Some more updates from around Kalamazoo -
An opening date for the new courthouse has been set - October 16. After that, everyone (or at least, I) will be looking intently at the historic court house building that fronts Michigan Avenue, to see what PlazaCorp does with it -
Source:
Raymond Hole | WWMT
Related, the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners recently voted to authorize negotiation of the purchase of property at
246 W. Kalamazoo Ave. with plans to convert the land into parking that will serve the new justice complex. This is one of many puzzle pieces in play around the plans for the new downtown arena / event center. While no one will miss this remuddled Metro PCS dealer, there's also not a lot of excitement to be had for another surface lot downtown. But maybe it will be a parking garage with some street-level activity -
Source:
MLive
More exciting than a parking lot, KPS' new Edison Academy is finished. The $25 million elementary school will welcome students in 2 weeks -
Source:
MLive
ISK's new 34/7 behavioral health urgent care also officially opened - last month -
Source:
ISK
A new event venue opened downtown recently, in the Main Street East property (
251 East Michigan Ave. Suite 108). It occupies space that was most-recently vacated by Southwest Michigan First, which moved to the new Catalyst Center, just north of there, as well as a few other tenants -
Source:
Desenberg Events
A local architect has purchased the small commercial office building at
621 S Park St, with plans to convert it into his private residence. The building has some late mid-century + post-modern vibes, and even though a zoning variance was required, it seems like a befitting use, given that the surrounding properties are largely residential as well. I heard a rumor that this building, which most recently served as law offices, was originally constructed as a residence, but I've bene unable to verify that. It was originally built in 1981, and features flat roofs and a low-slung profile that is partially imbedded in the landscape. It looks like it has always been a commercial structure. But either way, this conversion project definitely seems like something that would entice an architect as a good challenge. Work has already begun on the repurposing, including new roofing and a pretty extensive gutting of the interior. First are some interior photos from the real-estate listing, followed by some of my own exterior walk-by photos, from August 1 -
A blast from the past, with finishes
very reminiscent of the house I grew up in, right down to the red laminate countertops, red carpeting, and dark-stained wood -
I didn't dare try to take interior photos through the windows, but it does appear that much of the inside has been gutted, so I fear a lot of this vintage "character" has been removed -
