WEST MICHIGAN | General Developments

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

Not exactly building development, per se, but how cool would it be to volunteer to help restore this 117-year-old steamer? It is an incredible asset to the city, and could be even more so with a proper restoration. Check out the video in the link - it's fascinating if you're into boats or history -

Milwaukee Clipper calls 'All Aboard', volunteers needed to renovate historic passenger steamer
ABC 13 WZZM
March 17, 2021

Source: Mono Ships & Shipwrecks








Source: Urban Milwaukee

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

Opening day is almost here for the new VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center. A virtual ribbon cutting is scheduled for Monday, April 12 at 2:30pm EST on Facebook Live.

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

The ribbon-cutting for the VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center in downtown Muskegon took place Monday. We can officially move this one from "under construction" to "complete"!

Take a look inside Muskegon’s new high-end convention center
Hope Davison | MLive
April 12, 2021

Source: LinkedIn | Bob Lukens - Visit Muskegon


















Source: MLive | Hope Davison

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

A small sign of confidence for the summer travel season, Muskegon County Airport (MKG) is adding a third daily United Airlines Express flight from Muskegon to Chicago, starting June 3, 2021. F3 Airport, a Milwaukee-based company, now manages MKG -

Enhanced Flight Schedule Makes Flying from Muskegon Even Better
Visit Muskegon
April 14, 2021

Source: Visit Muskegon


And here are just a few more images from Monday's ribbon cutting for the convention center -






Source: LinkedIn | Progressive AE

[deja vu]

Originally Posted by deja vu

4. 1204 and 1148 W. Western Ave. Redevelopment

This is the former site of Westran Austin Trailer Division and Michigan Steel (demolished in 2014). It is one of several key properties that the city has been targeting for redevelopment, as Muskegon Lake transitions from an industrial hub to a mixed-use, live-work destination. Definitely one to keep an eye on!


Source: MLive

Some more info, and preliminary renderings, for this project, now dubbed "Adelaide Pointe". 30+ acres could be redeveloped into a marina, condos, restaurant, and retail space, using the existing boat storage facility as a catalyst / springboard for future phases. $150 million investment projected over the next decade -

Developer envisions building ‘busy maritime community’ on Muskegon Lake
Rose White | MLive
April 14, 2021

Timeline, via the developer's website:

Adelaide Pointe’s Development Plan is a structured, responsible and sustainable ten year project designed to bring people to the water.
Starting in 2021, five major phases will be accomplished.

Phase I – 2021
Boat Storage
Trailered In/Out Service

Phase II – 2022
Forklift In/Out Service

Phase III – 2023/2024
280 Slip Marina, Restaurant, and Retail

Phase IV – 2025
50 Boat Condos

Phase V – 2026
250 Residential Condos

Site Plan -


Phase 3 through Phase 5 - Slip Marina, Restaurant, & Condos


Phase 3 Restaurant, also seen in bottom left corner, previous image -

Source: Adelaide Pointe

[deja vu]

Wayland -

Originally Posted by deja vu

There has been a lot of expansions and investments at Gun Lake Casino in Wayland in recent years. None of it has ever really been highlighted on here (probably because I'm not nuts about casinos, TBH, and it's not super-sexy architecture). But the work is notable, if nothing else for the scale of the investments. For example, the tribe recently completed $76 million, multi-phase expansion project, which included a 5-story, 475,000 SF / 1,200-space parking deck that opened in late 2018, a "High-Limit" gaming room with a new bar that opened in September 2017, and a new 300-seat buffet, slots, table games, and live performance venue in May 2017. That expansion also created space for an additional coat check, a rewards center, a self-serve station, and additional administrative office space.

Now, they are in the midst of another massive, $100 million expansion that will bring 72,000 additional SF of new dining, entertainment, and gaming space. That addition is expected to open sometime later this year, and it's completion will bring the tribe's total investment in the facility to $415 million since its original opening in 2011.

I can only imagine that the next major addition will be a hotel tower. It seems absolutely 100% inevitable that this has to be in the future for a space that has grown this much. Below is an older article, but it provides some details of the current expansion and the casino in general -

Well, not sure about "tower" - but here's the news from yesterday -

Gun Lake Casino unveils plans for $300M expansion to include new hotel, dining options, pool and spa
Ryan Boldrey | MLive
Updated April 19, 2021

This, while they are still in the midst of wrapping up the separate $100 million, 76,000 SF expansion(!) So, now the total building investment since 2011 is $700+ million dollars. Insane.

...Once that project is complete, the $300 million expansion project will begin...[and] will add approximately 250,000 square-feet and extend the property west toward U.S. 131... Included will be a 250-key, 4-diamond hotel offering luxury suites, a full-service spa and 3-meal restaurant. Plans also call for a fully-enclosed glass-domed pool and nightlife entertainment space... Guests will be able to reserve private cabanas and enjoy the pool and hot tub by day and at night there will be live music, DJs, dancing and more...

