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Originally Posted by LMich
Is the land at the northeast corner of Drake and Parkview across the street developable or is it a part of the Asylum Lake Preserve? It have been great where it technically in the city, but maybe it wasn't possible. Also, on that site plan, are the proposed buildings the white areas?
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Here's what the article has to say about future expansion nothing seems to be clear but new building for expansion of the WMU R&D business park is the ultimate goal.
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The wooded site along U.S. 131 will retain some of its natural features, under the university's plans, while providing space for development meant to create taxable land, spur economic growth and offer research opportunities for WMU faculty and students.
The WMU business park is home to about 40 research, development, biotechnology, engineering and related companies, and the university's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The BTR park, which opened in 2002, has employed 850 people at businesses operating there and provided internship opportunities for hundreds of WMU students since it was launched, university officials say.
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This is a very interesting project it seems like the white spots shown are spaces for the expansion of the Western Michigan University business park. There are laws in Michigan that protect wetlands from development or require developers to recreate a larger wetlands area if one is to be filled in and developed over. It looks to me like the area to the north of the site is a wetlands area and with a buffer zone with storm water management built into the fringes of new business park perhaps a portion of the site falls under certain natural protection or it just could be that WMU is trying to use the natural beauty of the site to attract tenants.