New projects on the West Side

[thebeerqueer]

On 2/7/2023 at 4:53 PM, Jonesey said:

More momentum spreading further west down Bridge.  The old Duthlers is finally being redeveloped.  Partial demo to convert it into a dining area and parking for food trucks outback.  Pretty sweet concept that will probably do great.

I hope we see some plans for the church property just kitty corner from here.

More info in the latest PC agenda packet

Finally!!! 

[joeDowntown]

The agenda packet says "The Back Lot" has locations in Petoskey, Charlevoix, and opening one in Marquette.  https://www.thebacklotpetoskey.com/ 

Also, https://www.thebacklotbars.com/

Joe

 

[Pattmost20]

16 hours ago, joeDowntown said:

The agenda packet says "The Back Lot" has locations in Petoskey, Charlevoix, and opening one in Marquette.  https://www.thebacklotpetoskey.com/ 

Also, https://www.thebacklotbars.com/

Joe

 

I've been to the one in Petoskey a few times. It is awesome and a very welcome addition to GR. Very similar to Little Fleet in TC if anyone has been there. 

Also the renderings for the Marquette location look great. They are renovating an old train station. 

[HavingAhoot]

[joeDowntown]

It’s an interesting concept and I think it’ll do really well on Bridge Street. 

[demhem]

The Sovengard building renovation is really taking off. They've pulled off a lot of the secondary wood façade that covered the original brick and have a "future home of" sign up. 

Edited February 15, 2023 by demhem
Added photo.

[thebeerqueer]

47 minutes ago, demhem said:

The Sovengard building renovation is really taking off. They've pulled off a lot of the secondary wood façade that covered the original brick and have a "future home of" sign up. I'll try to take a picture and share. 

They posted a little walk through of the construction site on their Instagram account. After many, many months of no progress they're really going to town on that building. 

[joeDowntown]

https://www-mlive-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2023/02/proposed-10-story-apartment-commercial-building-would-replace-eyesore-along-the-grand-river.html?outputType=amp&amp_js_v=0.1#webview=1&cap=swipe

[Prankster]

https://grbj.com/news/restaurants-1/construction-begins-on-new-sovengard-building/
 

Sovengard is back on track

[joeDowntown]

There's an article on Mlive (subscriber only) that says a half block of Winter Street (near Bridge) is going to be permanently narrowed with extra sidewalk space being added (where Butchers Union and O'Tooles currently have temporary seating). They'll also be adding a flashing light for a pedestrian crosswalk. Supposed to be done as early as this Fall.

I'd love to see them do this to Summer Street as well as other restaurants come online.

Joe

[whitemice]

3 hours ago, joeDowntown said:

There's an article on Mlive (subscriber only) that says a half block of Winter Street

The article is a straight lift from the public agenda - http://s3.amazonaws.com/downtowngr.org/ourwork/DDA-March-2023-Agenda-Packet.pdf?mtime=20230303165038&focal=none

It will be a nice improvement, it gets very busy there.  It isn't a woonerf (circa 2015) but every little bit helps [no way in hells I'd bike on Bridge St, yet traffic congestion helps make it walkable].

[thebeerqueer]

On 3/9/2023 at 9:00 PM, whitemice said:

The article is a straight lift from the public agenda - http://s3.amazonaws.com/downtowngr.org/ourwork/DDA-March-2023-Agenda-Packet.pdf?mtime=20230303165038&focal=none

It will be a nice improvement, it gets very busy there.  It isn't a woonerf (circa 2015) but every little bit helps [no way in hells I'd bike on Bridge St, yet traffic congestion helps make it walkable].

 

As someone who used to bike through this corridor quite a bit, I now avoid it like the plague. It's not super great to walk through either, too many people crossing wherever, distracted uber/uber eats/grubhub drivers just stopping in bike lanes whenever they please, etc ...  small rant over ...

 

Edited March 20, 2023 by thebeerqueer

[Cookin_peacocks]

1 hour ago, thebeerqueer said:

As someone who used to bike through this corridor quite a bit, I now avoid it like the plague. It's not super great to walk through either, too many people crossing wherever, distracted uber/uber eats/grubhub drivers just stopping in bike lanes whenever they please, etc ...  small rant over ...

 

I can not begin to tell you how many times I hear the phrase "I'm Uber eats, I'm allowed to do this" when they do something illegal. And get mad when they get penalized for it

[thebeerqueer]

Couple more photos of the little apartment/townhouse project on the SW corner of Sibley and Seward. Looks like living space on the first floors with bedrooms upstairs. Does anyone remember seeing the renderings for these?


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[cstonesparty]

5 hours ago, thebeerqueer said:

Couple more photos of the little apartment/townhouse project on the SW corner of Sibley and Seward. Looks like living space on the first floors with bedrooms upstairs. Does anyone remember seeing the renderings for these?


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I feel like this is the wave of the future, lots more projects this size scattered around instead of bigger developments.  Is it just me?

 

[whitemice]

13 hours ago, cstonesparty said:

I feel like this is the wave of the future, lots more projects this size scattered around

I hope it is the future.  That future will require policy change.

[joeDowntown]

On 1/3/2023 at 9:19 AM, joeDowntown said:

Wonder if they'll do something very similar on Seward. 810 Fulton is 5 townhouses as well (the amount listed in the building permit).

 

We speculated that it might look something like this. The foundations match pretty close, and this is the same developer (right around the corner on Fulton).

[thebeerqueer]

2 hours ago, joeDowntown said:

We speculated that it might look something like this. The foundations match pretty close, and this is the same developer (right around the corner on Fulton).

Ahh, that's right, now I recall. Thanks for bringing this back up. 

[GR_Urbanist]

The old Harmony Hall looks like it is receiving some significant exterior work. Odd as the existing facade isn't that old. I didn't get too much of a look, but if you are in the area it may be worth looking over.

 

[joeDowntown]

On 1/13/2023 at 4:48 PM, joeDowntown said:

I love how much difference the new windows make:

 

Just look up @GR_Urbanist Posted these a few months back. It's getting a more modern exterior and rooftop deck. Glad they are keeping the original, older section pretty intact (I don't think they should paint the brick on the older section, but oh well).

 

 

[joeDowntown]

Progress photos of the townhouse(?) development on Seward:

 

[GR_Urbanist]

3 hours ago, joeDowntown said:

Just look up @GR_Urbanist Posted these a few months back. It's getting a more modern exterior and rooftop deck. Glad they are keeping the original, older section pretty intact (I don't think they should paint the brick on the older section, but oh well).

 

 

For the life of me I kept wondering if it was something that was long known about, and I just missed seeing it! LOL!

But holy cow! That's a big change!

Edited April 9, 2023 by GR_Urbanist

[cstonesparty]

On 6/5/2022 at 10:24 PM, Pattmost20 said:

St. James Church on Bridge Street is going up for sale.

I'm curious to see who ends up buying it. It is such a landmark building, and with development pushing further down bridge, seems like it is ripe for redevelopment. 

I hear this may be under contract... but no idea who.

[Pattmost20]

7 hours ago, cstonesparty said:

I hear this may be under contract... but no idea who.

Hopefully we get an announcement soon. My buddy volunteers at WYCE next door and was just asking if I had heard any news on it. 

[joeDowntown]

Update of the small residential unit on Seward. 4 units on Seward, one on the side street. 

Joe