Happy New Year, and Happy 1,000th post on this thread!
Thanks to everyone who checks-in and contributes here. It means a lot to me to see that this thread that only started in 2017 already has 443,799 views (which is a higher view count than many other threads on SSP that represent areas that are much bigger than Kalamazoo and that have been around much longer. But who knows, maybe most of those views are just my own
).
Below are some quick 2023 Kalamazoo highlights, plus some 2024 predictions. 2023 was not as big a banner year as some previous years, but there were still some notable milestones. What are your development predictions & hopes for the new year?
2023 Highlights- ~ $25 million(?) 530 S Rose St (senior living apartments) begins construction (total guess on my part for the cost).
- ~ $94 million "Judge Charles A. Pratt" Justice Center opens downtown.
- ~ $95 million Zoetis expansion wraps up.
- ~ $100+ million Kalamazoo Country Club expansion begins construction.
- ~ $100+ million KRESA Career Tech Center begins construction.
- ~ 300+ million downtown arena / event center plans pick up steam, and the practical pieces required to make it a reality begin to fall into place.
2024 Predictions / Hopes- Downtown arena / event center breaks ground.
- We see an actual redevelopment proposal get approved for 116 W Cedar St. (the former downtown fire station).
- Development plans for the new Kalamazoo College Dormitory along W Main St. will be revealed.
- We learn something about PlazaCorp's plans for what will come of the old courthouse.
- Projects that WILL break ground (and actually start construction): The Legacy, Hawthorne Park, Arcadia Lofts, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo, & Bank Street Farmers Market Phase 2 (indoor, year-round event space).
- Projects that will NOT break ground (not my hope, but my prediction nonetheless): River's Edge (River Caddis Development), Hard Rock Reverb Hotel & Gibson Guitar Museum, 140 S Edwards St. Redevelopment, 619 Porter Development, 902 W North St / Jabez (I suspect this is already dead, but nothing officially announced), 718 N. Burdick St. development, & Kalamazoo Northside Tiny Homes.
- WMU Broncos (football team) will have a better campaign than 2023 and will have a winning record and make it back to a bowl game.