KALAMAZOO / PORTAGE / BATTLE CREEK | Development Thread

[deja vu]

Originally Posted by GR John

OMG, this was designed by my daughter!!!! I'm sure most on this forum will think that the design is lacking, but I'm a proud dad nonetheless. Not bad for being 3 years removed from college.
And one thing I learned from her, the architect is constrained by what the customer wants. You can have the most innovative designs, but if the customer has their mind made up, you have to go with their design requirments.

100% - you should be proud! My wife is a masters student at WMU now, and we were talking about the bridge and parking deck the other day. A lot of people have cast shade on the design of both, but as an architect myself, I know what goes into these types of designs, and honestly, they both turned out great - especially when you consider the limitations of cost, construction schedule, and material. I can think of far uglier parking decks and pedestrian walkways that have been put up in our region in recent years. This is a positive addition to the campus!

[deja vu]

Kalamazoo -

Geopier (the foundation contractor) has been on the site of the downtown event center for the past few weeks and it looks like they have started to install rammed aggregate piers. These photos are from Facebook, 12/18/24 -




Source: Facebook | William Dolak

[deja vu]

Kalamazoo -

The first phase of the Tiny Houses of HOPE project (447 W North St.) wrapped up earlier this month, bringing three 400 SF houses to people who earn 30% to 60% of the area's median income. There are plans for a second phase, consisting of three more homes, on the opposite side of the intersection -

Agency launches 'tiny houses' project for marginalized residents in Kalamazoo
Stephanie Forth | WWMT News Channel 3
December 12 2024

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday to celebrate the official launch of three "tiny houses" intended for people who struggle to find housing in Kalamazoo. The project, organized by the nonprofit Helping Other People Exceed Thru Navigation (HOPE), was green lit in 2018 after the city allocated millions into addressing poverty as part of the 2019 fiscal year budget. The tiny houses were built for people turned away by landlords due to their past convictions or substance use disorders. The $500,000 project was delayed in 2020 for logistical reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but HOPE CEO and Founder Gwendolyn Hooker said rental applications are now officially available...

Source: Facebook | Abonmarche

[deja vu]

Oshtemo Township -

KPS will soon begin construction on its new central kitchen facility (the groundbreaking, originally scheduled for December 5, was cancelled due to weather). The estimated $8.5 million, ~ 17,000 SF project is funded through the 2018 public school bond, and it will be constructed on the site of the former Chime Elementary School, which was demolished earlier this year (6750 Chime Street). The project was delayed due to pandemic-related supply chain issues and challenges in acquiring a site. Construction is expected to wrap up in early in 2026. From the district's Facebook announcement, the new facility -

...will provide central storage, distribution, production, and catering space for KPS Food Service. The district provides approximately 6,500 breakfasts, 9,000 lunches, 400 dinners, and afternoon snacks for students each day. In addition, the district provides meals to Head Start, KRESA, and other area organizations. The new facility will replace the district's main kitchen at the Community Education Center.

The new kitchen is part of a strategy to provide fresher, higher-quality, and more consistent food options for students. The new facility has more food preparation space and enhanced cooler and freezer storage to allow the district to take advantage of commodity shipments and strengthen its purchasing procedures, which will result in cost savings and reduced food waste...

Source: Facebook | Kalamazoo Public Schools

Chime Elementary School (1953 - 2008) was demolished this past summer, after the district hosted one final walkthrough for alumni and friends of the school -

Former students, teachers say farewell to Kalamazoo school before it’s torn down
Aya Miller | MLive
July 11, 2024

Former students and staff said goodbye to Chime Elementary School on Tuesday, July 9 -


Source: MLive | Aya Miller

[deja vu]

Portage -

The first building at Tall Timbers is complete and units are occupied -






Source: Facebook | AVB

[deja vu]

Battle Creek -

Another chunk of Battle Creek's industrial past is fading, as the old, 350,000 SF Graphic Packaging International (GPI) facility at 79 E Fountain St. gets torn down. The site was originally home to the Michigan Carton Company, founded in 1907. Field Container acquired the company in 1984, and it merged with Graphic Packaging in 2008. GPI closed the Battle Creek plant in August 2022, when its operations were merged with those of the newly-expanded Kalamazoo location. The site, located along the concrete embankments of the Kalamazoo River falls within the boundaries of the ongoing river naturalization / restoration project, and the property will be donated to Battle Creek Unlimited by New Mill Capital Holdings once it is cleared. It will be made into green space while it awaits future plans -

Prior to demolition -


Source: Battle Creek Unlimited

And during demolition, a few weeks ago -








Source: LinkedIn | Battle Creek Unlimited


Source: Facebook | Gary Baker

[deja vu]

Happy New Year!

