WEST MICHIGAN | General Developments

[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

[DetroitMan]

LEGO is opening its second Michigan store at Woodland Mall...
Coming to Woodland Mall: Official LEGO Store

A new spot for Lego lovers is coming to the Grand Rapids area.

An official Lego Store is opening at the Woodland Mall this summer, it announced in a Monday Facebook post.

“Calling all Grand Rapids LEGO fans! The newest LEGO Store is opening this summer at the Woodland Mall,” the post says. “Stay tuned for an opening date and more details soon!” It will be the second Lego Store in Michigan, according to the toy brand’s website, with the other one located in Troy near Detroit.

West Michigan has some unofficial Lego stores, including a Bricks and Minifigs location just a few minutes away from the mall.

https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-cou...al-lego-store/

[DetroitMan]

Microsoft buys 316 acres in Michigan for potential data center

Microsoft Corp. has purchased 316 acres in southern Kent County from Steelcase Inc. for $45.3 million for a potential data center development, Crain’s Grand Rapids Business has learned.

The irregularly shaped vacant property is located south of Grand Rapids in Gaines Charter Township, at the northwestern corner of the Patterson Avenue and 76th Street intersection. Microsoft has not yet announced plans for the site, but The Right Place Inc. helped the company assess the property for a potential data center, said Randy Thelen, president and CEO of the economic development organization.

“The Right Place is pleased to have helped Microsoft Corporation assess a 315-acre industrial parcel in Gaines Charter Township for a potential data center. The opportunity ahead with Microsoft fits into our 10-year tech strategy to develop the greater Grand Rapids region into a leading tech hub in the Midwest,” Thelen said in a statement to Crain’s Grand Rapids Business. “With one of the leading tech companies in the world taking notice, we’re well on our way there.” Microsoft officials have yet to meet with Gaines Township leaders and have not shared any potential development plans, said Dan Wells, community development director of the township’s planning and zoning department. The township is in the process of reviewing a non-disclosure agreement with Microsoft related to the property acquisition, Wells said.

“We don’t have any general concept plan yet,” Wells said. “(The land) has been controlled by Steelcase for many years and it seemed like two years ago they showed more interest in doing something with it.”

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/techno...an-data-center

[deja vu]

Marshall -

Owners of the iconic Schuler’s Restaurant & Pub have plans to renovate the 2nd & 3rd floors into 7 apartment units, 4 of which would be reserved for low-to-moderate-income residents. The former hotel rooms on these upper floors have functioned as storage space for half a century, since the hotel business ceased in the 1970s. I would love to tour these floors before they renovate them -

Schuler’s expands its hospitality portfolio
Dianna Stampfler | Second Wave Media
October 27, 2022

The Schuler name is synonymous with hospitality, at least in southern Michigan. Located in Marshall, in the heart of Calhoun County, the iconic Schuler’s Restaurant & Pub (115 S. Eagle Street) has been welcoming hungry and thirsty visitors since first opening the doors in 1909. Recognized as one of the longest-operating restaurants in the state, Schuler’s remains dedicated to maintaining its roots while branching out in new and exciting ways...

Source: Second Wave Media | Driven Design Studio

[deja vu]

Holland (Township) -

Here's a small one - the local Habitat for Humanity has broken ground on a 5-townhouse development at 12761 Felch Street. Called Haven Townhomes, the project is geared specifically toward individuals with disabilities to help them secure stable housing -

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on ADA-accessible, affordable townhomes
Cassandra Lybrink | The Holland Sentinel
October 31, 2022

Source: The Holland Sentinel | Lakeshore Habitat

[deja vu]

Zeeland -

As Gentex continues its takeover of Zeeland, the company has announced a partnership with The Outdoor Discovery Center to bring a new, affordable child care facility to the area (subsidized for its 1st & 2nd shift employees). Groundbreaking is slated for next year for the "Gentex Discovery Preschool" -

Gentex, ODC partner to bring child care to employees
Andrea Goodell | The Lakeshore
November 30, 2022

Source: The Lakeshore | Courtesy

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

Muskegon Public Schools' new Charles Hackley Middle School, from three weeks ago. This new school is being built on the site of the demolished Hackley Hospital -












Source: LinkedIn | Logan Flowers (TowerPinkster)

[deja vu]

^ The city and various developers have been promising things for that site for years. Hopefully this finally gets it moving.

