[DetroitMan]

Next phase of Lake View Lofts in downtown Muskegon could begin by fall, bringing more apartments, retail space

The long-anticipated second phase of the Lake View Lofts residential/retail project in downtown Muskegon could begin construction this year following several promising developments, including the purchase of property known as the “social sandbox.”

Included in positive movements on the project are:

• A $2 million grant that the city redirected from another downtown mixed-use project that has suffered its own setbacks.
• The addition of a new partner, Victory Development Group, which has a track record in Grand Rapids.
• The purchase last fall of the vacant lot on the corner of Western Avenue and Second Street, which previously hosted live music and other events.

The new timeline for Phase II involves commencement of construction in late summer or early fall with completion taking about 20 months, said Josh Canale, lead partner on the Lake View Lofts project. The second phase building will connect with the first phase building, the façade of which was left unfinished in anticipation of its later phase. The current Lake View Lofts facing Western Avenue between Second and Third streets contains 20, two-bedroom apartments and first-floor retail space currently occupied by Muskegon Axe Throwing.

It was completed in 2019.

Plans for the second phase building have evolved. Rather than the previously planned eight stories, the building will be five floors. That’s one floor shorter than the current building.

However, it will contain more apartments than the approximately 50-60 originally planned, Canale told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle. Current plans are for 65-70 studio and one-bedroom apartments, he said.

The city in 2022 began allowing studio apartments in newly constructed buildings.

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/...ail-space.html