GRAND RAPIDS | Development Thread

[metrogrkid]

Originally Posted by Exodus

Monroe is considered part of Detroits csa for example. So why couldn't Grand Haven for example be part of the Grand Rapids csa ?

Exodus, you are exactly right. The triangular shaped CSA Grand Rapids is literally between the three points of Lowell to the east, Whitehall to the northwest and Saugatuck to the southwest (Grand Haven is midway between Saugatuck and Whitehall). The general points of the CSA triangle are, of course, Grand Rapids to the east, Muskegon to the northwest and Holland to the southwest.

[CALMSP]

who wants to walk down the side of the new Bridgewater condos???!!!!

http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/0...grand_rap.html

[shivtim]

Riverhouse Condos
10/26/08

[Mid-Michigan]

I was on my way to make one of these threads for Lansing, but had to check to see if there was already one. I'm not surprise Grand Rapids has one already, the city seems like it's booming. Most of the changes the city experience were positive so far. Enjoyed my visits in the area.

[WMrapids]

I saw that no one posted anything for awhile.

[WMrapids]

Does anyone have any photos of the Gallery on Fulton?

[Docta_Love]

Grand Rapids Whitewater picks firm, waits on plans to restore rapids in Grand River
Howard Meyerson
July 20, 2011
Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- A restoration and design firm with experience developing whitewater paddling parks has been selected by area enthusiasts to create drawings and plans for restoring the rapids in the Grand River downtown.

RiverRestoration, a company in Glenwood Springs, Colo., was chosen from a final field of four firms, according Grand Rapids Whitewater co-founder Chris Muller. The firm has a number of projects in Colorado, North Carolina and on the Yukon River.

[....]

GRWW’s vision is to restore the river rapids between Coldbrook Creek and Fulton St., Muller said. The Coldbrook Creek outflow is upstream of the 4th Street dam. He called the turbulent waters immediately downstream of the dam dangerous and said he would like to see those risks addressed.

However, the group’s primary focus is further downstream, where a series of low-head dams create other dangerous hydraulics in the river. Muller and others would like to see those removed and potentially replaced with other rocky structures that might create better fish habitat and a good ride for paddlers.

"This is not just about a whitewater park," said Chip Richards, GRWW’s other co-founder. There’s no question we like a good wave, but it’s evolved beyond that. We are discussing sturgeon habitat and our goal is habitat for salmon and steelhead. We are looking at the whole river."

Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries staff have said they support improving habitat for fish in the river. And though the agency has expressed a desire to see the 4th Street dam removed to improve fish passage up the Grand River, staff acknowledge that the dam currently plays an important roll in limiting the upstream migration of sea lamprey.

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index....ter_picks.html

I came across this article after reading a blurb in the Free Press about this project in last weeks paper, it appears that the project is moving ahead. Love the idea, turning the Grand River into a major recreational draw will be a real positive for the downtown area, not to mention make for some cool skyline photo opportunities with the white waters of the Grand River in the foreground. Also i've been thinking for as large of a region as Grand Rapids has grown into (CSA pop of 1.3 million) it is sorely lacking a national identity as compared to regions of similar size. According to Wikipedia both New Orleans and Buffalo are slightly smaller in size in terms of CSA population each city having just over 1.2 million. Granted both these cities have greater historical significance and at one point were each top-tier cities, not to mention they have a larger population in the core city. However Hartford, CT has a nearly identical CSA and the core city contains around 50,000 less inhabitants than Grand Rapids. But while Hartford is a well known city, while your average non-Midwesterner would likely have a hard time identifying what state Grand Rapids is even in. Though once again Hartford is a city with historic importance, while GR has only recently become a major metro area (major being a relative term). I suppose rebuilding the rapids of Grand Rapids is as good a place as any to start in terms of helping the city take the first baby steps toward building an identity for itself. Although Meijer relocating its corporate headquarters downtown into a brand new signature skyscraper certainly wouldn't hurt, throw in a pro-sports team (OKC has a CSA of 1.3 million after all and the Thunder are thriving albeit without Kevin Durant this may have been a different story) and GR would be well on its way to becoming a national entity.