[deja vu]

Spring Lake -

This is a small blip on the development radar, but at $3.5 million, it's worth a nod. The park in question is a very odd little trailer park / campground that the village has owned for over a century -

Spring Lake campaign raising final funds for Tanglefoot Park renovation
Shandra Martinez | The Lakeshore
April 6, 2021

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

Preliminary information has been released for a new mixed-use, downtown development with an integrated 500-space parking ramp. The ~ $25 million project would be built along West Western Avenue, between Third and Fourth streets - near the new convention center. The parking deck portion - estimated at $15 million - could be wholly funded by state & federal transportation dollars. Preliminary drawings indicate a five-story structure, with commercial space and approximately 50 residential units. The development site is owned by Grand Rapids-based Trillium Ventures, which also owns the nearby Amazon apartments -

$15M parking ramp with residential, retail sought for downtown Muskegon
Lynn Moore | MLive
April 20, 2021

Here are some pretty low-res screen shots from a presentation to the commission -






Source: MLive | Integrated Architecture

[deja vu]

More Muskegon news -

This could be pretty transformative for the downtown area around City Hall and the County Hall of Justice. The automobile-centric Terrace Street is a vestige of the old downtown Muskegon Mall, back when road infrastructure was 'driven' towards moving large quantities of suburbanites into and out of downtown quickly and efficiently. This proposal will turn the four-lane, divided boulevard into a two-lane, two-way street with a possible dedicated bike path. Last year, one lane in each direction was converted to angled, on-street parking, as an initial & temporary measure to curtail traffic. This proposal takes it to the next level.

I'm continuously impressed with how fast this small city is implementing positive changes and encouraging growth downtown.

Makeover planned for major downtown Muskegon street
Lynn Moore | MLive
April 14, 2021

The street as it looks today - Justice Complex on the left -


Source: MLive

[deja vu]

Berrien Springs -

Berrien Springs Public Schools - Arts & Athletic Center progress. Roofing, concrete floors, & wall panel installation are ongoing -






Source: LinkedIn | Tony Leininger / CARMI Design Group

[deja vu]

Muskegon -

Update on "The Leonard". It's going up fast, as a result of the precast concrete construction methodology. I'm noticing more and more of this type of construction in our area, and I can only guess that it is related to the rising costs of steel & wood. The project is scheduled to be complete y January 2022.

There's a little teaser at the end of the video, stating that the developer wants to build two more buildings on adjacent vacant lots, to be named "The Dylan" and "The Marley". Presumably these are his children's names? Or perhaps his dogs

• Video Link

[deja vu]

Coldwater -

Branch County Jail & Sheriff's Office progress - it looks like it's rounding the final turn -
















Source: LinkedIn | Byce & Associates, Inc.

[deja vu]

Benton Harbor -

A 4-story, 80-unit waterfront apartment building proposed by Whirlpool Corp. seems to have the city's support. The $22 million project would be built at 170 Riverview Dr. - directly across from the Whirlpool HQ, and it would specifically support Whirlpools goal of increasing diversity on its payroll by offering more housing opportunities in the locale -

Whirlpool proposes apartment development in Benton Harbor
Mark Peterson | WNDU News 16
April 29, 2021

Construction could start as soon as July -

BH Commissioners Signal Support For Apartment Complex, Wall Street Development
WSJM
May 3, 2021

Source: WNDU News 16 | Courtesy Whirlpool Corp.

[deja vu]

Muskegon (Norton Shores) -

New Lake Michigan park in Muskegon County gets final approval of $5M grant
Lynn Moore | MLive
May 10, 2021

Phase 1 - called Dune Harbor Park - will open later this year on the former Nugent Sand site.

[deja vu]

Grand Haven -

Michigan Community Capital's "Robinson Landing" development broke ground earlier this month. The $7.5 million project will add 30 new single-family homes in the city limits, priced between $139,900 to $279,900. Grand Haven Area Community Foundation is supporting the investment with a $1.5 million low-interest loan, and half of the homes will be in the Grand Haven Area Community Land Trust (CLT) program (a home-purchase + long-term land lease program) -

Construction underway on Grand Haven’s newest neighborhood
MCC Press Release
May 17, 2021

Source: MCC

[DetroitSky]

That Whirlpool apartment complex is pretty big news for Benton Harbor!

[deja vu]

Originally Posted by DetroitSky

That Whirlpool apartment complex is pretty big news for Benton Harbor!

While it's not the most inspired design, it is substantial. Here's another one that I've been meaning to post here for Benton Harbor. If both of these took off, it could be quite transformative -

Developers propose 55-unit housing complex, grocery store in downtown Benton Harbor
Pat Moody | Moody on the Market
April 28, 2021

The 3 story, 55-unit supportive housing development would occupy this entire block at Colfax and Wall Streets, and would provide the only full-service grocery store within city limits. The development team has plans to apply to MSHDA for financial support, but not until October.


Source: Moody on the Market

[deja vu]

Dowagiac -

The city celebrated a ribbon cutting on Saturday for the remodeled & expanded Dowagiac District Library (an old Carnegie Library building). The project was a decade+ in the making -

New look: Dowagiac District Library welcomes guests with grand opening ceremony
Max Harden | Leader Publications
May 16, 2021

A few of the photos from the article -










Source: Leader Publications

[deja vu]

Albion -

(Technically Albion is part of the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek-Portage CSA, according to Wikipedia) but since other Albion posts have gone in here, I'll include this one here as well)

Albion College has announced it plans to begin redeveloping the former Washington Gardner High School that it acquired in 2011. The long-term vision has been to transform it into a campus and community destination. It will be remodeled into an integrated arts and wellness center, beginning as soon as this summer. The historic building was constructed in 1928 -

Albion College to Begin $48 Million Redevelopment of Washington Gardner as Body and Soul Center
Albion College
May 11, 2021

Source: Albion College

[deja vu]

Coldwater (Ovid Township) -

Lakeland Elementary School, part of Coldwater Community Schools, opened in December 2020, along Otis Rd, south of town. The 2-story building houses 4th & 5th graders, and replaces an older facility as part of a 2017 bond passage. My post is bit delayed, but the project is significant enough for Coldwater to warrant a mention on here - the new school cost approximately $20 million to build -

EDIT: more photos can be found here -








Source: LinkedIn | Jason Keen