WEST MICHIGAN | General Developments

[deja vu]

Berrien Springs -

Berrien Springs Public Schools - Arts & Athletic Center - August progress -










Source: LinkedIn | Millies Engineering Group

[deja vu]

Allegan -

This is actually a pretty cool company. I've spec'd their products on projects in the past, and it's good to see them expanding in the area -

Fast-growing Advanced Architectural Products investing in $1.1M expansion
Shandra Martinez | The Lakeshore
August 30, 2021

Advanced Architectural Products was named among the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States, according to Inc. Magazine. Only 28 businesses in West Michigan made the list. One sign of that growth is Advanced Architectural’s plans to invest $1.1 million to expand its facility at 959 Industrial Drive in the city of Allegan. ..

Source: The Lakeshore | Courtesy

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

The 30-acre site redevelopment called "Adelaide Pointe" has grown from a $150 million to $250 million proposal (this is the former West Michigan Steel / Westran Corp. site). There are some more developed conceptual renderings now, compared to what was made public before -

New images capture vision, interest for Muskegon Lake’s Adelaide Pointe
Christa Ferguson | Wood TV 8
August 24, 2021

Project specs include:

• 275-slip marina
• 3-story mixed-use building, to contain an event center (3rd floor), restaurant (2nd floor), and boat dealership (1st / ground floor)
• 300 condominiums
• Three public parks
• 72 watercraft slips for visitors
• 200-slip in-and-out boat service
• 165,000 square feet of winter boat storage (the largest of its kind in West Michigan)
• 25-yard pool
• New public beach
• "Softened" peninsula edges with vegetation
• Solar panels for each facility,
• Green roofs
• Mass Timber construction

Edgewater Resources (President - Greg Weykamp) is serving as site architect and designer to the developer (Ryan Leestma - co-founder). Crews have already cleared about 100 trees, filled and leveled the land, and removed about (120) 20 CY dumpsters of debris from the site. The in-and-out docks are currently being installed, and work is ongoing in the boat storage facility.

The revised development timeline from the developer's website:

Phase I – 2021
Complete restoration and environmental remediation of site and existing buildings, assembly of team and creation of site engineering and architecture (in-progress / on-track)

Phase II – 2022
Begin construction of first 55-unit mass timber condo building and infrastructure, commence restoration and construction of parks and marina basins

Phase III – 2023
Installation of 270 slip marina, begin mass timber condo/retail building II

Phase IV – 2024 and beyond
Construction of mass timber condo buildings, expansion of retail development, construction of other vacation and rental residential dwellings

"Soft Reveal", from August 2021 -

• Video Link

June 2021 Promo Video -

• Video Link

















Some aerial views of the site -




Source: Wood TV 8 | Courtesy Adelaide Pointe

[deja vu]

Another article on Adelaide Pointe, including this site plan -

Developers unveil details for $250M, 30-acre Muskegon lakefront site
Kate Carlson | MiBiz
August 19, 2021

Source: MiBiz | Courtesy Adelaide Pointe

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

It would be great if this actually started moving now. This former bank building has been vacant for four years. It was completed in 1962 as National Lumberman's Bank of Muskegon. Most recently, it was home to Huntington Bank. Apparently, the tower was designed and built to house the state’s first rooftop heliport, which, if true, is pretty impressive for lil' 'ol Skeeg.

Mixed-use project will repurpose vacant downtown Muskegon bank building
Rose White | MLive
September 6, 2021

MUSKEGON, MI – A historic bank building in downtown Muskegon will be redeveloped into a mixed-use space after being vacant for four years. Core Development Group plans to repurpose the six-story tower at 221 W. Webster Ave. into offices, commercial space and apartments.
..

There could be 16 - 22 market-rate apartments on the upper four floors. The helipad area would be converted into a roof deck with amenities for residents. Plans include a new restaurant and retail space in the ground floor, with commercial space above that. There is also a separate drive-thru bank building on the property that could be converted into another restaurant or a bar.




Source: MLive | Rose White

[subterranean]

I grew up in Michigan wondering why there were so little resort-style development along Lake Michigan. I get that for like 5 months out of the year most people probably don't think of going to the beach, but there are a lot of indoor style activities that could offset this it would seem. The west coast of Michigan may never be Florida, but can anyone tell me why more development like that hasn't happened, particularly with all of the Chicago tourism?

[Thirteen Mile]

It’s been a bit of a mystery to me too. It’s often sites that being in lake effect territory stunted cities like Muskegon while the main urban centers of GR and Kzoo are 50-60 miles east a bit too far to influence until recently.

Muskegon is a good example of the heavy industry and shipping dominating its waterfront making redevelopment more difficult.

But one of the biggest factors even for fellow great lakers many find it hard to imagine just how beautiful Michigan’s coast is especially with the leeward winds birthing wide sandy beaches and of course dunes.

Traverse City is a good example of the direction other west coast MI cities are heading, granted its special up there but there’s plenty of what makes NW lower great dunes, beaches and picturesque towns. That there’s definitely a flow from Chicago and Detroit of people permanently locating now that working from home is becoming so well excepted.

[deja vu]

I think it's a combination of factors. Geography, weather, infrastructure, industry, local politics / policies, and the resulting development patterns over time. The west coast of Michigan is heavily tourism-based, it just looks a little different from Miami Beach. It's more of a "cottage-tourism". I think ideologically, a lot of people are attracted to that smaller-beach-town feel, because it can't be found in large metros & urban places like Chicago & Detroit. I think West Michigan towns recognize their uniqueness and try to capitalize on it by preserving the small-town feel with their ordinances and tourism programs.

