WEST MICHIGAN | General Developments

[DetroitMan]

Lakeshore Advantage plans $15.3M headquarters, startup incubator in downtown Holland

akeshore Advantage Corp., the economic development organization serving Ottawa and Allegan counties, has unveiled plans for a $15.3 million development in downtown Holland that would house a business incubator as well as the organization’s new headquarters.

The “Next Center,” planned at 65 E. Seventh St., will serve as a hub for innovation and business growth by providing resources to help grow startups.

“What this means for Lakeshore Advantage is that we will now be able to co-locate with the startup ecosystem,” Beth Blanton, vice president of engagement at Lakeshore Advantage, told Crain’s Grand Rapids Business.

Lakeshore Advantage announced the center on Wednesday during the organization’s 20th anniversary celebration with more than 250 business and community leaders.

https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/ne...ntown-holland/

[DetroitMan]

Gotion is moving forward with their plant in Big Rapids

Gotion to move forward on $2.4B battery plant near Big Rapids after national security review

The company said the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States determined in its review of the project that its proposed purchase of land in Green Township in Mecosta County "is not a covered real estate transaction and is not a covered transaction under the Defense Production Act of 1950," according to a Gotion news release.A covered transaction is a deal subject to CFIUS jurisdiction. Covered transactions can include foreign investment in the United States and certain real estate transactions by foreign persons reviewed to determine the effect of such deals on U.S. national security.

"We voluntarily submitted all the needed documents to the U.S. Department of Treasury Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to be transparent and accountable and received the response that it is not a covered transaction," Chuck Thelen, vice president of Gotion's North American manufacturing, said in the release.

Gotion submitted to a voluntary CFIUS review in April for its planned factory in Green Township, which has become a lightning rod for criticism and political debate. The plan to build a factory spanning 2 million square feet — and possibly another 1 million square feet on top of the initial footprint — has been effectively on hold for the past month as the company awaited results of the federal review.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/manufa...federal-review

[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

[DetroitMan]

West Michigan aquarium could drive billions into economy, draw visitors nationally, study finds

That’s according to a recently completed feasibility study conducted by Canopy Strategic Partners in coordination with Grand Rapids-based John Ball Zoo, Kent County and the city of Muskegon.

The study sought to determine whether a large-scale aquarium would be economically viable in West Michigan, and whether it should be located in the city of Muskegon or somewhere in Kent County. While the new study from Canopy Strategic Partners remains unreleased, John Ball CEO Peter D’Arienzo discussed some of the higher-level findings in an interview with Crain’s Grand Rapids Business. The partners plan to release the full report publicly in a matter of weeks, he said.

“A good takeaway is the aquarium is absolutely viable, meaning the operating model and market study says it will bring enough people to the state of Michigan that it’s a viable product. We just have to figure out the exact location,” D’Arienzo said. “The model (in the study) is showing more than half the attendance of the aquarium would be coming from outside the state of Michigan, and the reason why that’s so important is that is what drives net economic impact. We’re talking in the billions for economic impact in a 10-year period.”

Partners have yet to select a site for the aquarium, as planning discussions are ongoing and “still at the 50,000-foot level,” said Kent County Administrator Al Vanderberg. If the project ends up coming to fruition in Kent County or Grand Rapids, it would be another large-scale cultural asset that makes the area a destination and serves as an economic driver, Vanderberg said.

https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/ne...y-study-finds/

[deja vu]

It seems like if it went anywhere, it would have to be somewhere in or around Grand Rapids. There's nowhere else in West Michigan that seems like it would feasibly work.

[DetroitMan]

Main Event is opening their first Michigan location in Kentwood next year near Woodland Mall.

Laser tag, bowling coming to Grand Rapids-area mall

A new business is coming to Woodland Mall in Kentwood, complete with a full-service restaurant, laser tag and bowling.

The business, called Main Event Entertainment, will be located at the rear of the north side of the mall behind the Von Maur and Black Rock restaurant, at 3139 28th Street.

The 48,950-square-foot building will technically be a separate structure from the mall, but the entrance will be less than 30 feet from the corridor between Von Maur and Black Rock. Along with a full-service restaurant and bar, planning documents show the business will also have 22 bowling lanes, laser tag, billiard and shuffleboard tables and room for 120 interactive and virtual video games.

Main Event Entertainment is a Dallas-based company founded in 1998. The group has 50 such entertainment centers across the United States.

According to Kentwood Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder, the new business will have different hours than the mall.

