Michigan Tri-Cities / Great Lakes Bay Region development

[deja vu]

Love it or hate it, this former field on the western edge of Midland is now home to Mid-Michigan's only Costco. The 157,000 SF super store opened to the public just in time for the holidays, on November 12. This development reflects the city's shifting attitudes to re-focus the Bay City Road Corridor (that connects to US-10) from residential development to commercial and industrial development. This Costco is a regional draw - attracting a customer base from the entire Saginaw Bay region and creating 160 new jobs (+ 60 transfers from other Costcos).

Hindsight 2020: Costco jumpstarts Bay City corridor upgrade
Ashley Schafer | Midland Daily News
December 19, 2020

Source: Midland Daily News | Katy Kildee

[deja vu]

Shaheen Development is moving along on a new mixed-use project in downtown Saginaw. Though fairly small, this is still some encouraging infill to see in the city's core. The first floor will house a State Bank branch, and floors 2 & 3 will have a combined (4) apartment units known as "Goodridge Lofts". The new building is located at 218 S. Washington Ave. on former surface parking, across from the Farmers Market building. This actually started in the summer, but it's the first I've been aware of it.

I appreciate the historic detailing on this, and the re-establishment of the historic street wall. And the true-masonry detailing actually looks pretty good.

Downtown Saginaw has a new 3-story building and here is what’s going inside
Heather Jordan | MLive
December 22, 2020

Source: MLive | Kaytie Boomer

[deja vu]

St. Mary’s hospital renovation, expansion project on track for completion in fall 2021
Heather Jordan | MLive
December 17, 2020

SAGINAW, MI — Ascension St. Mary’s hospital in Saginaw is on track to complete its ongoing $17.6 million renovation and expansion project in fall 2021. Ascension St. Mary’s broke ground on the project in fall 2019. The entire project consists of six phases and includes renovating and updating the existing emergency department space, said Marketing Communications Manager Christine Bergman...

The new emergency care center phase of the work will be up and running in January 2021.










Source: MLive | Kaytie Boomer

[deja vu]

Crews are literally racing against the clock to make critical repairs to the failed Edenville dam before the Spring thaw. The objective is simple: lower the spillway crest on the Tobacco River side so that water is diverted back to flowing into the Tobacco River. This, in turn, lowers the overall impoundment level of the dam to a safe elevation. Right now, the Tobacco River is diverted off its channel and it flows directly into the Tittabawassee (when the dam initially failed, the Tobacco started cutting through its causeway, which resulted in it lowering its levels to a point where it can no longer flow over the spillway).

The risk of further failure and destruction is still incredibly high, if the flow of water and impoundment levels cannot be controlled. February 15, 2021 is the targeted completion date. The below article explains just how tenuous the whole situation still is. I can't imagine the stress of owning a residence on Wixom Lake or along these rivers right now - there are many reports of angry residents and plummeting home values.

Crews Race to Repair Edenville Dam Before Thaw
Lori Tobias | Construction Equipment Guide Correspondent
January 06, 2021

Emergency work on a failed dam in Midland County, Mich., has Fisher Contracting Co. crews working six days a week on a tight timeline under risky conditions.

Source: CEG | Courtesy MI Dept. of EGLE

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by deja vu

Shaheen Development is moving along on a new mixed-use project in downtown Saginaw. Though fairly small, this is still some encouraging infill to see in the city's core. The first floor will house a State Bank branch, and floors 2 & 3 will have a combined (4) apartment units known as "Goodridge Lofts". The new building is located at 218 S. Washington Ave. on former surface parking, across from the Farmers Market building. This actually started in the summer, but it's the first I've been aware of it.

I appreciate the historic detailing on this, and the re-establishment of the historic street wall. And the true-masonry detailing actually looks pretty good.








Source: MLive | Kaytie Boomer

I’ve been appreciative of what the Shaheen family has done for Saginaw. Hopefully this will lead to similar development like this on other vacant corners. I agree that the historic detailing looks really nice.

[DetroitSky]

^^^^ I had no idea that existed either. Looks good. Now if only downtown Saginaw could get about a dozen more of those and some restorations. There's so much potential in downtown Saginaw but so little being done.

[deja vu]

With state legislation passed at the end of 2020, Bay City's Independence and Liberty Bridges will become privately managed. The city was already planning on this - it just needed the law to catch up. Tolls are expected.

State clears way to allow private company to move toward leasing Independence and Liberty bridges
Caitlyn French | MLive
December 31, 2020

BAY CITY, MI - New legislation recently set the stage for other municipalities to follow in Bay City’s footsteps by entering into public-private partnerships for infrastructure improvements.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer put the final stamp of approval on a set of bills that allow municipalities throughout the state to engage with private companies to improve aging bridge infrastructure and to authorize the implementation of tolling measures...The bills will allow private company United Bridge Partners and its local subsidiary Bay City Bridge Partners (BCBP) to lease the Liberty Bridge and Independence Bridge from the city of Bay City while improving both structures and implementing tolls.

“That’ll basically allow the Bay City improvements to move forward under a leasing option. United Bridge Partners will lease the bridges from the city and then improve them at no cost to the city and implement tolling to cover those costs,” said Kevin Bischel, BCBP project director...

