Flint development news

[robk1982]

Originally Posted by LMich

OPRAs have been used to pretty decent effect where I'm from. Here's to hoping developers bite on this.

I'm guessing the big developers in Flint (read: Uptown) had a huge say in getting the OPRAs created. Why do I say this? Because Uptown owns at least a few of those buildings, and one of them happens to be the site of the proposed Genesys Urgent Care. I'm guessing Uptown has some other plans, and wanted this tax break to implement them.


http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde...esearch_f.html

[robk1982]

New Michigan School for the Deaf building






Chevy In The Hole



Lots of compost....with Kettering University in the background










Some bonus shots of Kettering U.

Campus Center building




Academic Building


Children's Museum across the street


C.S. Mott Center


Kettering Apartments


Kettering's new Innovation Center


McLaren Regional Medical Center peeking out over the westernmost part of Chevy In The Hole and Kettering's intermural sports fields

[robk1982]

http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-mi..._river_default

Former GM Great Lakes Tech Centre on track to fill up by end of year
Published: Friday, August 03, 2012, 8:00 AM
Shaun Byron | [email protected]


FLINT, MI -- It's only been six weeks since Advanced Specialty RX went live, but there are already plans for it to expand.

"Currently, we are only using half of the space available," said Marketing Director Kim Hayward as she walked through the halls of the former General Motors Great Lakes Technology Centre. "We have a vision of expanding into the other half."

Advanced Specialty RX is one of several businesses that have taken root in the former GM facility that will be "pretty full" by the end of the year, said Amer Iqbal, vice president of the Insight Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience.

It was IINN that bought and moved into 600,000 square feet of the former GM property in 2008.

Several smaller tenants have moved into the tech center, which is also anchored by another 600,000 square feet of former GM property now owned by Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy.

........

"I view us as a small city almost," Iqbal said. "What are the things a city needs? I envision a bank at some point to come here ... the overall look and feel we want to create is the medical village, but it doesn’t mean restaurants or something that has nothing to do with medical can’t come in here."

Advanced Specialty RX was a business idea that was put together more than a year ago, but didn't become fully operational until it moved into the center.

The company has leased 11,000 square feet, using a portion of the space to service skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers and institutional care settings.

......

My parents used to work for GM in this building. It was auctioned off in pieces a few years ago, and they buyers got some great deals. I wish the surrounding neighborhood would start to show some improvement, though.

[uaarkson]

Good news either way.

Does anyone else think Saginaw street would be a perfect candidate for light rail in the distant future? Obviously, many neighborhoods would need to do a complete 180 for it to work, but it seems so perfect to me.

[robk1982]

Originally Posted by uaarkson

Good news either way.

Does anyone else think Saginaw street would be a perfect candidate for light rail in the distant future? Obviously, many neighborhoods would need to do a complete 180 for it to work, but it seems so perfect to me.

Saginaw St. and then Court St/Miller Road

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by robk1982

Saginaw St. and then Court St/Miller Road

I agree. You'd have to run it along Saginaw and then down Miller Rd out to Genesee Valley. Two destinations anchoring each end.

[robk1982]

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde...demolishe.html

Genesee Towers to be demolished; Flint seeks public safety tax for police, firefighters
Published: Thursday, August 09, 2012, 11:54 AM Updated: Thursday, August 09, 2012, 4:10 PM
By Kristin Longley | [email protected]

FLINT, MI -- Genesee Towers will likely be demolished and replaced with an "urban plaza," and the city will ask voters to approve a tax increase to put more police and firefighters on the street under actions approved by Michael Brown in his last days as Flint emergency manager.

Brown approved a resolution Wednesday that would put a 6-mill public safety tax increase on the November ballot "solely for the purpose of providing police and fire protection."

The millage would generate an estimated $5.38 million in the first year, enough to pay for about 53 police officers and firefighters, said Brown, who was appointed city administrator Wednesday under new emergency financial manager Ed Kurtz.

.........

Crazy happenings in Flint the past few days....Claressa Shields wins a gold medal in boxing, Genesee Towers gets sold for $1 so it can get demolished, and the emergency financial manager gets replaced by the former emergency financial manager but gets rehired as the "city administrator" so that he can basically keep running the city.

Obviously there will be a few lawsuits.

