New projects on the West Side

[localtalent]

I believe there is a glimmer of hope for coffee to return to the site of ill-fated Sparrows 2.

[mpchicago]

5 minutes ago, localtalent said:

I believe there is a glimmer of hope for coffee to return to the site of ill-fated Sparrows 2.

Can you confirm any news of North Peak/Mash operation backing out at the old Red Lion site?   I hope that's not true. 

[localtalent]

Last I saw on that site was approval on plans from the city. They’ve had engineer types poking around over there as recently as last week.

I've heard nothing of the deal falling through.

In fact, pretty sure there was a sale of the parcel a while back (from Walt to North Peak folks). 

Maybe that was all premature and it never closed?

EDIT - per city, it closed last March for $950,000. Pretty sure plans didn't fall through...

Edited March 14, 2018 by localtalent

[mgreven]

Yeah, I wasn’t sure of the credibility of that rumor - I looked up the sale, too. That’s a lot of money and work to scrap a project. 

Maybe since the concept isn’t a NP tap room specifically, there was confusion. Hope it goes up soon...that site needs something.  

Just wanted to see if there was any truth in that. 

[GRDadof3]

29 minutes ago, mgreven said:

Yeah, I wasn’t sure of the credibility of that rumor - I looked up the sale, too. That’s a lot of money and work to scrap a project. 

Maybe since the concept isn’t a NP tap room specifically, there was confusion. Hope it goes up soon...that site needs something.  

Just wanted to see if there was any truth in that. 

The confusion might be coming from the fact that Jolly Pumpkin was going to go on that site by themselves, and that plan was scrapped for the bigger mixed use project. Depending on where you hear the rumor, the general public seems to be 2 or 3 steps/projects behind us UP-ers.  

[mgreven]

Yeah, I know we're ahead of the curve.  =)

[GVSUChris]

In other West Side news...

I was told this morning the Denym will be moving over to Cherry Street in the former Richard App space. As I've noted before, we did a pop-up store with Books & Mortar on Bridge and during that time I spent a lot of time reflecting with the owner of Denym on the future of retail on Bridge, to which we both agreed that it wasn't looking good. As someone who owns a thriving business on Cherry I can say that this is an exciting announcement for us, but it makes us a little sad for Bridge Street. That said, across the board it all makes sense. We are THRILLED to add another thriving business to a budding retail district, AND as I've said, maybe Bridge is more of the next Ionia than anything else, and that is okay too. 

I'm sure their space will be snatched pretty quickly on Bridge! 

[mpchicago]

1 hour ago, GVSUChris said:

In other West Side news...

I was told this morning the Denym will be moving over to Cherry Street in the former Richard App space.

1

Wait... What happened to the Richard App Gallery?!  Did he sell that building too? 

Edited March 15, 2018 by mpchicago

[GR_Urbanist]

38 minutes ago, mpchicago said:

Wait... What happened to the Richard App Gallery?!  Did he sell that building too? 

Doh! I completely forgot to mention that this happened.

Yeah, he officially closed down back in late Feb. No mention on Facebook as to why. I'm thinking he just felt time to move on. He's been there for a long time, before 99% of the development you see there today.

I dont think it was for a lack of money as he seemed to be doing really well with renting the space out for receptions and parties, which will be sad to not walk by and see through the big windows in the evening.

I doubt he sold the building. He can make great money as a landlord with that location. Denym is definitely one of those cool stores that I see really doing something unique with this building. Their style and that space are made for each other.

Edited March 15, 2018 by GR_Urbanist

[GVSUChris]

24 minutes ago, GR_Urbanist said:

Doh! I completely forgot to mention that this happened.

Yeah, he officially closed down back in late Feb. No mention on Facebook as to why. I'm thinking he just felt time to move on. He's been there for a long time, before 99% of the development you see there today.

I dont think it was for a lack of money as he seemed to be doing really well with renting the space out for receptions and parties, which will be sad to not walk by and see through the big windows in the evening.

I doubt he sold the building. He can make great money as a landlord with that location. Denym is definitely one of those cool stores that I see really doing something unique with this building. Their style and that space are made for each other.

I don't think he owns it anymore. We briefly looked into it and it sounds like there is a new owner now . 

[Telecaster Rex]

52 minutes ago, GVSUChris said:

I don't think he owns it anymore. We briefly looked into it and it sounds like there is a new owner now . 

An entity related to the Secchia family has owned the building since January 2016.

[EastownLeo]

Well more west side density.  Where specifically will this be?

Big empty lot that had all the houses torn down?

 

Consumers announces $20M Grand Rapids headquarters

http://www.woodtv.com/1048738482

Edited March 15, 2018 by EastownLeo

[mpchicago]

51 minutes ago, EastownLeo said:

Well more west side density.  Where specifically will this be?

Big empty lot that had all the houses torn down?

 

Consumers announces $20M Grand Rapids headquarters

http://www.woodtv.com/1048738482

 

If you are talking Alabama between 1st and 2nd Streets, that would be my guess.   Boy, the westside is HOT. 

