WEST MICHIGAN | General Developments

[LMich]

Originally Posted by deja vu

There's definitely some commuters, but it is a bit of a hike. From core to core it can take half an hour to an hour with traffic. Holland has a strong local economy of its own though, anchored by manufacturing, tech, healthcare, tourism / hospitality, and education. Some of the biggest employers are Haworth, Herman Miller, Johnson Controls, Perrigo, and Gentex.

It is exciting to see all of this development happening on Michigan's west side!

I was calculating some MSA and CSA metro commuter rates the other week, and was kind of surprised to find out how truly polycentric West Michigan is. I'd always just assumed Grand Rapids was a way bigger pull than it actually turns out to be. For instance, before Ottawa County joined the MSA earlier this decade, Muskegon was actually pulled into the greater Grand Rapids CSA via Ottawa and not Kent. So the weak link in the triangle is Muskegon-Grand Rapids. In fact, the gap between how many workers Ottawa sends to Kent and how many of Ottawa's workers are from Kent is actually smaller than in a lot of metros.

Another crazy thing is that Newaygo apparently fell out of Grand Rapids MSA earlier this decade. Though it still has more than enough commuting to be in the CSA - nearly as much as the connection between GR and Ionia - it's not because it's not a metropolitan/urban county. Ionia also has more than enough commuting to Grand Rapids to be in its MSA, but it's not because it keeps just enough of its own workers to retain its status as a seperate metropolitan area.

Metro Grand Rapids is really a mess cross-commuting. lol

[deja vu]

^ Thanks for that assessment. I think it's not such a bad thing that the commutes around West Michigan are so polycentric. There's a desirable quality of living to be found both in the big city (GR) and many of the outlying communities. Conversely, there's good employment opportunities in the MSA core but also on the periphery. The key is having the infrastructure to support it all.

Muskegon -

Another Muskegon project happening now is MCC's new $14.1 million Health and Wellness Center. This 52,400 SF center is scheduled to open Winter 2019 and will provide spaces for collaborative learning, classrooms, activities, and health simulation lab -

Health & Wellness Center - Conceptual Rendering -

Source: MLive | Courtesy MCC

Health & Wellness Center - Construction Progress - January 2018 -

Source: MLive | Mike Krebs

The Health and Wellness Center is one of four new buildings being implemented as part of the college's current master plan. The other three are the aforementioned $15 million Downtown Technology Center (opened last month), a $9.6 million Science Center (opened Summer 2015), and a $9 million arts and humanities facility (scheduled to open Summer 2019). All told, these four buildings represent almost $50 million in investments -

The Science Center (opened Summer 2015) -

Source: MCC

The Arts and Humanities Facility - Rendering (could not find a better res) -

Source: Clark Construction

[deja vu]

Holland -

A big project that recently wrapped up in Holland is the new Holland Energy Park, which is a new combined-cycle natural gas power plant with an integrated education component and public gallery. It's a pretty nice looking facility. The $240,000,000+ project was completed last year, and just recently won the Lakeshore Advantage Visionary Award (Lakeshore Advantage is a local economic development organization that was involved in getting the project off the ground). The new plant has many sustainable components, one of the more creative being that it recycles used hot water through downtown Holland's heated sidewalk system to melt snow in the winter months.


Source: West Coast Chamber of Commerce




Source: Progressive AE

[Ex-Ithacan]

Muskegon reminds me a bit of Ithaca. Downtown properties being revitalized, empty lots getting filled up, and new housing bringing life back to the urban core. Bravo.

[deja vu]

Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan

Muskegon reminds me a bit of Ithaca. Downtown properties being revitalized, empty lots getting filled up, and new housing bringing life back to the urban core. Bravo.

Definitely on a smaller scale than Ithaca, but I would agree. Bringing housing back to the core is crucial. And the housing that has been constructed thus far seems to be of good quality. I will plan a trip there when the weather is getting Springy-er, for some first-hand photo updates.

