Stryker HQ, from today. Steel erection continues through the bitter cold, with two separate staging / lay-down areas:
https://teicpq-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://skicpq-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://tuicpq-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://s0icpq-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://qeicpq-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://quicpq-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://sehtvw-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none And plenty more steel to go: https://suhtvw-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none |
It's been a somewhat dull week for development news. I am expecting to see an announcement soon from WMU about who was awarded the design contract for their new dorm plans along Stadium Drive. Also hoping that the BRA will eventually reveal some more information about several parcels in Rivers Edge District that they have been trying to get redeveloped. Until then (or until something else unexpected comes along), most of the news is related to some big box and strip mall developments...
1. Ace Hardware has been announced as one of the first confirmed tenants for the 'Midtown Marketplace' redevelopment, located on the north side of Howard Street, between S. Westnedge Ave. and S. Park St. They are expected to open in May, in a 12,000 SF space. We also know that there will be a 28,000 SF grocery store to anchor the development. The Shina Group, out of Detroit, bought the former Harding's Market property in mid-2015. Other possible (but unconfirmed) tenants include a coffee shop, dry cleaners, fitness center, and / or restaurant. All in all, this is good news for the neighborhood. Quote:
My photo, from December: https://ghumvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none 3. It has been announced that the former Menards building, near Crossroads Mall, will become a Blain's Farm & Fleet store. This company is based out of Wisconsin, where it opertes 38 stores currently. It is expanding into Michigan with this store and a second location in Jackson. They are kind of like Menards / TSC / Home Depot / Lowes all rolled into one. They will be constructing a 30,000 SF automotive center addition to the existing 79,000 SF building, resulting in a total building size of 109,000 SF. It will be interesting to see how they do. Quote:
https://skhtvw-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: MLive / Courtesy of Blain's Farm and Fleet 4. The former Family Christian Store at the Westnedge Corners strip mall (NE corner of S. Westnedge Ave. & Kilgore Rd.) is slated to become a fitness center. Family Christian Stores, which until last year was the nation's largest chain of Christian book and merchandise stores, announced it was closing all of its 240 stores across 36 states after filing for bankrupcy in 2015 and after 85 years in business. The entire mall at this high-traffic intersection will be getting a makeover. There was a crane on site today that I'm guessing was probably being utilized to replace rooftop equipment. |
^ One more to add to the above list. Work is progressing on the next outbuilding at the Corner @ Drake. This 22,000 SF building will be connected to the recently-opened Trader Joe's, and will house 3-4 additional retailers. AVB has not confirmed any of the tenants yet, but says they are in discussions with three, and that they will be unique to the area. Two of the prospects are restaurants. After this, there is yet another 12,000 SF outbuilding that will be occupied by up to three additional tenants, as well as several restaurant pads yet to be developed.
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https://qei44g-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/...ntinues_a.html Trader Joe's in the background: https://s0i44g-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: Al Jones | MLive |
Found another rendering of the Stryker HQ on Allied Mechanical Services' website, which holds the mechanical contract for the job (so of course it features the roof top units more than anything else). I wish this thing could have been taller. Unfortunately, the adjacent airport and city zoning prevented even the possibility of this.
https://qui44g-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: alliedmechanical.com |
Portage has started tree removal and site clearing for a new interpretive center at Celery Flats (the centerpiece of its parks system). The work will replace an aging building with a new, 2,300 SF covered pavilion that includes restrooms, private patio, deck overlook, pedestrian plaza, and expanded parking. The work should move quickly; it is expected to be complete this June.
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Kalamazoo Public Schools will ask voters in May to decide on passing the largest bond proposal in the district's history. A 1.25 mil increase would cover the proposed $96.7 million in bond sales. The dollars would go towards numerous facility upgrades throughout the district, including:
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A few quick updates from downtown, taken yesterday, with weather in the 50s.
