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Michigan Tri-Cities / Great Lakes Bay Region development
It seems that Bay City,MI is experiencing a real renaissance in its downtown developments. Here are just a couple of examples
Mill End Lofts -24 Units http://media.mlive.com/mid-michigan-...eee5cfacf0.jpg http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-mi...ts_projec.html LaPorte Building Condos/Knepp Building Apartments Developer Tom Laporte is developing three 1,300 square-foot, two bedroom, two bathroom condos to the third floor of the LaPorte Building at Fifth and Washington. LaPorte said if he can secure a government loan to the tune of $4 million, he will renovate the adjacent Knepp Building on Washington Avenue, creating 21 apartment units on three floors. The one and two-bedroom apartments will rent for about $1,500 per month. http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-mi...ty_living.html Uptown at Rivers' Edge This 43-acre redevelopment of an old industrial site on the Bay City waterfront is currently underway. The first phase will cost $50 million and consist of the following: Dow Corning is currently constructing a 100,000 sq foot building which will open in 2014. When completed an estimated 400-500 people, mainly administrative positions, will work there. Chemical Bank is constructing a 15,000 sq foot building and McLaren Bay Region Health is planning a 10 acre site in the development. http://www.uptownbaycity.com |
The Mill End lofts is a pleasant surprise. I wasn't too happy about seeing this building demoed. I heard it was in rough shape, but this is certainly a nice replacement.
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Some recent news on Uptown River's Edge
http://www.abc12.com/story/23479349/...ge-development http://www.mybaycity.com/images/2013/admin-0004406.jpg http://www.mybaycity.com/scripts/p3_...ArticleID=8066 |
I'd be interested in helping dust this thread off, or maybe just starting a fresh one, devoted to the entire Michigan Great Lakes Saginaw Bay Region. It would primarily focus on the substantial Bay City, Saginaw, and Midland developments. Since this thread has been dead since 2013 (and after just 3 posts) are there any opposed to me just starting a clean, new one that can encompass more development?
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:deadthread: (but it need not be!) |
Your choice. Same with the AA thread which has been open for 10 years. Detroitman and I had chatted about old threads this last weekend. Personally I still like following these threads but don’t have the interest in maintaining them now that I’m out of state. Plus the spirit toward any of our input is somewhat negative and I guess left for local members to discuss.
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I'll try and get this thread moving again - I usually have a little more time on weekends - and we can see where it goes. And thanks to whoever updated the thread title (LMich?). |
First, to get this kick-started, a little background on the region, which I will continue to develop:
Saginaw, Michigan Skyline - https://hhvjmg.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Pinterest (edited) Midland, Michigan downtown aerial - https://fbvjmg.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Twitter (edited) Bay City, downtown aerial - https://hxvjmg.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Youtube (screenhsot) The Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Combined Statistical Area is an area surrounding the Saginaw Bay and Saginaw River. It currently comprises an estimated 380,000 persons (2017 estimate). Within this CSA are the three MSA's for each of the three principal cities, which are often referred to as the Tri-Cities:
At a city level, the combined population of the three anchor cities peaked in 1960 (around 180,000 - equivalent to the size of Grand Rapids MI at the same time period). The populations of Saginaw and Bay City have both been dropping since then. Today, Saginaw has about half the population that it did compared to its peak of about 100,000 in the 1960's. Midland, on the other hand, has generally continued a trend of slow growth / stability. Here is a chart of the city populations that I put together. The top line is the sum of all three - https://hbvjmg.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Historically, these MSA's have shared a variety of regional resources and been anchored by heavy manufacturing. This trend is still apparent today. MBS International Airport is utilized by the entire CSA, and manufacturing still plays a major role in the local economies. The following major businesses currently operate in the area:
Midland-based Dow Chemical Manufacturing Facilities dominates the landscape - https://irvjmg.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: 2016, Jeff Schrier | MLive Tourism is also a big draw in the region, with boating and water-based recreational activities being a major draw. The annual Tall Ships celebration in Bay city is a very popular one. Erie, PA's Flagship Niagara (a replica of the 1812 ship) - https://ghvjmg.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: April 2013 Photo | susankeogh.wordpress.com The region is home to a lot of unique architecture, most notably, a lot of mid-century modern designs. The area is a mecca for architectural enthusiasts, considered on-par with Columbus, Indiana for the shear volume of high-quality modern structures. In large part, this heritage is due to the presence of Dow Chemical in Midland and the work of one local Architect, Alden B. Dow, who was the son of the company founder, Herbert Henry Dow. Alden apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright before opening his own firm in Midland, where he worked on projects that transformed the local landscape from the 1930s through 1970s. Without doubt, the most famous of these is his own home and studio, which can be toured today - https://gxvjmg.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Alden B. Dow Home & Studio Website Another popular site in Midland is a three-way pedestrian bridge, known as "The Tridge". Recently, programmable LED lights were installed. https://ibvjmg.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Reddit |
As a catch-up, an update is in order for the several projects that were initially shared on this thread in 2013 by DetroitMan.