Norton Shores -

In nearby Norton Shores, the proposed Eastowne Centre would bring 144 apartment units across 6 buildings to the growing city. Nothing too exciting here; right about par for Norton Shores (vanilla architecture with a subtle attempt at some northern-ish, lakeshorey-type flair). As an aside, why are people still naming developments this way? There have been similarly named developments since at least the end of WW2, and usually with the faux "European" 're' at the end, to class it up Seriously? Do better.

A few other housing developments are mentioned in the article too, including a $10.5 million condo development -

Norton Shores works to increase housing options
Shanika P. Carter | The Lakeshore
November 27, 2022

Source: The Lakeshore | SVB - Reckley Architects

[DetroitMan]

I agree, The Shaw-Walker Building has had some sort of redevelopment plans for the last 20 years. I hope this time it can actually happen.

[deja vu]

Three Rivers -

The 95-year-old Three Rivers Hospital complex was demolished in November - December of last year. It was situated atop a small hill in the center of popular Scidmore Park, abandoned since 1987. Numerous prior attempts to redevelop it, and later, demolish it, all failed due to feasibility & estimated cost. The facility was comprised of a beautiful original building, with several "modern" wings added-on in the middle of the last century. The actual demolition was estimated to cost $1.3 million. There are no clear plans on what may eventually take its place (beyond a great sledding hill).

It had lots of history wrapped up in it, but unfortunately, it was left to the elements for far too long, and it became notorious as a place to break into and explore, tag, and conduct other more illicit activities. Combined with an adjacent abandoned miniature zoo, the complex served as a curious backdrop for decades to all sorts of events and festivals in the public park -

Old Three Rivers hospital falls to demolition crews
Jef Rietsma | Special to the Sturgis Journal
November 17, 2022

Vintage postcard showing the front of the older portion of the facility, c. 1942 -


Source: ebay

Historic photo of the front (date unknown) -


Source: WBCK | Ruin Road / Youtube

Someone's urbex photos (date unknown), showing just how far into decay the hospital had fallen, after decades of abandonment -












Source: Facebook | Matthew Kingma

Shortly before demolition, in 2022. You can see the perimeter fence, and the abandoned animal enclosures from the former zoo, in the third photo, below -






Source: Facebook | Becca Yeske

Demolition progress as of mid-December, 2022 -


Source: Facebook | Clayton Lyczynski II

Scidmore Park, with the hospital no-longer - January 24, 2023 -


Source: Facebook | Andrea Whitney

[deja vu]

Egleston Township (east of Muskegon) -

Some more good high-tech manufacturing news for the region -

Rolar Products expands operations in Muskegon County
Shandra Martinez | The Lakeshore
February 12, 2023

The facility is located here.

[deja vu]

I was in Three Rivers last weekend (escaping the power outages in Kalamazoo). I took a walk past the cleared site of the old hospital. The only thing left is this hole in the ground, which they are working to backfill, to reconstruct the hill that the building was set into -

[deja vu]

Marshall -

This one is a few months old now. I admittedly overlooked it when I initially saw the story, but it is actually a pretty decent-sized investment. The city has begun a campaign to raise funds to convert a 1.6 acre parcel of land into a new community space called "Eaton Park" (having lived in Pennsylvania for several years, Eat'n Park has a slightly different meaning there...)

The park would be located immediately south of the city's athletic fields complex, at the intersection of Hanover and Fountain Streets. Currently, there is an old parking there lot that once served the now-demolished Eaton Corp. building where the athletic fields were built to the north. The phased development includes plans for 8 pickleball courts, a splash pad, a new pavilion, an upgraded ADA-accessible playground, restroom facilities, and 39 parking spaces. The $3 million project is expected to begin sometime this year -

Pickleball courts part of Marshall’s Recreation Plan
Dianna Stampfler | Rural Innovation Exchange
November 10, 2022

Source: Second Wave Media | City of Marshall

[deja vu]

Cassopolis -

The Village of Cassopolis has been making some intentional moves towards becoming a more inviting place to live and work. This article is a few months old now, but it highlights some of the recent changes that the once run-down county seat for Cass County has been making -

Cassopolis: A village reimagined
Greg Tasker | Rural Innovation Exchange
December 22, 2022

Some of the changes mentioned include:

• New LED street lighting, with built-in speakers and WiFi
• New pavers and streetscape elements
• New beachfront with food trucks, amphitheater, and other park amenities
• New accessible fishing pier, boardwalk, and boat docks
• New playground and skate park
• New high-tech industrial park
• New public art & sculptures

The changes didn't happen overnight, and the article helps explain the various steps involved, including some local government restructuring and leveraging of grants. All of the work has helped attract new businesses, including a coffee shop, theater, several bars and restaurants, etc. The iconic county courthouse, built in 1899, also stands poised for renovation. A lot of these changes are already visible in Street View. Maybe stop by this small Village and take a look, if you are ever near it -

The new beach -


Beachfront walkway, once an abandoned road -


The 1899 courthouse -


Downtown streetscape -


New skate park, under construction -


New docks on Stone Lake -

Source: Bryan Esler | Second Wave Media

[deja vu]

^ That Whitehall proposal looks pretty nice!