The Exchange: https://seh0aw-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://skh0aw-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none (More photos of The Exchange here) Elevator shaft is going up at 216 / 220 Michigan Ave: https://tugp4a-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none I can't tell but it looks like there's some activity / mobilization at the former Kalamazoo Gazette Building / future Bronson labs site. Remodeling work is ongoing inside the old Albert Kahn structure (to the right): https://tegp4a-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none |
Portage City Council will meet on February 27 to discuss two options put forth in a feasibility study for a new senior center. The first option keeps the existing building and remodels / adds on to it. The second option, slightly more expensive, would create an all-new center with more service possibilities than option 1. A decision on either option is expected to move forward this year. Here's a rendering of the proposed Portage Senior Center (presumably this is option 2, as it looks nothing like the existing):
https://gtqq4g-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: MLive / Courtesy City of Portage Quote:
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Borgess Medical Center has announced a $35 million, 32,000 SF expansion to its Stryker Center. The neat thing about it is that it will be a vertical expansion. The center, which opened in 2006, was originally designed to accommodate eventual vertical expansion. The project is expected to be complete in 2020. No renderings yet that I could find.
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In what might be good news for the area, Kalamazoo and Portage will be receiving a combined $3 million in state tax credits to go towards affordable housing developments:
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Demolition is occurring at the site of the former Putters Family Fun Center, along S. Westnedge Ave. in Portage. Putters closed somewhat abruptly after its 2014 season. It was in business for over 30 years, and had an arcade, batting cages, outdoor trampolines, soak zone, two (yes, two!) putt-putt golf courses, and a smattering of large animal statuary (including a 20 ft tall giraffe), most of which was auctioned off after the closing. Here's a streetview from 2012.
There's no info that I could find on what the plans are for the lot now, or who owns it. The building that once housed the arcade and concessions is now a pile of rubble. I'm not a betting man, but given what's surrounding, I'd say there's a giant, underwhelming likelihood that this will become (a) a restaurant / fast food joint, (b) a bank or credit union, or (c) an auto parts store. Or maybe a skyscraper :rolleyes: I wonder where the giraffes ended up after the auction? https://gnqq4g-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: Google Images |
I was reading the meeting minutes from the City Commission's 1/16/2018 meeting, and the motion to adopt an ordinance to rezone the 243 parcels located between W. Lovell Street and Stockbridge Avenue from Zones CC, CN-1 and M-1 to Zones CCBD, CN-1, CN-2 and RM-36 failed for lack of support. Not sure what the city's plan is now. Eight public comments all expressed opposition, for various reasons:
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Product design services are in growing demand in the region, and WMU responded by starting a new program to train future product designers this past fall. Now the University is renovating Central Kohrman Hall to better accomodate its new Product Design program -
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https://fttavg-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Image Source: GRBJ | Courtesy WMU As an aside, South Kohrman Hall was remodeled about a decade ago with a design by SmithGroup, and that project received AIA recognition for design excellence. Here's some photos of the South Kohrman Hall Renovation. Maybe this is a glimpse of what Central Kohrman will resemble when finished: https://dtr1yw-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none https://fdtavg-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Images Source: SmithGroup |
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Here's some other Portage City Planning Commission tidbits that I dug up -
1. A 10,000 SF restaurant will be coming to the Trade Centre development - Black Rock Bar & Grill, according to July 20, 2017 meeting minutes. They are a small steakhouse chain established in Hartland, MI in 2010, that has been aggressively expanding in metro Detroit, as well as Florida, with plans for locations in Illinois and Ohio. Here is a picture of the one in Davison, MI: https://ddqqqa-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: Johnson Design 2. FEMA Corporation, local manufacturer of hydraulic equipment, applied to construct a 47,000 SF addition to their current facility on Vanderbilt Ave. in August, which required approval for height modification. According to August 17, 2017 meeting minutes. They have a sharp-looking facility today: 3. Selinon Park, (1521, 1603 and 1615 East Centre Avenue) applied for final plan reapproval in August after their previous application expired. This planned development by Full Circle Communities proposes the construction of 74 affordable units across three buildings. According to August 17, 2017 meeting minutes. This is one of the many projects in Michigan receiving state aid through tax credits. Rendering: https://f9qqqa-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: Full Circle Communities 4. A Special Land Use Permit was issued in January for a new micro-brewery - Presidential Brewing Company, at 129 W. Centre Ave. The owner was requesting that the City waive the requirement that the establishment provide at least 100 seats and offer lunch and dinner menus. His plan is to grow the business over several years so that it eventually does provide more accommodations for dining. According to January 18, 2018 meeting minutes. From facebook photos, it looks like the current operation is run out of agarage. 