article, this will include a pilot brewery, specialty packaging line, new office space, and waste diversion systems at its Comstock location, as well as a smaller pilot brewery at the Downtown location. Quote:
Located at 9110 Portage Road, the renovated building previously housed Charron's on The Lake and Jason's Cove. The new restaurant will be operated by the growing Millennium Restaurant Group (which has always been hit-or-miss for me in terms of quality). It will also re-employ a former executive chef of the company. I'm surprised that Portage doesn't have more waterfront dining establishments like this, given the number of recreational lakes within the city limits. https://uo9wma-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: Al Jones | MLive Quote:
CoreLife Eatery is a new 'active lifestyle restaurant' chain started in Syracuse in 2015. According to the article, "...the restaurant chain anticipates rapid expansion. It hopes to grow to 300 locations nationwide during the next five years, including corporate and franchise restaurants." This will be the second location in Michigan, to be located at 6300 S. Westnedge Ave. The first Michigan location is in Grandville, and is operated by the same franchisee. https://uy9wma-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: Al Jones | MLive Quote:
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Planning update for a bike route envisioned to connect Grand Rapids with Kalamazoo (which would be amazing):
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Related to Post #90, it is now public that the anticipated 'Natural Grocery' under construction at The Corner @ Drake will in fact be a Trader Joe's.
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https://rkieha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://suieha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://tuieha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://skieha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://r0ieha-sn3301.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Images Source: Malachi Barrett | MLive (Courtesy) |
In what can only be described as huge local development news, Kalamazoo's first Cat Café will open its doors to the public tomorrow, 7/17:
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