[deja vu]

Spring Lake -

This sounds pretty pie-in-the-sky for little 'ol Spring Lake (near Muskegon), but maybe it could happen? The rendering looks great, but I'm pretty sure it is for a different proposal, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and meant to serve only as a precedent. The investor seems serious, having invested $3 million plus into purchasing multiple properties in a Village which she has close ties to. Phase 1 of construction could happen as soon as this summer -

Major development looming in downtown Spring Lake
If approved, the village would gain condos, a cafe, coffee shop and retail space

Marie Havenga | Grand Haven Tribune / as reported by WZZM
January 9, 2018
Updated January 10, 2018

Downtown Spring Lake will soon undergo a major transformation. Kim VanKampen, a Florida resident whose family has summered in Spring Lake for six decades, announced Monday that she has purchased the buildings west of Village Hall and plans to transform them into a mix of residential, restaurants and retail. VanKampen, with the help of local architects and builders, plans to convert the two-story building at 106 Savidge St. adjacent to Village Hall into a “landmark restaurant.” The buildings to the west of that structure — 108, 110 and 112 Savidge — would become condos upstairs; with a cafe, coffee shop and retail downstairs...

Precedent Rendering -


Source: WZZM | Mark Oppenhuizen, Architect

[DetroitSky]

I'm really happy you made this thread. I've always been fascinated by Muskegon's new downtown and have enjoyed watching it get rebuilt. I haven't been to Muskegon in a few years but I'm looking forward to seeing whats changed in person.

I had no idea the Highpoint Flats project actually began construction. Wasn't it put on hold years back? Glad it finally happened!

[deja vu]

Thanks. I needed another side project

Highpoint Flats was on hold for about 8-9 years, with little activity happening between 2008 and 2017. Like several other West Michigan projects, the 2008 recession was a primary reason that many of the bigger developmental proposals came to a grinding halt for a long while. Thankfully, unlike some other proposals, Highpoint Flats found new life and is actually going to be complete soon.

I'm reminded of Lake Park Place, in St. Joseph. It's a good example of a proposed development that unfortunately has not been revived yet, likely due to ongoing financing troubles. Although I'm still holding out some tiny fraction of hope for this one, it has been stagnant for about 8 years now. The most recent news coverage is from 2014, when a parking dispute was apparently holding things up. The developer has not updated any renderings or info on their facebook page since 2011. But as of at least last summer, they still have a sign up on the empty property which once housed a YWCA. As most-currently proposed, this seven-story structure would offer 45 - 50 residential units with ground floor commercial / retail -


Source: Facebook

To take it another step further, New Buffalo had an ambitious project, called Village Square, that was pretty far along in construction when it also was killed by financing woes. Original plans from 2006 were for a mixed-use condo project built above an underground parking garage. But the first owner went out of business, followed by a second, and the incomplete shell of a building and parking structure sat abandoned for years of disputed ownership claims and bankruptcy; an eyesore for locals and a curiosity for tourists. The incomplete structure, a 3-story masonry building, along with an adjacent commercial retail building were ultimately demolished in early 2016, and it is still unknown what will be done with the site now -

Development Rendering from 2014 -

Source: PRweb

Demolition - 2016 (you can still see it on street view too)





Source: Harbor Country News | David Johnson

[deja vu]

^ And speaking of Muskegon and demolition, more demolition is taking place at the former Shaw Walker Furniture factory (now referred to as Watermark Center), along the south shore of Muskegon Lake (Western Avenue and Division Street). The first phase of demo on this massive (1 million plus SF) industrial property started in summer 2017. I am always a bit saddened when these beautiful industrial behemoths come down, but at least the more significant parts of this one will be saved and re-purposed, and the development plans, while extremely ambitious, are also very exciting.