I found this Youtube channel which, among other things, has been documenting Ford's Blue Oval Battery Park megasite in Marshall, MI. So far it's still just dirt, but this will be an interesting one to refer back to over time. Here's the latest aerial drone footage installment -

• Video Link

[deja vu]

Has this been posted on here yet? There is a construction camera for the Gun Lake Casino Phase 5 Expansion (the 15-story / 192-ft. hotel tower + pool / entertainment complex currently u/c in Wayland) -

https://app.oxblue.com/cameras/f9ff1...sino/glcphase5

Here's a good action shot from a few days ago -

[deja vu]

I drove by Gun Lake Casino today and noticed what looks like a core and some other concrete walls starting to rise for the 15-story hotel. I couldn't snap a photo while driving, so here's a view from the construction camera -


Source: OxBlue

It will be interesting to watch this one start to grow in the rural landscape.

I also drove through downtown Muskegon. I didn't have time for photos, but the place was hopping. Probably most noticeable was just how many restaurants have opened on the main drag, and how much foot traffic there is downtown. It is such a different atmosphere from a few years ago. Lots of housing development ongoing along the lakeshore. I'll have to go back and get photos sometime this summer.

[DetroitMan]

Plans for skeletal building in downtown Muskegon moving forward

Plans to turn a skeletal downtown Muskegon building into a $29 million housing and retail development are moving forward.

Long-awaited construction on the property at the corner of First Street and Clay Avenue is expected to begin next spring, city commissioners recently were told.

Plans have evolved for the former Ameribank building, and now include construction of a new building along First Street. Contamination on the site known as “880 First” has slowed redevelopment and added to upfront costs. Those include $6.2 million in Brownfield expenses that will be reimbursed through future property tax collections approved last month by the city commission.

“It’s a property everyone wants to see developed,” Eric Helzer, a principal with Advanced Redevelopment Services, told the commission. “It’s been attempted a couple of times before. We have really advanced this project more than anyone else. We have well over a million dollars into this project.”

Construction is expected to be completed in summer 2026, according to a city memo.

Muskegon attorney Brianna Scott and Lansing- and Detroit-area developer Joel Ferguson have presented development plans for the building that remains owned by the City of Muskegon. The city removed much of the structure, leaving its steel beams and concrete floors, in an attempt to broaden its appeal and hasten its development.

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/...g-forward.html

[deja vu]

Grand Haven -

Peerless Flats ribbon cutting was earlier this month. ~ 350,000 SF development, including 124 market-rate units across four residential buildings, a community building, pool, and outdoor recreation.

Many more photos are the image source below -












Source: AVB

[DetroitMan]

Great photos! These will be a nice addition to Grand Haven.

In other news, the Gotion battery plant has been OK'd to move forward without Big Rapids Twp.

$2.4B Gotion battery plant moves forward without Big Rapids Township

Plans for a nearly $2.4 billion electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant near Big Rapids remain on track after a state board signed off on changes to the project’s footprint and anticipated timeline.

The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) board today approved an incentives amendment request from Gotion Inc. and economic development organization The Right Place Inc. that removes Big Rapids Charter Township from the project scope and extends the project completion date by one year to December 2031.As well, the board’s approval extends a request from Mecosta County to reduce the boundary to account for the changes to the project site and allow for a flexible start date conditioned on certain project milestones, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Gotion’s most recent request aims to address the restructuring of the project since the MSF board initially approved incentives for the project as well as minor delays, according to an MEDC memo to the MSF board.

“The size and scope of this project is relatively unprecedented. As the project moved forward, factors including a change in the original footprint of the project are necessarily reflected in this extended timeline,” Jeremy Webb, managing director of business development projects at the MEDC, said during a media briefing today.

While the project’s job creation and investment targets remain the same, the amendment request also accounts for factors such as height restrictions associated with the nearby Roben-Hood Airport in Big Rapids Charter Township and wetland implications that altered the original configuration of the project site.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/manufa...apids-township