“It’s supposed to be located within 25 feet of the mall but it’s a freestanding building,” Golder told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. “They’ll be open later than the mall, they’ll be open until 2 in the morning.”

According to Woodland Mall officials, Main Event is set to open at the mall in 2024. The restaurant inside the building will be “offering chef-inspired cuisines, a high-energy bar with the latest audio-visual technology and private rooms available to rent for birthday parties and other events.”

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rap...area-mall.html

[DetroitMan]

This would be huge for Holland if they are chosen as the North American HQ for LG Energy and would be a feather in the cap of Michigan's emerging electric battery sector.


LG Energy Solution ‘seriously considering' Holland for North American headquarters

LG Energy Solution is positioning its growing operation in Holland to become the company's North American headquarters as it scales up battery manufacturing across the country.

The designation could bring an influx of white-collar and senior-level positions, building on the hundreds of advanced manufacturing jobs LG Energy Solution Michigan is creating in West Michigan with its $1.7 billion lithium ion battery plant expansion in Holland. LG Energy Solution Michigan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seoul, South Korea-based LG Energy Solution. "We are seriously considering making this site the headquarters for North America," Roger Traboulay, project manager at LG Energy Solution Michigan, said during a presentation to local developers Thursday at the expansion site in Holland. "If that happens, it would bring in a whole band of directors and senior persons with (a need for) executive-level housing."

Holland is among the eight plants across the U.S. and Canada that LG is aggressively investing to build capacity and supply chains for automakers that are launching electric vehicle lines, Automotive News reported this week. Once up and running, which is expected by mid-decade, the eight plants would have a combined 300 gigawatt-hours of electric vehicle battery production capacity.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/econom...th-american-hq

[DetroitMan]

Construction firm plans up to 1.4M square feet of industrial property in Holland Township

The firm is working to develop a 77-acre property in Holland Township with the capacity for 1.4 million square feet of industrial real estate, which is nearly double the amount of currently vacant industrial square footage in the region, according to a recent market report.

Doing business as Holland Industrial Development LLC, the Grand Rapids-based construction firm purchased the property from West Ottawa Public Schools on May 12 for $2.9 million, according to property records. The school system previously planned to expand on the parcel, but the project never came to fruition. The property is located just east of U.S. 31 between New Holland and Ransom streets.

“We’ve done quite a bit of industrial construction over the years, and we think there is strong industrial demand across the West Michigan market and a lack of development-ready inventory for large industrial users,” said Chris Beckering, executive vice president of Pioneer Construction. “We’re currently in the process of doing further due diligence and engaging with potential users who have interest in the site.”

https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/ne...land-township/

[DetroitMan]

Downtown Zeeland poised for ‘resurgence’ as 4 projects take shape

Four mixed-use projects and a $10.2 million street refurbishment are underway in downtown Zeeland, signaling a post-pandemic “resurgence” for the West Michigan community, local officials say.

Road crews began working on the street project in June and expect to wrap up in the 2024 construction season. The project includes resurfacing and upgrading Main Avenue as well as adding more snowmelt systems, sidewalks, landscaping, bump outs for pedestrian crossings and to ease traffic, and essentially adding another block on the east end of Zeeland’s current three-block downtown.

As the street upgrades continue, developers are in various stages of building four mixed-use projects around downtown, bringing 83 new residential units as well as space for multiple offices and restaurants.

https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/ne...ts-take-shape/

[deja vu]

^ Great to see Zeeland building up its downtown.

How long until they just rename Benton Harbor "Whirlpoolville"? Or maybe "Maytag, Michigan"? That has a nice ring to it.

Below article is paywalled, but you get the renderings for free -

Whirlpool unveils $60M ‘state-of-the-art’ Michigan tech center
Aya Miller | MLive
August 18, 2023

Source: MLive | Aya Miller

[DetroitMan]

Affordable apartment building proposed near downtown Muskegon

Construction of affordable apartments near downtown Muskegon is being pursued by an Ohio developer that missed out on an earlier development opportunity in the city.

Spire Development plans to seek state assistance in funding a 50- to 100-unit apartment building within sight of the Bayview Towers complex.

Rezoning of 11 lots from R-3 single-family residential to form based code - neighborhood core, was recently approved by the Muskegon City Commission. The new zoning allows apartment buildings that are two to five stories.The rezoned vacant lots primarily are on Allen Avenue, but also on Myrtle Avenue, Jay Street and Amity Avenue.

The 2.2-acre building site comprising the rezoned lots is near the corner of Jay and Allen.