[Docta_Love]

Detroit, Grand Rapids Among Nation's Strongest-Performing Areas, Brookings Institution Study Finds

The Detroit Free Press
Katherine Yung
Dec 16, 2011

In yet another sign of the turnaround in the state's economy, Detroit and Grand Rapids rank among the 20 strongest-performing metropolitan areas in the country, according to a report being released today from the Brookings Institution.

The Washington, D.C.-based think tank examined how the nation's 100 largest metro areas fared since their recoveries began, using changes in employment, unemployment rates, gross metropolitan product and housing prices to determine the rankings

http://www.livingeconomies.org/node/724

Gotta love stats, Grand Rapids was named by newsweek as one of America's ten dying cities. Now it appears that Grand Rapids and Detroit are two of the strongest economically performing regions in the country. Great news for the state of Michigan our two largest cities are near the top of the pack on a list about GOOD economic news!

[JonathanGRR]

The Grand Rapids Brewing Co. atop the west side of the 616 Lofts on Ionia redevelopment. The brewpub opens to the public on Wednesday, Dec. 5. (©Matthew Busch/Mlive)

Heavy on heritage, reborn Grand Rapids Brewing Co. opens this week as Heartside standout

By Garret Ellison | gellison@mlive.com
December 03, 2012

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A legacy isn’t the only salvaged thing underpinning the new Grand Rapids Brewing Company.

In fact, from the beer-making equipment to the tabletops, nearly every part of downtown’s newest brewpub involves some kind of repurposed material.

The floorboards are made from scrapped wood. The long, community-style tabletops are made from a reconditioned floor-joist. The west windows were salvaged from the recent Centerpointe Mall demolition. The 120-year-old brick lining the bar and the staircase came from inside the building.

“Reuse and recycle is a huge part of this,” said project manager Sam Short.

The highly anticipated project from HopCat owner Mark Sellers finally opens to the public this week. On Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m., Sellers will throw open the doors to the latest edition to his BarFly Ventures business portfolio.

Anchoring the 616 Lofts mixed-use redevelopment at 1 Ionia Ave SW, the new Grand Rapids Brewing Co. resurrects a storied name in the city’s rich history of beer brewing, and does so with the commanding presence of a gateway pillar to the burgeoning entertainment district in south downtown’s Heartside neighborhood.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-m...2/12/grbc.html


One of the many projects finishing up in Grand Rapids lately!

[JonathanGRR]

McKay Tower in Grand Rapids undergoes renovation
December 19, 2012 | Modified: December 19, 2012 at 11:33 am

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Chaundra Derks has had the keys to McKay Tower for several months, but she's still discovering hidden nooks and crannies.

The building, which has more than a dozen bank vaults stashed here and there, is in the midst of an upgrade project being undertaken by its new owners, Steadfast Property Holdings Inc., of which Derks is director of operations.

"I love the history behind this building," she said. "I love walking through here and finding things like safes and boarded-up elevator shafts in the closet."

Steadfast, owned by Jonathan Borisch, founder of Borisch Manufacturing of Kentwood (now Amphenol Borisch Technologies), has been busy resealing windows, fixing the façade and making other internal upgrades to the grand dame of Grand Rapids skyscrapers since purchasing the building for $10.5 million in May.

The largest of those upgrades is a renovation project to the old second story bank lobby, which is being converted to a ballroom event space for wedding receptions, business meetings, holiday parties and banquets of up to 250 people.

The soaring space has been vacant since 2010, when tenant Structure Interactive, an information technology firm that specialized in Internet marketing, folded after the 2008 economic downturn.

The 18-story McKay Tower has been a city landmark since the first two stories were built as the Grand Rapids National Bank in 1915. The tower was finished in 1925 and an additional two mechanical floors, plus a lighted beacon, topped the building in the early 1940s.

...

http://washingtonexaminer.com/mckay-...stom_click=rss

This is a nice update. There are lots of renovation details in the article. Does anyone know what the building will be used for, offices or residential?

Renders were also released for the Great Hall expansion at Ford International. I like the idea of expansion, but I wonder if all food/retail will be behind security checkpoints. What about those waiting for family members to get on or off a plane?


http://photos.mlive.com/grandrapidsp..._for_fo_2.html

[JonathanGRR]

CWD Real Estate Investment plans eight-story building downtown
January 15, 2013 | By Charlsie Dewey

CWD Real Estate Investment plans to purchase a downtown parking lot and possibly develop it into an eight-story building that will connect to the company’s adjacent property, the Trade Center Building at 50 Louis St. NW.