[Rizzo]

I don't think a plaza is appropriate for the towers location. Any urban planner would tell you it's bound to become an unpleasant space. Market the site for new office or mixed use construction. We've seen the demand exist for new office space downtown

[LMich]

You know, I've always wanted to see the building reconstructed, but realize that it doesn't make sense if the market isn't there. That said, if an "urban plaza" is to be built anywhere along Saginaw they need to do it across the street where that parking lot is. It's already used as a plaza of sorts during specific events, anyway. Doesn't make any sense to build an "urban" plaza next door to a full-block surface lot. If it must come down they need to do it like they did the Hudson's in Detroit, or maybe even the Lafayette Building. Either keep the site up for sale and/or temporarily cover it with some kind of garden.

[uaarkson]

At least this opens up the possibility of something better being built in the future. Always sad when a city loses its tallest building, though.

[LMich]

If they are going to turn it into an "urban plaza", how will this allow for "the possibility of something better being built in the future."? It'd be different if they said they were putting up the site for sale, but it sounds to me that they are essentially going to turn the site into a park.

[robk1982]

http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-mi...bancorp_r.html

Sale of Flint-based Citizens Republic Bancorp ends 142-year run for largest Michigan-based bank
Published: Thursday, September 13, 2012, 7:58 PM Updated: Thursday, September 13, 2012, 11:21 PM
Jeremy Allen | [email protected] By Jeremy Allen | [email protected]


FLINT, MI -- When the sale of Citizens Republic Bancorp Inc. to FirstMerit Corp. is completed in mid-2013, it will mark the end of a 142-year reign for what is now the largest Michigan-based bank.

On Thursday, Sept. 13, the Flint-based Citizens entered into a definitive agreement under which Akron, Ohio-based FirstMerit will acquire Citizens in a stock-for-stock transaction with a total value of approximately $912 million.

FirstMerit officials said they didn't see any big changes ahead for Michigan Citizens employees and customers in the near future.

With Citizens being among the largest taxpayers in Genesee County, with $9.8 million in real and personal property in the county, local officials are saying that the future of Flint could be drastically changed by any decision that the company makes following the takeover.

“I hope they don't abandon downtown," said Jamie Curtis, chairman of the county Board of Commissioners. “They very well could consolidate (and) they are not going to end up bringing their headquarters to Flint.

.......

[LMich]

It was bittersweet when I saw the headline. It was good to know that it was bought not because it was weak but because it was strong, but it just seems like all of Michigan's bank have either been eaten or moved.

BTW, banks always say they aren't going to disrupt things in the community when they buy out a local bank, but there is absolutely no need for FirstMerit to keep as large an administrative presence in Flint as is currently there, and I can't help but think they are going to hit Flint hard. Hopefully, it's still a few business cycles off so Flint can prepare for this. I hope the downtown development community and business community can even line up potential tenants in advance if FirstMerit decides to sell some downtown property.

[robk1982]

Originally Posted by LMich

It was bittersweet when I saw the headline. It was good to know that it was bought not because it was weak but because it was strong, but it just seems like all of Michigan's bank have either been eaten or moved.

BTW, banks always say they aren't going to disrupt things in the community when they buy out a local bank, but there is absolutely no need for FirstMerit to keep as large an administrative presence in Flint as is currently there, and I can't help but think they are going to hit Flint hard. Hopefully, it's still a few business cycles off so Flint can prepare for this. I hope the downtown development community and business community can even line up potential tenants in advance if FirstMerit decides to sell some downtown property.

Hopefully they decide that they need a regional headquarters in Michigan, and keep one of the downtown buildings. My ideal scenario would be that they keep the south tower (with the weather ball), and then sell the north tower to either UM-Flint, HealthPlus, or MSU Medical School.

[robk1982]

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde...buys_25_p.html

Kettering University buys 25 parcels from land bank; interested in 70 more

Published: Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 6:52 PM Updated: Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 6:55 PM
Shaun Byron | [email protected] By Shaun Byron | [email protected]

FLINT, MI -- Kettering University is moving forward with a plan to expand its borders after purchasing 25 tax-foreclosed parcels and expressing interest in almost 70 more.

The Genesee County Land Bank voted Wednesday to approve selling 25 tax-foreclosed parcels to the university in areas both south and north of the campus, said Douglas Weiland, executive director for the land bank.