The current owner is P&G Holdings out of New York, and they have proposed turning parts of the complex into a mix of apartments and commercial space with a large entertainment component, which could include laser tag, a bowling alley, restaurants, indoor mountain biking, indoor go-karts, concert venues, and a trampoline park. The agreement made between the developer and they city makes promises that some of this has happened by January 2019. There is already a portion that has been remodeled and opened as office space and a new coffee shop, called The Coffee Factory -

Another section of the former Shaw Walker factory in Muskegon comes down
Ben Solis | MLive
March 02, 2018

MUSKEGON, MI - Another section of the former Shaw Walker factory was demolished on Thursday at the corner of Western Avenue and Division Street, continuing the demolition work approved late last year by Muskegon officials. Demolition began on sections of the 1-million-square-foot building in summer 2017 when a portion that faced Division was reduced to rubble. An agreement with the city of Muskegon in January 2017 gave the building's owner, P&G Holdings of New York, two years to develop the sprawling building into apartments and an entertainment complex...

• Video Link

[deja vu]

^ So I just mentioned the possible trampoline park in the Watermark Center development, and now news today that a trampoline park will be going in at the former Target store on Sherman Blvd. in Muskegon. Not sure if this is a competing interest, or the same business that just decided to make a go of it in a different space -

Trampoline park to open in Muskegon during spring 2018
Justine McGuire | MLive
March 7, 2018

MUSKEGON, MI - Planet 3 Extreme Air Park will open in Muskegon soon. A portion of a long-empty former Target store on Sherman Boulevard in Muskegon will soon be home to a trampoline park. We are now looking at mid-late May 2018," said Moananui Haretuku, operations manager. "Construction is well underway at the location, but our trampoline equipment won't arrive until mid-April..."

- Anyway, it's good to see this kind of reuse for a big box store and here's hoping it works out well for them.

[deja vu]

Saugatuck -

Near Saugatuck, there has been a multi-year legal debate over a controversial residential / marina development proposal. The background info on this development is long and complicated, to put it mildly. In short, what's happening right now is an appeal has now been filed by a environmental group at the state level to try and overturn a ruling at the county level which deemed that the group has no legal standing to intervene in the development plans. The proposal calls for digging out a new boat basin near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River and surrounding it with a new residential neighborhood of single-family homes. The total property size amounts to 300 acres.

The owners and the developer, meanwhile, have every approval that they need except for one critical one from the Army Corp. of Engineers, which is being withheld until an archaeological survey can be completed.

Legal challenge to controversial Lake Michigan dune development heads to state court
Amy Biolchin | MLive
March 7, 2018

SAUGATUCK TOWNSHIP, MI - An environmental group isn't giving up the fight against a marina and home development on a controversial piece of Lake Michigan dune property at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. Feb. 27 the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance filed an appeal with the Michigan State Court of Appeals over an Allegan County judge's February ruling that the environmental group didn't have legal standing to intervene...

[deja vu]

Saugatuck -

Little Saugatuck is also going to try for a comparatively large bond vote in May for improvements to facilities in its school district -

Saugatuck schools to ask for bond, sinking fund renewal in May election
Erin Dietzer | Holland Sentinel
February 16, 2018, Updated February 20, 2018

SAUGATUCK — Saugatuck Public Schools is asking the community to approve a $50.7 million bond and a renewal of the district’s .5 mill sinking fund in the May 8 election. The Saugatuck Board of Education approved the decision to put the two measures on the ballot after 18 months of facility assessments, a design process with students, staff and community members and various committee meetings...

...If the bond is approved, the media centers in both the elementary and middle/high school building would get a modern update, and the cafeterias would become more multi-purpose spaces. Dedicated spaces to STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and math — would also be created with new science labs in each building, technology and robotics rooms, maker spaces and an outdoor learning space at the elementary school. Additionally, the bond would fund a new music and band suite and a new art room in the middle/high school, as well as a new music and art room for the elementary school. Collaboration spaces for students, faculty and community use would also be created in each building...

[deja vu]

Holland -

In Holland, City Council approved a $210,000 increase to the construction budget for the Civic Center at its meeting on March 7. Evidently, the original design did not factor in roof repairs and structural reinforcements that have since been determined as necessary to the work scope. Also at the same meeting, Council approved a contract with Iowa-based VenuWorks to operate the facility and manage bookings. It sounds like a pretty sweet deal for VenuWorks, if they can keep the booking percentage high...