CWD is expected to invest at least $15 million into development of the property and will construct a minimum of 75,000 square feet within three years of the closing of the development agreement.

Sam Cummings, principal and managing partner of CWD, brought pre-schematic designs of the proposed building to last week’s Parking Commission meeting, which was part of the request for proposal additionally sought by the Parking Commission.

“What is shown is an eight-story building,” said Cummings of the designs. “The footprint of the site is a little over 20,000 square feet. The challenge is that the site also provides ingress and egress to and from the Ottawa/Fulton ramp. So we’ve got to bridge that, and we’ve got to maximize the footprint above grade.”

http://www.grbj.com/articles/75931-c...lding-downtown

Looks like it good be a great space to replace an empty lot. There's an entrance to a parking garage on the lot now, and they're going to build around and over it. CWD owns the building next door (they're planning on doing renovations to it soon), and they would like to tie the two buildings together.

[Illithid Dude]

I'm so happy that there is at least one place in Michigan that is doing well.

[JonathanGRR]

The renovation of the Junior Achievement Building in the heart of downtown was announced. Located at Fuller St (Kent County's East-West dividing line) and Division Ave (the North-South dividing line), the building has been empty for 15 years:

Find out what company is moving into iconic Junior Achievement building in downtown Grand Rapids
By Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com | January 17, 2013

The architectural firm of TowerPinkster will renovate and move into the second floor of the blonde brick building by late summer, building owner Locus Development announced Thursday, Jan. 17.

The ground floor of the building will be renovated by Locus Development, for yet-to-be-signed retail or restaurant tenants.

The iconic building, with a modernistic rounded corner facing downtown’s historic center, was purchased by Locus from a bank two years ago after a previous developer failed to land a tenant for the 64-year-old building.

TowerPinkster President and CEO Arnold Mikon said they plan to move into the second floor with 25 employees. “We’ll have room for 35 to 40 employees,” he said.

Mikon said TowerPinkster is eager to move into the downtown area, where they have renovated the LEED Gold-certified Kendall College of Art & Design’s Historic Federal Building and the Grand Rapids Civic Theater. The firm also provided architectural and design services for the Kent County Courthouse.

“We are excited to work with Locus to bring new life to another historic building and play a bigger role in the amazing revival of the central city,” Mikon said.

“TowerPinkster is the perfect anchor for this building in the heart of the city,” said John Green, co-owner of Locus.

“Our goal isn’t just to build and restore, but to bring creativity, energy and new jobs to build the downtown community.”

Green said they intend to market the ground floor space for a full-service restaurant or several smaller retail shops. They also hope to lease the basement as an entertainment venue or production studio, he said.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-m...l#incart_river


http://photos.mlive.com/grandrapidsp..._junio_26.html
By Emily Zoladz | ezoladz@mlive.com

[JonathanGRR]

Downtown Development Authority announces new color scheme for iconic 'Blue Bridge'
Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com | January 22, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Downtown’s beloved “Blue Bridge” will remain blue.

Except on Valentine’s Day, when it may be red. Or on Christmas Eve, when it may be red and green.

Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director Kris Larson announced today that the iconic bridge will get a fresh coat of blue paint that will resemble its current color, which has faded over the years.

As for the other colors, they will come from a battery of LED bulbs that will be mounted on the bridge and enable the DDA to change the bridge’s hues in the evening, Larson said.

The new lights will reflect a blue light on the bridge most evenings. But the LED bulbs also will be able to change colors for special occasions, such as Valentine's Day or Christmas, Larson said.

“When we complete the restoration, the bridge will be blue – but better,” said Larson.

The new lighting will be part of a $1.3 million makeover of the former railroad bridge that was converted to pedestrian use in 1987. Besides the new paint job and lights, the restoration project also will include replacing part of the walkways and an expansion joint.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-m...l#incart_river

[uaarkson]

God I love DT Grand Rapids. If only I could take the train straight from Ann Arbor.