5. On the agenda for the February 01, 2018 meeting was specific site plan review for Portage Creek Landings, a planned commercial development at the corner of Centre Ave. and Shaver Rd. The owner (PCL Curtis, LLC) wants to construct an 8,000 SF Office / retail building, as the third structure in this slowly growing development (2006 saw the first building, a Walgreens, and 2008 a Huntington Bank branch). Plans for a restaurant in 2014 fell through, and several extensions of the conceptual plan have been granted. The owner has blamed a poor economy for not getting things developed more quickly. There are still about 14 acres of undeveloped land to be considered, and the vision is for a pedestrian-friendly 'lifestyle center'. Here's an image of the conceptual plan from 2017, which still stands as the current roadmap for future development plans at this busy intersection. This plan is what the owner is asking for another extension on: https://gnqqqa-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: Portage Planning Commission Agenda Packet |
Pfizer had a ribbon cutting for its new Building 541 a few days ago in Portage. This new warehouse is massive. At about 98,500 SF, and probably about 40 ft high, that's about 4,000,000 cubic feet of building volume. Now imagine it filled to the ceiling with medicine. This represents the completion of just one stage of a massive multi-phase investment in the company's largest manufacturing facility in the world. Meanwhile, work continues on an adjacent 10,000 SF remodel for the facility's asceptic processing center, which will be used for production of Act-O-Vials - small devices used to quickly inject patients in life-saving situations.
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Kalamazoo has completed assembling its Foundation for Excellence board, and their first meeting took place on February 15th. The inaugural board is comprised of a diverse group of thirteen individuals from the community. The committee represents public and private interests, with neighborhood, arts, healthcare, housing, business, education, faith-based, and neighborhood stakeholders all represented and all appointed to rotating terms. Mayor Bobby Hopewell will serve as President on the board. City manager Jim Ritsema is also on the board as Ex-officio Director.
The board is charged with managing the Foundation's finances, which are built upon an initial $70.3 million donation from two local philanthropists, William Parfet (Upjohn heir) and William Johnston (Stryker heir), in 2016. There is an ambitious goal to raise another $500 million for the fund by 2019, to create a self-sustaining endowment that will be used for several ambitious goals, primarily, property tax reductions, stabilization of the city budget, elimination of homelessness in the city, infrastructure upgrades, and other capital improvement projects. The board members begin orientation sessions next week (2/20 and 2/21), which are open to the public. It should be interesting to watch how this process unfolds. The Kalamazoo Promise has been lauded as a success, imitated by countless other municipalities now. This Foundation, while different, has followed a somewhat similar formula as it gets off the ground - Quote:
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There are definitive plans for a substantial development on the eastern side of the city's public parking lot #9, located on the SW corner of Water and Edwards Streets, behind the Main Street East complex and directly across from Arcadia Creek Festival Place. My own suspicions were raised when folks were doing soil boring tests in the area earlier this year. No renderings yet, but the preliminary info sounds compelling -
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There is extensive flooding throughout Michigan due to heavy rainfall and excessive snow melt. The Kalamazoo River is officially the highest it has ever been as of this morning and still rising, causing all sorts of havoc on roadways and damage to homes and businesses. Lots of stalled vehicles, crashes, and emergency rescues as motorists don't know how to handle the rising water levels. The Morrow Dam was opened today to try and relieve some of the swelling and flooding on the city's east side. But this has exacerbated flooding further downriver in Kalamazoo Township. Many more photos on MLive and other local sources -
Map of current road closures and flood plain area (as of Friday, 2/23 evening) - https://6zehka-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: Google Maps Kalamazoo's East Side on Thursday - Aerial Drone View - https://3jgina-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Source: NVHUSC Photography / Facebook M-43 Bridge - https://5dehka-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Comstock - https://5jehka-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none M-96 Bridge with north branch of Kalamazoo River reaching the main beam span - near Augusta - https://5zehka-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Opening Morrow Dam - https://5tehka-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none Homer Stryker / Kalamazoo Growlers Field - https://5tgina-dm2305.files.1drv.com...&cropmode=none |
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