Development Projects - Belknap Lookout Area

[GRDadof3]

2 hours ago, Floyd_Z said:

Although not confirmed, I head the new building on Michigan is going to be taller than Cook-DeVos.  There's so much great stuff happening on Michigan Ave!

Wish we'd see some images. I hate waiting! 

[Guest]

Agreed.  I don't think there are even renderings yet.  I was just told it's going to be taller.  If you look at the PDF it says the programs grown from 138 students to 2,011 since the completion of Cook-Devos.  Hopefully it's huge, not sure if anyone knows the SF on the lot and could do an estimate of height.  I think for now GVSU is focusing on the other project, once that gets started we'll probably see more info on this.

[GRDadof3]

59 minutes ago, Floyd_Z said:

Agreed.  I don't think there are even renderings yet.  I was just told it's going to be taller.  If you look at the PDF it says the programs grown from 138 students to 2,011 since the completion of Cook-Devos.  Hopefully it's huge, not sure if anyone knows the SF on the lot and could do an estimate of height.  I think for now GVSU is focusing on the other project, once that gets started we'll probably see more info on this.

The property they own is nearly 60,000 sf, so I think it's almost bigger than the Cook Devos footprint. But that's not to say that they aren't building on only a portion of it. I just hope the design compliments the other, although Design+ did Cook Devos and they've scattered to the winds. 

[GRDadof3]

As mielsonwheels mentioned earlier, this whole area along Lafayette where the new health sciences building (North of the highway) is fenced off now. Houses all have no trespassing signs on them and look like they're ready to come down. 

 

As a reminder, that would be to make way for this building:

 

[joeDowntown]

I thought GVSU had an agreement to not knock down any houses until construction was imminent. Does that mean they are ready to get started?

Joe

[Chester Cheeto]

32 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:

I thought GVSU had an agreement to not knock down any houses until construction was imminent. Does that mean they are ready to get started?

Joe

Yes, per the meetings GVSU had with the neighborhood over the last year or so, their projected start date for this building was summer 2016, so it seems like they are right on track.  I'm curious if they figured out the portion on the north side of the block GRDadof3 highlighted, which is supposed to be mixed use retail/housing done by a private developer.  I really hope they are planning on doing everything at the same time.

[Chester Cheeto]

Demolition for GVSU has begun.

[GRDadof3]

I actually think this project is not too bad. I wasn't thrilled with the sloped roofs but they're growing on me. 

[arcturus]

For some reason I get an uneasy vibe from this area when cycling.  Maybe it's just me.  Hopefully this project will change the neighborhood for the better.

[GRDadof3]

On 9/10/2016 at 9:03 AM, arcturus said:

For some reason I get an uneasy vibe from this area when cycling.  Maybe it's just me.  Hopefully this project will change the neighborhood for the better.

Well if you believe so, then you're in luck. There are a bunch of projects like this, including the new GVSU facility, on deck for Belknap.

[GRDadof3]

Speaking of Belknap developments, there's another one before the planning commission at 611 Fairview for a 3 building/11 unit project. It appears to be this collection of homes on the hill side of Fairview. CopperRock Construction. 

 

[Chester Cheeto]

On 9/13/2016 at 10:17 AM, GRDadof3 said:

Speaking of Belknap developments, there's another one before the planning commission at 611 Fairview for a 3 building/11 unit project. It appears to be this collection of homes on the hill side of Fairview. CopperRock Construction. 

 

 I was wondering if this was going to make a comeback from the last neighborhood meeting I went to, the people along Trowbridge were pretty adamant that they did not want this in their backyard. 

They have some renderings on the listing on Zillow:

http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/23805153_zpid/0-300000_price/0-1053_mp/featured_sort/42.979825,-85.658609,42.966025,-85.681676_rect/15_zm/

[GRDadof3]

1 hour ago, mielsonwheels said:

 I was wondering if this was going to make a comeback from the last neighborhood meeting I went to, the people along Trowbridge were pretty adamant that they did not want this in their backyard. 

They have some renderings on the listing on Zillow:

http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/23805153_zpid/0-300000_price/0-1053_mp/featured_sort/42.979825,-85.658609,42.966025,-85.681676_rect/15_zm/

Ahh, interesting. 