Here's hoping that 2025 brings some big, positive development news!

To send out the old and ring in the new, here's a few (brilliant) drone shots of Kalamazoo, taken by William Dolak, back in November, after Daylight Savings Time ended (so, around 4pm ) -


Source: Facebook | William Dolak






Source: Facebook | William Dolak

And here's one more bonus shot by Bill, of Bronson Park, all decked-out for the holidays, in early December -


Source: Facebook | William Dolak

[deja vu]

Some restaurant news -

Texas Township -

Cravings Corners, a spinoff of Craving’s Deli (housed within Pacific Rim Foods) opened in a new, standalone building in the ever-suburbanizing Texas Township this past November (8107 Vineyard Pkwy). It was originally scheduled to open in November 2022, but COVID-related delays ensued -


Source: Google | Cravings Corners

Portage -

Demolition on the first Arby's constructed in Kalamazoo County started last week. It was built in 1968, in the original vintage "barn" style. It went through several remodels, but the iconic cowboy hat sign was eventually removed and it has sat vacant for the past decade. No word yet on what will replace this property in the heavily-trafficked Westnedge / I-94 strip (5333 S Westnedge Ave.) -


Source: Facebook | Edward Newhouse

Kalamazoo -

This is a bit older news, but the old Brewster's Restaurant (at 5135 Portage Rd.) was also demolished in November. It originally housed a Bill Knapp's restaurant. We know that this was necessary work to make way for the proposed hotel-adjacent Residence Inn -


Source: Facebook | Christine Orozco

[deja vu]

Portage -

Some pretty interesting news for The Crossroads mall, specifically, the vacant Sears store, which has been vacant since 2019 -

Go-karts, skating rink, laser tag and bar coming to shuttered Portage Sears
Audrey Whitaker | MLive
January 4, 2025

PORTAGE, MI — Zap Zone XL is moving into the former home of Sears at The Crossroads mall in Portage. The entertainment company purchased 6780 S. Westnedge Ave. for $2.78 million in October 2024, public records show. The project will require a $12 to $15 million investment, President Mike Hafez said in a liquor license application. It’ll take about 100 contractors to build and create 150 new jobs once open. The 158,186 square-foot entertainment facility will cater to families as well as adult and corporate outings, Hafez said. Plans include “state-of-the-art” attractions including bowling, go-karts, an adventure park, a skating rink, laser tag, mini golf and an arcade across two floors. Zap Zone was one of three applicants for Portage’s liquor license in December 2024, city records show...

The exact address is 6780 S Westnedge Ave. (south end of the mall). I think it will do well, at least initially. There is some nearby competition from similar entertainment venues like Airway Fun Center and Revel & Roll, but not on this scale. And even if it only makes it a few years, this is the kind of development I think will help redirect the mall's longer-term future - from a precipitous decline to a more stable and inventive future as an entertainment destination (vs. purely a shopping one).

Here's a similar venue, opened in Ypsilanit in 2022. This one will reportedly be ~2x the size -


Source: Annie Barker | Detroit Free Press

Now, if they could just secure a Lego store and an aquarium...

[deja vu]

Kalamazoo -

These photos are a few weeks old now, but they show foundation progress and the first few cores rising at the River's Edge housing development -







Source: LinkedIn | Abonmarche

[deja vu]

Kalamazoo -

More older development news that I'm getting around to posting here... Last fall, El Concilio - a Hispanic community support and advocacy organization, celebrated the opening of its new headquarters at 2501 Millcork St. (the former Kalsee Credit Union HQ). The $5.5 million renovation houses a bilingual preschool, folk dance studio space, offices, and meeting spaces. The organization is still raising funds for additional improvements, including a planned soccer field. The below images are from the grand opening on Friday, October 4, 2024 -










Source: NowKalamazoo | Reid Williams

[deja vu]

Kalamazoo -

Lofts at Ironworks progress shots, from December and January (this is the residential conversion project where they are adding three levels atop an existing 2-story building) -




Source: LinkedIn | PlazaCorp

[deja vu]

Comstock Township -

Local manufacturer Landscape Forms has announced a big expansion to its headquarters in Comstock Twp. When complete, the $70 million, 300,000 SF addition will add manufacturing space, storage space, and related office space, and it will bring an estimated 125 additional jobs to its current workforce of ~500. SmithGroup is providing A/E services, and construction will be led by Miller-Davis. The project is expected to break ground in Q2 of this year, and it is estimated to wrap up in Q4 of 2027 -