[DetroitSky]

And a lot of residents of these small beach towns tend to be against any sizable developments. There’s been plenty of cases where a developer wants to build a 3-4 story waterfront hotel and the locals freak out.

[subterranean]

Those are all pretty much in the realm of what I figured to be the case. Still, there’s a lot of unincorporated beachfront combined with towns that have seen better days economically that could probably benefit from such development.

[deja vu]

Grand Haven -

The first homes at Robinson Landing are under construction. Sorry there aren't better photos; this is as sexy as it gets, folks. This is Phase 1 of a 30-home development -






Source: LinkedIn | MCC

[deja vu]

Update on two of the bigger projects being built in Holland -

Progress continues on River Avenue multi-use developments
Cassandra Lybrink | The Holland Sentinel
September 10, 2021

The River Place (5-story mixed-use / senior living) at the northwest corner of River Avenue and Ninth Street is fully-enclosed and the exterior finishes are mostly complete -




Source: Cassandra Lybrink | The Holland Sentinel

At the Towers on River (5-story mixed-use / condos) at the northeast corner of River Avenue and Seventh Street, concrete structures are rising above-grade -


Source: Cassandra Lybrink | The Holland Sentinel

[deja vu]

Some more housing-related news, from Muskegon -

$5 million in COVID-19 relief funding to support construction of middle-class homes in Muskegon
Lynne Moore | MLive
September 12, 2021

MUSKEGON, MI – Muskegon is leveraging $5 million of COVID-19 relief funds to attract another $5 million for construction of new middle-class housing. Officials believe they can recoup much of the city’s money, depending on the types of homeowner assistance they decide to provide, to continue reinvesting in the city...

Muskegon’s housing ‘catalyst project,’ Terrace Point Landing, is nearly complete
Rose White | MLive
September 3, 2021

MUSKEGON, MI – Terrace Point Landing, a neighborhood on Muskegon Lake, is nearly full six years after construction first kicked off. Only one waterfront lot remains in the newly built 70-unit neighborhood...

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

The new 73-unit apartment development at 1021 Jefferson St., named Ten21, opened to residents last week. It is expected to be 100% occupied by the end of September, with 60 people remaining on a waitlist (maybe they could have built a few more floors). Tenants must meet income eligibility requirements, with rents restricted to 30-80% of the city’s area median income. A one-bedroom apartment ranges from $269 to $815 a month, and a two bedroom ranges from $460 to $950 a month -

‘Tremendous demand’ fills new affordable apartment building in downtown Muskegon
Rose White | MLive
September 16, 2021

Source: Rose White | MLive

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

Pigeon Hill has plans to convert their former production facility (at 441 W. Western Ave.) into a a multifaceted entertainment venue (right next to the new convention center, arts center, and the revamped Delta Hotel). They are counting on a ten-year tax exemption, which freezes the taxable value of the building and exempts any new real property investment from local taxes. To qualify for the tax exemption, the work needs to be completed within two years -

Pigeon Hill plans ‘unique entertainment’ complex, complete with beer, in downtown Muskegon
Lynn Moore | MLive
Sep. 17, 2021

MUSKEGON, MI – A “unique” entertainment complex with bowling, golf simulator, arcade games and, of course, beer is planned for a prime location in downtown Muskegon. A co-owner of Pigeon Hill Brewing Company recently gave the Muskegon City Commission a sneak peek of the company’s plans for its former production facility on West Western Avenue...

The $650,000 redevelopment will include a tap room, ice cream shop, meeting space, and retail suites. Remodel work has already commenced -




Source: MLive | Lynn Moore

[deja vu]

Albion -

I'm happy for the school & excited for the community that this project is moving forward. The groundbreaking ceremony for Albion College's new Body and Soul Center was held over the weekend. It is a repurposing of the 1928 Washington Gardner High School building -


Source: LinkedIn | Albion College

Renderings, shared previously -



Source: Albion College

[deja vu]

Wayland -

The $100 million "Phase 4" expansion at Gun Lake Casino is finished. The project doubles the size of the gaming floor and includes expanded dining & entertainment options. With this work now complete, the owners can shift their focus toward the announced $300 million hotel addition...

Gun Lake Casino opens 3 restaurants Friday with fanfare, circus performers
Christa Ferguson | Wood TV 8
September 15, 2021

Source: Wood TV 8

Here's a tour from about two months before opening -

• Video Link

[deja vu]

Marshall -

Last Kmart store in Michigan preparing to close
JC Reindl | Detroit Free Press
September 27, 2021

My first real job was the graveyard shift at the Shelby Township KMart (Van Dyke & 23 Mile Rd). That one closed down about 4 years ago. There's some photos through the decades at the article link of various stores. Anyone else nostalgic for KMart?!

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

$250M Adelaide Point development on Muskegon Lake gets city approval, praise for public property upgrades
Lynn Moore | MLive
October 3, 2021

Plans for a $250 million mixed-use development on Muskegon Lake that incorporates lots of public access, including a new fishing pier and boat launch, have received final approval from the city. Muskegon city commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 28, praised the design of Adelaide Point earlier this week when they approved the planned unit development for the property on Western Avenue behind Cole’s bakery...

[deja vu]

I can't imagine they would locate this so far from Grand Rapids, just to have a lakefront setting. Will keep an eye out for results of any feasibility studies to come.

Shore of Muskegon Lake may be location for John Ball Zoo's $150 million aquarium project
Jon Mills | WZZM 13
September 28, 2021; Updated September 29, 2021

Muskegon Museum of Art selects architect to make $9.9M expansion a reality
Rose White | MLive
August 30, 2021

The architect will actually be two design firms - Boston-based Ann Beha Architects (specializing in historic preservation) and Grand Rapids-based MATHISON | MATHISON ARCHITECTS.