[GR8scott]

 Kind of ugly,  I think this is the perfect neighborhood to put some very modern looking townhomes, tall and slender with a lot of glass. If only they can replace that apartment building that perched above 196 with something real cool looking

[arcturus]

3 hours ago, mielsonwheels said:

 I was wondering if this was going to make a comeback from the last neighborhood meeting I went to, the people along Trowbridge were pretty adamant that they did not want this in their backyard. 

They have some renderings on the listing on Zillow:

http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/23805153_zpid/0-300000_price/0-1053_mp/featured_sort/42.979825,-85.658609,42.966025,-85.681676_rect/15_zm/

What was their criticism?

[Chester Cheeto]

What was their criticism?

Too tall, too dense, not enough parking, worked too hard on their homes to have to look at townhomes just outside their backyards...didn't want people to be able to see in their backyards.

[GR_Urbanist]

I really hate to break it to Belknap hill, but this is the future.

That area is the most desirable residential development zone outside of Uptown. And with available land almost nonexistent on the other side of the highway, and with their unique location, that is an equation you cant really defeat.

I would recommend that they work to ensure that these developments adhere to some good urban and aesthetic values instead of blowing all of there energy trying to stop development from happening, because they will quickly become exhausted and demoralized.

This development, while a bit meh looking, especially that garage setup, is on a dead-end street, and really isnt going to be visible from Fairview. But who knows?

They kind of remind me of the homes in Grand Haven that overlook the lake.

[GRDadof3]

22 hours ago, GR_Urbanist said:

I really hate to break it to Belknap hill, but this is the future.

That area is the most desirable residential development zone outside of Uptown. And with available land almost nonexistent on the other side of the highway, and with their unique location, that is an equation you cant really defeat.

I would recommend that they work to ensure that these developments adhere to some good urban and aesthetic values instead of blowing all of there energy trying to stop development from happening, because they will quickly become exhausted and demoralized.

This development, while a bit meh looking, especially that garage setup, is on a dead-end street, and really isnt going to be visible from Fairview. But who knows?

They kind of remind me of the homes in Grand Haven that overlook the lake.

They did actually go through an exhaustive area-specific plan maybe 5 or 6 years ago, because they knew growth would be coming their way.

I have to agree with the neighbors though. These buildings are kinda fugly. I wouldn't want to see them out my back window. But I guess there's always Rockford if you want to look at woods out your back window. 

That yellow house looks like the one that's currently sitting on Fairview, just renovated.

 

[GRDadof3]

On 7/15/2016 at 2:16 PM, GRDadof3 said:

As mielsonwheels mentioned earlier, this whole area along Lafayette where the new health sciences building (North of the highway) is fenced off now. Houses all have no trespassing signs on them and look like they're ready to come down. 

 

As a reminder, that would be to make way for this building:

 

 

Fence is up, decorated. 

[GRDadof3]

Over 300 trees were planted today as part of the GreenUpGr program to add to the city's tree canopy, many of them in Belknap and along I-196. 

I also saw that major street upgrades are coming to Belknap:

http://grcity.us/engineering-department/Construction-Updates/Documents for Revamped Site/Hastings, Trowbridge, Prospect/Mailer - Trowbridge and Prospect Construction Prep.pdf

And don't forget that I-196 Westbound over the Grand River will be completely closed down in 2018. Plan ahead!

 

[joeDowntown]

Saw a bunch of trees being planted in the "circle" of the 196 East entrance. Love to see the push for more trees in the city!

Joe

[Chester Cheeto]

Well it's been awhile since I did some update shots, so here goes nutting:

First up Clancy Lofts:

And the Gateway:



And the GVSU site (sorry it's so dark):


And finally, they have started the path that goes from the Hastings/Coit overpass down to Monroe:

I noticed the parking behind Clancy Lofts was built under the alleyway, it was too dark to snap a pic but I'll get one in the next day or two, I thought it was pretty interesting the way they handled the parking for that project.

Edited November 7, 2016 by mielsonwheels

[Allison Slater]

None of those photos are loading.

[GRDadof3]

2 hours ago, tSlater said:

None of those photos are loading.

For me either. @mielsonwheels I think you're doing something incorrectly. 

[Chester Cheeto]

So i'm not sure what's going on, i just tried editing my previous post and ended up with a copy with more broken pictures.  How do you delete a post on this site?

Edited November 5, 2016 by mielsonwheels
My stupidity...