[deja vu]

Saginaw -

Some before & after interior views of the former Lee Mansion, now called The Lee Commons. Once finished, this will become a welcome center, community hub, and leasable space for micro-businesses -








Source: Instagram | theleecommons

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by DetroitSky

^^^^ I had no idea that existed either. Looks good. Now if only downtown Saginaw could get about a dozen more of those and some restorations. There's so much potential in downtown Saginaw but so little being done.

I was really sad to see a whole row of early 20th century buildings torn down along Genesee maybe 7-10 years ago. They were pretty sold looking and intact. Never saw a reason they couldn't be saved. It will be a large space to fill.

[deja vu]

Spence Brothers always does a good job of sharing public updates on their projects. Here's some -

Saginaw

Mary Free Bed at Covenant HealthCare progress photos -












Source: LinkedIn | Spence Brothers


Alma

Masonic Pathways - Shared Services Building (TSSF Architects) -







Source: LinkedIn | Spence Brothers

Masonic Pathways, SNU Remodel -






Source: LinkedIn | Spence Brothers

[deja vu]

I could do without the "epic" public domain music that seems to accompany every other video like this, but here is a clip of the new ER addition at Ascension St. Mary's (Saginaw) that just opened -

• Video Link

An interior photo of the new ER lobby, from a few weeks ago -


Source: WSGW News Radio


Saginaw Public Schools will take an important step forward later this week and next week with their $100 million bond projects. A series of visioning sessions are scheduled for 01/20, 01/21, and 01/27. These preliminary meetings are geared towards seeking input from students, staff, and community members, respectively. Surveys will also be posted online. A design & construction schedule is anticipated to be ready for the public by mid to late Spring of this year.

Saginaw Schools seeks great ideas for its $100 million construction project
Riley Murdock | MLive
January 11, 2021

SAGINAW, MI - The Saginaw Public Schools community will have the opportunity to influence the district’s upcoming construction and renovation projects at a series of “visioning sessions” scheduled for later this month. Voters approved a $100 million bond proposal for the district during the November 2020 election, paving the way for a sweeping revamp of district facilities, including construction of a new high school. Officials characterized the bond proposal as crucial to the district’s future and its ability to provide a competitive education. Four projects are planned, said Superintendent Ramont Roberts: A new high school at the current Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy site; renovations to create a new home for SASA at the Arthur Hill High School building; a brand-new Handley Elementary School building, creating a “gifted campus” together with the new SASA; and renovations at Saginaw High School to create a new middle school there...

[deja vu]

Mt. Pleasant -

MCC's website indicates that they will begin accepting applications for Broadway Lofts (410 W. Broadway) in September 2021. You can view some older construction photos from Fall 2020, here. There are also some more renderings that have not been shared on here yet -












Source: MCC

[deja vu]

Midland -

Delta College Midland Center is wrapping up, and it looks good










Source: LinkedIn | Spence Brothers

[deja vu]

Midland -

Corteva, one of the three spinoffs of the Dow-DuPont dissolution of 2019, has announced a major investment in Midland to produce organic pesticides. Midland City Council has voted to grant Corteva a 50/50 tac break for the real property portion of the work. Construction is already underway.

Corteva Agriscience to invest $235-million in Midland facility
Charlie Tinker | ABC 12
January 15, 2021

MIDLAND, Mich. (WJRT) (1/15/2020)--A bright spot, emerging at the end of a year defined by record unemployment and hardship. A major investment in the City of Midland could be good news for the entire region. The project in question, centered in the Dow Michigan Operations Industrial Park, promises big money and hope for the future... The Wilmington, Delaware-based company’s estimated $235-million investment will include $45-million in real property and in excess of $180-million in other manufacturing related costs. A Corteva spokesperson told ABC12 Friday that number was still in flux. It includes the cost of a new fermentation building, processing facilities and rehabbing existing buildings. The money would also allow them to retain more than 40 local jobs...

[deja vu]

To accompany the recently-posted renderings, I found some fairly current (2 weeks old) construction progress photos for Mt. Pleasant's Broadway Lofts -


















Source: LinkedIn | MCC

[deja vu]

Saginaw -

The Lee Commons. it's pretty awesome to see this thing lit up at night now!


Source: Instagram | @theleecommons

[deja vu]

Saginaw -

Just a small update from Saginaw / Convent HealthCare - work is progressing in the lower level, where they are converting space into a new Sterile Processing Department -








Source: LinkedIn | Spence Brothers

[deja vu]

Midland -

The Tridge is looking great, all lit up from a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if this is a newer lighting scheme, but I like it -


Source: Instagram | @adamkostus

Sanford -

Sanford Hardware is, in a lot of of ways, a symbol of the destruction from last year's flooding, and now a sign of hope for the rebuilding in this small community northwest of Midland. The old hardware store is one of the larger structures that was totally wiped out almost a year ago. The new, 11,000 SF replacement broke ground last October and is well-along in construction. It is scheduled to open in May, 12 months after it was destroyed -

New Sanford Hardware store set to open in May
Colton Cichoracki | ABC 12
March 2, 2021

After the flooding, May 2020 -


Source: Detroit Free Press | Ryan Garza

Renderings -





Current progress (3/2/21 ABC 12 screen grabs) -






Source: ABC 12

Current progress (3/3/21 interior concrete pour) -


Source: LinkedIn | Three Rivers Corporation