The proposed development would be priced to be affordable for those earning, on average, 60% of the Muskegon County’s average median income, which is $36,360 for a family of 2. Residents would range from those earning 30% of AMI to those earning 80%.

Rents for a two-bedroom unit would start as low as $511 for those at 30%, Muskegon Development Services Director Jake Eckholm told commissioners.

“The intent is to have units that are affordable for the residents who have lived in the neighborhood,” Spire Development’s Vice President of Development Sean McMickle told the commission.

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

[Velvet_Highground]

Hah it’s only a matter time at this point. Though I got to say Maytag Michigan does flow off the tongue.

I’m a little late posting the fest itself but the idea behind it is pretty cool. Planting a Giant Sequoia will offset your carbon footprint for life according to the event organizers. The Great Lakes create unique micro climates in West Michigan that have proven to be very hospitable to the Giant Sequoia. There is a grove in Ludington at the Lake Bluff Arboretum. The climate zone preference for the Giant Sequoia is 6-9 but the moderating effect of summer heat that Lake Michigan has on summer heat and humidity in West Michigan perhaps helps to prevent root rot & fungus. Arboretums in Connecticut & Rhode Island have dealt with such issues as heat and humidity travel up the eastern seaboard in summer. I would imagine that the 6b climate zone in SE MI would face similar challenges to long term growth as in southern New England as Erie & St Clair are smaller and shallow they reach up to 80 degrees in SE MI, not tremendously helpful water temperature to moderate a heatwave.

Shiba Fest


https://treevitalize.com/planting-zones-michigan/

[deja vu]

^ That's pretty cool.

Wayland -

The Gun Lake Casino hotel tower is becoming quite visible from the highway as it begins to rise. Photo taken by me yesterday, while flying by -

[deja vu]

A different (better) view, from the construction feed last evening, just as the clouds broke and right before the sunset -


Source: OxBlue

[DetroitMan]

Local developer plans to buy Muskegon Lake paper mill site for ‘transformational’ housing

A prominent local developer has plans to purchase and redevelop the sprawling Windward Pointe former paper mill site on Muskegon Lake.

Jon Rooks entered a purchase agreement in July for the 122-acre “Windward Pointe” site on Lakeshore Drive that once was home to the Sappi paper mill, Rooks said in an email to MLive/The Muskegon Chronicle.

His plans are to develop a wide variety of housing on the site as well as a marina and multiple public access points. Residential units will range from studio apartments renting for less than $1,000 per month to sprawling homes worth $800,000. The property that includes more than a mile of prime Muskegon Lake frontage was an industrial site for 120 years, operating as a paper mill from 1889 until Sappi Fine Paper shut it down in 2009.

It currently is owned by a group of local investors called Pure Muskegon.

“The Sappi Paper Mill (Windward Pointe) redevelopment requires a purchaser with the ‘know how’ and experience performing similar types of projects,” Rooks wrote. “We felt an obligation to the community to pursue this acquisition and continue what Pure Muskegon started.”

Rooks’ Parkland Properties is taking on another ambitious Muskegon redevelopment project with the $220 million repurposing of the dilapidated former Shaw Walker furniture factory. There, he plans to construct 378 living units as well as retail space. Rooks said his plans for the Windward Pointe property include:

• Large waterfront sites for executive homes costing $600,000 to $800,000.

• Smaller waterfront lots for homes valued at about $150,000 to $250,000.

• Condominiums and townhomes.

• Apartments, including studios renting for as low as $1,000 per month.

• Public access and amenities, including a large public beach, bike trails, sidewalks and multiple fishing areas.

Rooks wrote that he hopes to begin development in spring 2024, starting with development of roads and the sale of building sites.

“Our expectation is that we will start with the homesites adjacent to the water and work backward toward Lakeshore Drive,” Rooks wrote.

The site is currently undergoing cleanup of PFAS contaminants that is being funded by a $15 million state grant. The PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” has been slowly leaching into Muskegon Lake, a member of the property ownership group said earlier.

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/...l-housing.html

[deja vu]

The Windward Pointe development plans have been moving slower than a herd of snails through peanut butter. I understand there was a pandemic. But it's been over 5 years since the initial design charrettes. And the property owners are just now announcing they might have a developer on board, with hopes to begin next spring. I'm very skeptical that this will come to fruition at the fully envisioned scale.

[deja vu]

Marshall -

Woah! You think the UAW strike is a factor in this?

Ford 'pausing' construction of Marshall EV battery plant
Beth LeBlanc, Craig Mauger, and Chad Livengood | The Detroit News
September 25, 2023