1. The Mill End Lofts development (808 N. Water St.) was completed in 2014. Three Rivers Corp. (out of Midland) was the Architectural design lead and construction manager. https://gxvqgw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://ibvqgw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Three Rivers Corporation 2. Conversely, the historic LaPorte and Knepp Building apartment redevelopment never happened. In 2017, owner Tom LaPorte put the buildings up for sale for $2 million indicating his intent to retire from the real estate business and sell these property assets. Quote:
Source: Jacob Hamilton | MLive 3. Meanwhile, the massive Uptown at Rivers' Edge development, now simply known as Uptown Bay City, has been very successful, and is still growing. A whole micro-economy has formed in this live / work / lifestyle center located south of the historic downtown. The 35-acre former brownfield site (once home to Industrial Brownhoist) now has new life. Currently, there is a four story mixed-use building with ground floor retail / restaurants and condominiums above (you can click here for the virtual tour of two of the units). Additionally, there is also a four story-story Courtyard Marriott, a four-story office building housing Michigan Sugar Company's Corporate Headquarters and business incubators that are partnered with Central Michigan University's Research Corp. Dow Chemical has a standalone structure, as does another restaurant, Real Seafood Co. right next door. McClaren has a building here, and there are also brownstone-style townhomes. Aerial View - circa 2017 - https://fbvqgw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive Construction Progress, circa 2015 - https://hbvq4q.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Uptown Bay City Development Map - https://frvqgw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Uptown Bay City |
Bay City - Crapo Building Restoration / 'The Legacy'
Now on to a more current project in Bay City.
The historic Crapo Building is receiving a major facade restoration and a conversion into a mixed-use building. The five-story structure is smack in the middle of downtown at the 213 Center Ave.. It was constructed in 1890 with Richardsonian-inspired detailing. Sadly, in 1960, as was often the case at the time, the owners decided they wanted to 'freshen up' the facade, and they covered up the entire thing with aluminum panels. The building quickly become known as 'the cheese grater.' Fortunately, much of the original facade was left intact beneath the 1960's skin, and in 2017, that cloak finally came back off. Developer Jenifer Acosta has re-dubbed the building 'The Legacy' as a nod to its prominence in the downtown scene. She is maintaining a relatively-frequently-updated facebook page with construction updates. The $12 million redevelopment to effort restore the facade and convert the interior into ground floor retail space with 26 apartments on floors 2 through 5 is expected to be completed Fall 2018. There will be at least one restaurant in the refreshed building. Quinn Evans was the Architect, and Detroit-based Grunwell-Cashero is doing the masonry restoration work. Some photos below - An historic photo of the Crapo Building (c. early 1900's) - https://ibvq4q.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Jenifer Acosta Development | Courtesy local archives The 1960's facade (photo is from 2014) - https://ghs1bq.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive File Photo Removal of the exterior facade in July, 2017 - https://hbs1bq.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive | Tori Schneider With the 1960's facade removed (July 2017) - https://hrs1bq.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive | Jacob Hamilton An historic stair detail inside the building, taken July, 2017 - https://fbvq4q.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive | Tori Schneider The interior first floor, where Chemical Bank was the most recent tenant, in July, 2017 - https://frvq4q.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive | Tori Schneider Construction progress photo - April 10, 2018 - a crane lifts new HVAC equipment onto the roof - https://gxvq4q.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive | Jacob Hamilton Interior Rendering - Living Room - https://hhvq4q.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Jenifer Acosta Development Interior Rendering - Kitchen - https://hxvq4q.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Jenifer Acosta Development An exterior rendering of the finished project - https://irvq4q.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Jenifer Acosta Development Finally, here is a brief time lapse of those aluminum panels coming down. It's like unwrapping a present that has been sitting under the tree for nearly 60 years. How cool! |
Well--
125-year-old Victorian demolished on one of state's most historic row of homes Quote:
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Jumping to Midland (or thereabouts)...
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https://hhs1bq.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://fbs1bq.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Jake May | MLive |
The Court Street Theatre in downtown Saginaw has been undergoing renovation efforts for the past few years. I don't know much about this classic one-screen movie house, but I like the vintage feel that the new owner has tried to recapture. Many more photos at the article below -
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https://ghsgyw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: Jacob Hamilton | MLive |
There was a structural collapse yesterday in a building that was part of the former Dow headquarters complex. The building was in the process of being demolished, and there were no injuries.
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This is a pretty neat / unique project underway in Whiting Forest (Dow Gardens) in Midland. It is set to open later this year. Lots of cool photos at the article site below -
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https://eabdsw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive | Jacob Hamilton |
The new farmer's market in Saginaw is open for business -
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OMG what were they thinking when they did this?
https://ibvq4q.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://ghs1bq.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none https://hrs1bq.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Pure insanity. At least they did not bulldoze the sight for a parking lot. But the base and the Sullivan arches of this grand building are gone. It boggles the mind how stupid humans can be. |
Mid-century America was dumber than rocks.
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Yeah it was terrible. The only fortunate thing was when they reclad they didn’t do any lasting permanent damage.
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A symbolic 'groundbreaking' was held on May 21, 2018 for the new Saginaw County jail. The direct-observation layout for the new $35.8 million structure has been promoted as a way to reduce the amount of staff required to operate the jail while increasing prisoner capacity. Spence Brothers is the CM for the project and Missouri-based Goldberg Group Architects designed the jail. It is expected to be completed by November 2019 - a pretty quick schedule.
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Source: MLive | Courtesy Saginaw County / GGA https://uwtppq.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none Source: MLive | Courtesy Saginaw County / GGA |
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