[JonathanGRR]

My dream would be to have a Grand Rapids-Lansing-Ann Arbor-Detroit route. I'm kind of surprised that there isn't one. Do the railroads not want to cooperate, I wonder?

[JonathanGRR]

More infill for downtown!

The BOB to get new event space as part of expansion plans
MiBiz Staff | February 4, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS — A popular downtown Grand Rapids entertainment spot is set to embark on a new expansion and renovation project.

The BOB, a property of The Gilmore Collection, is expected to announce today that it was adding an “outdoor festival marketplace” and beer garden as part of a multi-million dollar expansion project that was also set to include new dining options and concert and event space with seating for up to 2,000 people.

Phase one of the project will include a renovation of Gilly’s restaurant street-level space into a new concept set to debut July 1. A later phase to be completed by June 1 next year is expected to include the event space, beer garden and piazza, featuring low-cost space local vendors could rent as an way to test out a food business, for example, according to a statement.

http://mibiz.com/news/real-estate/it...xpansion-plans

[JonathanGRR]

Here's what is sure to be a great restoration project in the very heart of Downtown Grand Rapids:

Plans underway to convert downtown's vacant Morton House into 'market-rate' apartments
Jim Harger | February 08, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The new owners of the vacant 13-story Morton House building are asking the city for help in their $27 million plan to bring more than 100 market-rate apartments into the former hotel.

The plan by Rockford Construction and its partner, the DeVos family's RDV Corp., would bring new residents into the 91-year building, which has been vacant since 2011, when its previous owners ended the building’s 40-year run as federally subsidized housing for more than 200 low-income residents.

Built in 1922 by J. Boyd Pantlind, the Morton House was the last big downtown hotel to be built before the Great Depression. The ground floor was the original home of Kent State Bank, which became Old Kent Bank & Trust, now part of Fifth Third Bank Corp.

The new owners want to redevelop the 170,000-square-foot building for retail on the ground floor and “at least 100 market-rate residential apartments” on the upper floors, according to an agenda item that will come before the Downtown Development Authority next week.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-m...l#incart_river

...And in less-exciting news, another standard infill project:

New apartment project and restaurant will go up in the Heartside neighborhood, developer says
Jim Harger | February 07, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Developer Karl Chew said he hopes to begin breaking ground this spring on a $15 million, 7-story mixed-used apartment building in the city’s Heartside neighborhood.

The project at 240 Ionia Ave. SW will include street level space for a restaurant and incorporate a 2½ -story parking ramp with up to 80 parking spaces, said Chew, whose Midland-based Brookstone Capital LLC has been one of the city’s most active housing developers since arriving on the scene in 2005.

When completed in late summer of 2014, the building will include 40 “workforce” rental apartments and eight market rate apartments. Chew said he has not yet found a tenant for the restaurant space.

The new building will be across the street from Heartside Park at the corner of Ionia Avenue and Williams Street SW. Chew said the project will include “fabulous” views of the downtown and U.S. 131.

On Thursday, Feb. 7, the city’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority gave its blessing to Brookstone’s application for tax breaks of up to $2.5 million to help him clean up and improve the site, which currently is fenced off and used as a parking lot.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-m...l#incart_river

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by jonathan.jam

More infill for downtown!



http://mibiz.com/news/real-estate/it...xpansion-plans

I was really impressed with downtown GR and particularly with this project when I visited about a year ago. The amount of infill that is taking place is incredible, all the while retaining some of the old building stock of the city. For its size, GR is really putting some much larger cities to shame when it come to having a lively and attractive downtown.

[JonathanGRR]

Thanks! What is really amazing is that the city's downtown area is actually getting larger. First, it was north-west expansion with the Medical Mile, GVSU helped start a western expansion, and now the downtown is expanding southward (there are some interesting articles on MLive about this)! Grand Rapids is indeed doing very well.

More News:

Cory Morse

Downtown scaffolding alert: McKay Tower façade renovations will ramp-up in March
Garret Elliot | February 26, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Expect to see some scaffolding begin to crawl up the façade of McKay Tower this spring as exterior renovations on the venerable high-rise begin in earnest.