“Our mission is to get these properties back into use and I can’t think of a better use than to assist Kettering with the expansion of the university and/or student housing,” Weiland said. “And they are buying them with the intent to maintain and keep them in good shape.”

.....

With the cleanup of Chevy-In-the-Hole, and the new Michigan School for the Deaf/Powers High School campus, I've thought that the area around Kettering could be prime for redevelopment. The neighborhood to the north of campus, Mott Park, is fairly stable (one of only 3-4 neighborhoods I would live in if I lived in the city of Flint). The areas to the south and east of campus need some help.

I didn't link to it, but Kettering recently got a $15.5 million grant from the Mott Foundation, and part of that will go towards buying a party store on the corner of University and Chevrolet Ave., and building a new Campus Safety building (with a deli) there.

Now if Hurley could get its act together and fix up its neighborhood.......

[LMich]

Nice...

Flint gets $3 million Genesys Downtown Flint Health Center for Saginaw Street

By Shaun Byron | MLive.com

September 18, 2012

FLINT, MI -- After two years of planning, downtown Flint will soon have a $3 million medical facility.

A press conference was planned for 10 a.m. Tuesday to announce the Genesys Downtown Flint Health Center will open in July 2013 on Saginaw Street. The event was set for the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, located in the Mott Building downtown.

The medical facility will include an urgent care center, a retail pharmacy, an internal medicine health care clinic and a women’s health care clinic, featuring obstetrics and gynecology care.

...

The Genesys Downtown Flint Health Center will be located at 420 S. Saginaw St., the former Roberts David Alan men’s clothing store. The building was bought in 1999 by Uptown Developments.

...

Genesys is leasing the 20,000-square-foot building in a seven-year deal with Uptown Developments. The building will be renovated and the health center will occupy three floors.

The health center will also bring 60 jobs to downtown and create another 10 jobs in the pharmacy and urgent care clinic.

The 60 employees will be coming from the Genesys West Flint Campus on Beecher Road in Flint, which will be closed.

...

[robk1982]

http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-mi..._river_default

Einstein Bros Bagels headed for Flint's Kettering University campus

By Shaun Byron | [email protected]
on November 30, 2012 at 8:30 PM, updated November 30, 2012 at 8:31 PM

FLINT, MI. -- It looks like Einstein Bros Bagels will make its way onto on Kettering University's campus in early 2013.

University officials confirmed Friday, Nov. 30, that a deal has been put together for the national coffee and bagel chain to move into a building located at University and Chevrolet avenues.

.......

It was announced in August the convenience store would be replaced with an "upscale coffee shop" as part of an improvement plan for buildings and programs, with funding provided by a $15.5 million pledge the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

A Flint Police mini-station is also going in this building.

[robk1982]

http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-mi...o_move_in.html

BBQ joint with 30 taps of Michigan brew planned for downtown Flint

By Shaun Byron | [email protected]
on November 29, 2012 at 6:00 PM, updated November 29, 2012 at 6:12 PM

FLINT, MI. -- A year ago, Robb Klaty sold his landscaping business with the idea of bringing a café to downtown Flint.

The dream, with the help of local investors, resulted in expanding his side-business, the Flint Crepe Company, into a café on Saginaw Street.

Klaty is back at it again, this time looking to serve the dinner crowd with what he says will be an “urban barbecue and tap house.”

“That’s a café thing,” he says of the Flint Crepe Company. “I think barbecue is great. It’s appealing across demographics.”

Called Table & Tap, the restaurant will replace Soyla’s Mexican Cuisine, which was located in the Wade Trim Building on Saginaw Street. The business closed last December.

Just around the corner from Klaty’s Flint Crepe Company, the new venture will feature barbecue pork and chicken and 30 taps for mostly Michigan-made beers.

.......

[uaarkson]

Nice!

[robk1982]

http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-mi...me_down_b.html

Flint's Genesee Towers may come down before 2013 Crim in late August

By Shaun Byron | [email protected]
on March 08, 2013 at 12:01 PM, updated March 08, 2013 at 12:23 PM

FLINT, MI -- A goal has been set for Genesee Towers to be down before the 2013 Crim Festival of Races.

Uptown Reinvestment Corp. President Tim Herman said the nonprofit aims to have the long-vacant building down and the rubble cleared away before the Aug. 24 races....