Landscape Forms Expanding Manufacturing, Bringing Jobs and Economic Growth to Southwest Michigan
World-class facility will set standard for sustainability and incorporate whole-person wellness into manufacturing
Landscape Forms Press Announcement
January 16, 2025

While it might not be the sexiest of developments, it is great news from a local economic perspective -



Preserving and restoring 58 acres of natural wetlands / habitat is also a critical part of the work -


Source: Landscape Forms | SmithGroup

[deja vu]

Kalamazoo -

After a deal fell through to purchase a former Holiday Inn Express and convert it into a homeless shelter, a new location has been announced by Kalamazoo County. The former Country Inn & Suites (1912 E Kilgore Service Rd) is the new target property for conversion to an 80-unit temporary family shelter. It must have closed pretty recently, because as of my writing this, you can still book a room online. The $5.7 million conversion project is expected to include comprehensive support services, things like job training, childcare, mental health counseling, and life skills development. It is scheduled to open sometime in mid-2025. The hotel is already furnished and is located near a bus stop and other resources (like a Salvation Army). It is basically kitty-corner to the recently-proposed Residence Inn along Portage Road -

Former hotel to become 80-unit homeless family shelter in Kalamazoo Co.
Brielle Meyer | WZZM 13
January 21, 2025

Source: booking.com

[deja vu]

Well I guess this is better than a surface parking lot -

New parking garage coming to downtown Kalamazoo
Brad Devereaux | MLive
January 24, 2025

[deja vu]

Kalamazoo -

Renderings of WMU's new Residence hall - which will replace the recently-demolished Valley 3 dorms - have been shared publicly. WMU approved $85 million in bonds to help fund the estimated $110 million project, which is planned to provide housing for more than 1,000 first-year students upon its scheduled completion, in time for the fall 2026 semester. The hall will offer pod-style rooms, workspaces, and a central lounge. More info at WMU's website -

PHOTOS: $110 million residence hall coming to Western Michigan University
by Mackenize Dekker | WWMT News Channel 3
February 7, 2025

New $110M residence hall under construction at WMU
Aya Miller | MLive
February 7, 2025

Unofficially, I rank this in the top 5 'current' construction projects within the city proper (based on estimated total construction cost). The exterior renderings I like. The interior views look a little, well... understated. Perhaps just underdeveloped -
















Source: WMU | Hanbury

[jkazoo]

Lots of plans, but a declining number of HS grads in Michigan is may lead to the same result as the 2018 Hilltop Village plan: not much change in campus "feel", only a building or two replaced. Not sure the "Multicultural Center" will get far in this climate. For a plan that mentions "density", there's a lot of open space in the middle of a small metropolitan area.

Here's the PDF approved by Trustees.

[DetroitMan]

Hotels may foot bill for new $40M youth sports complex in Kalamazoo County

Hotel officials across Kalamazoo County are expected to vote in the coming months on whether to add a 4% incremental lodging assessment that would pay for a new $40 million youth sports complex.

The facility, in planning stages since 2022, is being championed by Discover Kalamazoo. It’s separate from the $300 million arena being built in downtown Kalamazoo.

The location for the youth sports complex hasn’t been finalized. More than 30 sites have been studied and three undisclosed locations are finalists, said Jane Ghosh, Discover Kalamazoo president and CEO. The facility’s aim is to fill a gap for youth basketball and volleyball, while also bringing sports tourism to the county. Discover Kalamazoo routinely hosts youth sporting events, bringing in millions of dollars in economic impact each year. Ghosh discussed the proposed funding mechanism to build the 120,000- to 150,000-square-foot facility with the county commission on Tuesday, March 4.

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo...oo-county.html

[deja vu]

Thanks for the updates guys and for keeping this thread alive. I'm still alive too; I've just been out of it for a while. I was at Western this morning, and noticed that the Ellsworth Parking Garage is almost completely demolished. It is unclear if it will be replaced with a new parking deck or something else. It is just listed in the master plan as a future opportunity for potential replacement. So we will keep an eye out.

In other news, foundations for the downtown event center are moving along. I think we can expect to see steel rising out of the ground within a few weeks and I will try to get some more-current photos soon.

[deja vu]

Kalamazoo -

I have a backlog of updates to get to. First - and you can probably tell from the snow on the ground - these construction photos; which are over a month old now (74 F yesterday!) -

River's Edge -





Lofts at Ironworks -





Event Center -