City approves contract with Civic Center management firm
Sydney Smith | Holland Sentinel
March 8, 2018

HOLLAND — For the Civic Center’s new management, it’s time to hit the ground running. A contract between the city and Iowa-based VenuWorks was approved March 7, allowing the management company to begin helping create a number of policies crucial to the success of the Civic Center after its $14.15 million renovation...

...According to the contract, Holland will pay VenuWorks $4,000 per month for pre-opening services. The estimated completion of the Civic Center is in November — a concrete date has not been set thus far. After opening, the city will pay the company $6,500 per month in management fees. VenuWorks will also get 5 percent of gross food and beverage sales up to $400,000, and 8 percent if sales exceed that amount. The company would receive 5 percent of gross annual revenue up to $150,000, and 8 percent if it exceeds that amount. If the city’s subsidy for the building lessens, VenuWorks would receive 40 percent of that amount. Included in the contract is a zero interest loan from VenuWorks to the city for $150,000...

[deja vu]

Grand Haven -

A big one for Grand Haven here. An open house was held on Monday, March 12 to unveil a concept plan for the former Stanco Metal Products site, which involves a mostly-vacant area bounded by Jackson Street, First Street, Fulton Avenue, and Second Street. The current plan envisions a four story boutique hotel, one three-story and one five-story apartment building, an amenities building, a commons area with possible beer garden / vendor space / ice rink, and condominiums. If the developers get their way, phase one will begin pretty fast.

Development proposed for Stanco site
Becky Vargo | Grand Haven Tribune
March 13, 2018

It’s been 27 years since a factory operated at the former Stanco Metal Products site off Jackson Street near downtown Grand Haven. The long-vacant site, across the street from the Chinook Pier and Farmers Market, could soon become a development that includes a boutique hotel, apartments and condominiums. A tentative site plan was revealed to more than 100 people attending an open house at the Grand Haven Community Center on Monday. The developers said they hope to have the first phase of the project open in the spring of 2019...

I'm not super-enthralled by the proposed elevation though -

Source: Grand Haven Tribune | Becky Vargo

[deja vu]

Saugatuck -

Grand Rapids-based Mitten Brewing Company has announced it plans to open a third location, this one at 329 Water Street in Saugatuck, at the former site of 'Borrowed Time' - a beer and wine establishment that recently relocated to nearby Douglas. The property, a converted 1860s house, already has a full kitchen, but Mitten Brewing plans to offer more food options than its predecessor. It also plans to do a small addition to increase the cooler space and increase the number of beer taps from 4 to 12. If all goes to plan, the new location will be open in time for summer, by June 1.

Mitten Brewing to expand with third location
Joe Boomgaard | MiBiz
March 16, 2018

GRAND RAPIDS — A popular west side brewery and restaurant has set its sights on the lakeshore for its third brewpub, MiBiz has learned. The Mitten Brewing Co. LLC has leased a building at 329 Water Street in Saugatuck and plans to open a taproom and restaurant at the site by June 1, according to owners Chris Andrus and Max Trierweiler. The company’s plans received unanimous approval from the Saugatuck City Council during a special meeting earlier this week. The converted 1,900-square-foot house built in 1860 formerly housed Borrowed Time, a beer and wine bar that’s in the process of moving to nearby Douglas...

Source: The Commercial Record

[deja vu]

Hudsonville -

I posted this on the Grand Rapids thread a little while ago, but it may make more sense to include it here. A $4.2 million mixed-use project called Hudson Center recently broke ground in Hudsonville. Nice to see a little density in the suburbs, but boy, is it ever bland! Maybe that is because they plan to have it open by this August. Here is the site today (3424 Chicago Drive). This new building is considered an anchor in the city's "Imagine Hudsonville 2030" master plan to create a more pedestrian-oriented downtown, which is actually a pretty neat idea on its own. It will be adjacent to a recently-constructed pedestrian plaza and farmers market.