Edited March 15, 2018 by mpchicago

[thebeerqueer]

14 minutes ago, mpchicago said:

If you are talking Alabama between 1st and 2nd Streets, that would be my guess.   Boy, the westside is HOT. 

Or the parking lot on the West side of the street. This will bring a lot more daytime activity to the area. Maybe there is still potential for more uses other than entertainment. 

[GVSUChris]

2 minutes ago, thebeerqueer said:

Or the parking lot on the West side of the street. This will bring a lot more daytime activity to the area. Maybe there is still potential for more uses other than entertainment. 

My guess is the empty space behind the new lofts...I know I saw they were trying to get that rezoned/approved for an office building...that would make sense. 

[MJLO]

I wonder if they are working in conjunction with Rockford on this since they are all things West Side.

EDIT:  I have answered my own question.  Yes of course they will be working with Rockford.  Mlive has the address listed as 501 Alabama Ave NW which is behind the 616 lofts on Alabama, and across the st from Rockfords headquarters in that parking lot. 

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2018/03/consumers_energy_to_build_20m.html

[localtalent]

5 hours ago, GVSUChris said:

I don't think he owns it anymore. We briefly looked into it and it sounds like there is a new owner now . 

It sold in a tax auction a couple years ago.

[GRDadof3]

7 hours ago, GVSUChris said:

I don't think he owns it anymore. We briefly looked into it and it sounds like there is a new owner now . 

I'm fairly certain the building was owned by Dr App, the father of all the Apps. They put their home up on the hill on Bridge St up for sale (not sure if it has sold yet) as well as property they had off of Plainfield in Creston. 

[GRDadof3]

4 hours ago, MJLO said:

I wonder if they are working in conjunction with Rockford on this since they are all things West Side.

EDIT:  I have answered my own question.  Yes of course they will be working with Rockford.  Mlive has the address listed as 501 Alabama Ave NW which is behind the 616 lofts on Alabama, and across the st from Rockfords headquarters in that parking lot. 

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2018/03/consumers_energy_to_build_20m.html

[wmrharris]

11 hours ago, GR_Urbanist said:

Doh! I completely forgot to mention that this happened.

Yeah, he officially closed down back in late Feb. No mention on Facebook as to why. I'm thinking he just felt time to move on. He's been there for a long time, before 99% of the development you see there today.

I dont think it was for a lack of money as he seemed to be doing really well with renting the space out for receptions and parties, which will be sad to not walk by and see through the big windows in the evening.

I doubt he sold the building. He can make great money as a landlord with that location. Denym is definitely one of those cool stores that I see really doing something unique with this building. Their style and that space are made for each other.

App has been quite invovled in the old  City Water building, curating shows for the last two APs. I haven't checked lately with him, but at the time, it sounded as if this was to be his new space.

[Pattmost20]

10 hours ago, GRDadof3 said:

I'm fairly certain the building was owned by Dr App, the father of all the Apps. They put their home up on the hill on Bridge St up for sale (not sure if it has sold yet) as well as property they had off of Plainfield in Creston. 

Currently under contract, hasn't closed yet. That house started around $1.2 Million, it was listed at $550,000 at the time of sale, not sure what the actual price will be. I ubered one of the Apps (not Richard, but his brother) from that house, it is quite the place.

[GRDadof3]

8 hours ago, Pattmost20 said:

Currently under contract, hasn't closed yet. That house started around $1.2 Million, it was listed at $550,000 at the time of sale, not sure what the actual price will be. I ubered one of the Apps (not Richard, but his brother) from that house, it is quite the place.

It shows on the county's site that it was "sold to lender" in 2016 for $359,000. Kind of sad how that all went down.  I would've bought the place for $359,000. The greenhouse was in realllly rough shape and probably needs to be torn down. 

[mgreven]

Thought I’d update since I threw out a rumor about the NP project on the Red Lion site. I just saw someone post online that it was dead and got worried, but UP reassured me. As usual, UP was right.

The Jolly Pumpkin folks stopped into my wife’s office and told her all about JP and the project across the street so it’s for sure a go. One extra tidbit, the JP/old Black Heron building has a huge basement where they are going to do a tiki inspired place at some point. 

[GRDadof3]

On 3/17/2018 at 11:15 AM, mgreven said:

Thought I’d update since I threw out a rumor about the NP project on the Red Lion site. I just saw someone post online that it was dead and got worried, but UP reassured me. As usual, UP was right.

The Jolly Pumpkin folks stopped into my wife’s office and told her all about JP and the project across the street so it’s for sure a go. One extra tidbit, the JP/old Black Heron building has a huge basement where they are going to do a tiki inspired place at some point. 

Nice!

This project is on the agenda for the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority for Wednesday.

 

[GRDadof3]

12 hours ago, GRDadof3 said:

Nice!

This project is on the agenda for the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority for Wednesday.

 

Speaking of "brownfield," what color siding is that?   sorry, couldn't resist.