Cleaning and rust-proofing of the structural steel behind the terra cotta exterior on the fourth floor water table will begin in March and run through late summer, said building owner Steadfast Properties LLC.

The work will necessitate protective walk-through canopies over the building’s public entrances for the project duration. Retail tenants will operate as normal during the renovations to the historic building located at 146 Monroe Center NW in downtown Grand Rapids.

The work is part of the new owners long-term interior and exterior renovation and ongoing maintenance plans. The city shut down Pearl Street at Monroe Avenue NW last Friday, Feb. 22, while a crane installed new cooling units on the roof.

Inside, the old second floor Grand Rapids National Bank lobby is being converted into a ballroom event facility, and the upstairs condominium units are being converted into luxury apartments. New elevators and are being installed as well.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-m...l#incart_river

Rockford Construction Co. gets $1 million grant from the state for its new corporate headquarters
Jim Harger | February 27, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) has approved a $1 million grant for 614 First Street Partners, LLC, the entity that is converting the former Miller Products Corp. factory into a new headquarters for Rockford Construction Co. on Grand Rapids’ West Side.
The Community Revitalization Program “performance based grant” was one of eight grants totaling $6 million approved by the MEDC on Wednesday, Feb. 27. An expansion of Herbruck's Poultry Ranch in Ionia County received a $500,000 grant.

The state agency also approved nearly $5 million in loans to projects in Kent and Muskegon counties. Those projects included a $3 million loan for the Downtown Market being built south of Wealthy Street along Ionia Avenue SW and a $1.95 million loan for Parkland Muskegon, Inc., which plans to renovate an eight-story building in downtown Muskegon into a residential apartment development.

The projects are expected to generate up to $95.8 million in new capital investments and add 789 new jobs in Michigan, according to an MEDC news release.

In Grand Rapids, Rockford Construction Co.’s new headquarters will transform a 70,000-square-foot industrial building west of downtown Grand Rapids into corporate offices, a general trades yard and warehouse.

The $7.9 million project also will include commercial retail space for rent, an open-air courtyard and a community room. The project is expected to support about 85 full-time jobs when completed.

Rockford Construction is moving into the city from its current headquarters at 5540 Glenwood Hills Pkwy. SE in Cascade Township.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-m...l#incart_river

Founders Brewing Co. plans taproom expansion, beer garden, educational facility
Garret Ellison | February 27, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — There could soon be more space in which to quaff a brew and learn about the beer-making process at Founders Brewing Co.

The company is scheduled to appear before the city planning commission on Thursday, March 14, on a special land use request to increase the size of the brewery’s popular taproom at 235 Grandville Ave. SW.

The current 8,000-square-foot taproom, which features a long curved bar, stage area, open floor table seating and outdoor porch, would be expanded by 5,425 square feet.

The plans also include construction of a 3,975-square-foot beer garden, educational facility for beer tourists, additional offices, an enlarged deli kitchen and company store.

The educational aspect is an extension of the brewery tours, which Founders debuted in January. Eventually, the brewery plans to offer classes for people interested in learning more about the brewing process, and to teach things like how to identify different styles of beer and other advanced beer education.

“Our industry continues to flourish and, as a leader in the industry, we feel that we have a responsibility to educate our staff, wholesaler and retailer partners and beer enthusiasts,” said brewery co-founder Dave Engbers.

Assuming city approval, the brewery expects to break ground on the expansion in April with the space ready by fall 2013.

The project will cause the brewery to lose about 15 parking spaces in front of the building, but city planning director Suzanne Schulz said the company already satisfies the city's parking requirement with the spaces in the back lot.

"They are bringing the building out to the street edge, which is what we look and hope for with new projects," she said. “We are trying to create, especially in the downtown area, a pedestrian-oriented environment."

The taproom expansion follows construction on a multi-million dollar expansion of the Founders cellar at the northwest corner of the Grandville Avenue facility. The company has received a $2 million state economic development grant and $300,000 in tax breaks from the city on the multi-phase expansion project.

The brewery is in the midst of a $26 million total expansion project at its Grand Rapids taproom and production facility. When it's complete, the new space should yield the brewery an additional 165,000-some barrels of annual production capacity, which would boost Founders’ total annual beer output to about 340,000 barrels per year.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-m...l#incart_river