Developer building $4.2M project in suburb
Ehren Wynder | GRBJ
March 14, 2018

A developer is constructing a $4.2-million, mixed-use building in the downtown core of a Grand Rapids suburb. Zeeland-based Geerlings Development said yesterday it will break ground tomorrow on the three-story Hudson Center in Hudsonville, at 3424 Chicago Dr. The project should be completed this August. The Hudson Center building will feature stores and a restaurant on the ground floor, offices on the second floor, apartments on the third floor and a pair of elevators. Each floor will have 8,400 square feet, and the total building will be more than 25,000 square feet...

The biggest (partial) rendering I found, which I enlarged a little -

Source: GRBJ

Here's an aerial rendering from the master plan. Lifestyle center-ish -

Source: Imagine Hudsonville 2030

Another article about Hudsonville's redevelopment ambitions -

Small West Michigan towns get proactive with redevelopment plans
Nick Manes | MiBiz
March 18, 2018

HUDSONVILLE –– While the redevelopment of traditional small downtowns across Michigan may look different than the activity in larger, urban settings, municipalities increasingly are defining their visions and attracting investors. Case in point: The Ottawa County city of Hudsonville, located southwest of Grand Rapids, lacked what many experts would consider as a traditional downtown, largely because it’s bisected by Chicago Drive, according to City Manager Patrick Waterman. The development of the four-lane, high-speed road resulted in the closure of many businesses decades ago, he said. ..

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

The $16 million, 175-unit Berkshire-Muskegon senior living facility is close to opening downtown -

Berkshire Muskegon to welcome senior residents to downtown in April
Justine McGuire | MLive
March 28, 2018

MUSKEGON, MI - The 84-unit Berkshire Muskegon senior apartment community is 50-percent leased a month ahead of move-in. The three-story brick facade building bordered by West Clay Avenue, First Street and West Webster Avenue will welcome residents 55 and older at the end of April...

Source: MLive | Joel Bissell

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

As of last week, the Ameribank building in downtown Muskegon is being 'deconstructed' - stripped to just its structural frame and slab floors - until a suitable developer and development plan can be determined. The arrangement between the city and Port City Construction sounds like a pretty sweet deal for Port City. The city will pay Port City up to $350,000 for the current demo work, even though the city still owns the property. Meanwhile, Port City retains the option to purchase the property for redevelopment, and if they do, they would then pay back the city the cost of demo activities, once redevelopment is complete.

Downtown Ameribank building being 'deconstructed' ahead of redevelopment
Ben Solis | MLive
March 27, 2018

MUSKEGON, MI - The long-vacant Ameribank building in downtown Muskegon is undergoing deconstruction funded, at least for now, by the city of Muskegon to help its redevelopment prospects. Melching Demolition began work on the building at the corner of Clay Avenue and First Street last week, which includes gutting the building and leaving only the most essential parts of the five-story office building's frame, said Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson...

Source: MLive | Kevin Manuel

[deja vu]

Holland -

A second location for Holland-based deBoer Bakkerij (a popular Dutch bakery / restaurant) is set to open this coming Monday in Holland. The existing location, at 360 Douglas Ave., is also being remodeled, and is expected to reopen shortly.

DeBoer Bakkerij to open south side location soon
Austin Metz | Holland Sentinel
March 27, 2018

Construction on deBoer Bakkerij’s new south side location is nearly complete and the plan is to open the new location for business on April 9...The new space is actually the former home of a Mexican restaurant and the project, which was announced in summer 2017, added 2,358-square-feet to the old building, giving the bakery a 5,000-square-foot new location...The new location is expected to provide relief for the company’s flagship location at 360 Douglas Ave. and will be the new home of bakery production as well as bakery retail space...

Source: Austin Metz | Sentinel Staff

[deja vu]

Holland -

The Western Theological Seminary in Holland is undergoing a large expansion. The Holland Sentinel recently posted some construction progress photos of the $15 million project, which is about halfway complete. Here's a few of them -






Source: Holland Sentinel | Contributed

A rendering of the completed project -

Source: The Western Theological Seminary in Holland