Lakeshore Projects

[GRLaker 442]

Since the lakeshore is a part of the Grand Rapids Metro Area...

Looks like the old Civic Center in Holland is getting a nice face lift. Downtown Holland has done quite a bit lately between a new Courtyard by Marriott, new office buildings, installing heated sidewalks, Hope College's new buildings, and now this. 

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/01/holland_civic_center_renovatio.html

Edited January 5, 2017 by GRLaker

[GRDadof3 2965]

I'm glad you posted this! I was in Holland the other day for the first time in years. What is that massive power plant looking place just as you're entering downtown? Looks pretty sweet for a power plant, if that's what it is. 

[GRLaker 442]

3 minutes ago, GRDadof3 said:

I'm glad you posted this! I was in Holland the other day for the first time in years. What is that massive power plant looking place just as you're entering downtown? Looks pretty sweet for a power plant, if that's what it is. 

Holland has moved away from the coal power plant that sits on Lake Macatawa and built a new natural gas plant. It is a thing of beauty as far as power plants go. I believe the coal plant still serves as a backup right now while the gas is completed. I'd love to see if there are plans to tear that thing down and develop that land though. It's prime land right on Lake Macatawa in downtown. Only problem is the sewage treatment plant is nearby.

[GRDadof3 2965]

That's it! Pretty awesome. 

[MJLO 582]

19 hours ago, GRLaker said:

Holland has moved away from the coal power plant that sits on Lake Macatawa and built a new natural gas plant. It is a thing of beauty as far as power plants go. I believe the coal plant still serves as a backup right now while the gas is completed. I'd love to see if there are plans to tear that thing down and develop that land though. It's prime land right on Lake Macatawa in downtown. Only problem is the sewage treatment plant is nearby.

I've always found it ironic that Holland as a "tourist" town has it's greatest asset (it's waterfront) flanked by a padnos scrap yard, an ugly power plant, and other unsightly industrial crap.   Padnos is annoyingly located in a bunch of spots that would be prime for ANYTHING other than metal recycling. 

[GRLaker 442]

1 hour ago, MJLO said:

I've always found it ironic that Holland as a "tourist" town has it's greatest asset (it's waterfront) flanked by a padnos scrap yard, an ugly power plant, and other unsightly industrial crap.   Padnos is annoyingly located in a bunch of spots that would be prime for ANYTHING other than metal recycling. 

Is that Padnos? I had no idea...I agree that that land could be used for far better things. I think Michigan lakeshore cities of any size to speak of suffer from a lack of imagination for what they can do with their waterfront land. They seem to just be industrial wastelands as opposed to parks and large scale housing like you'd see in any other state with beaches and great lakefront property.

[GRDadof3 2965]

4 hours ago, GRLaker said:

Is that Padnos? I had no idea...I agree that that land could be used for far better things. I think Michigan lakeshore cities of any size to speak of suffer from a lack of imagination for what they can do with their waterfront land. They seem to just be industrial wastelands as opposed to parks and large scale housing like you'd see in any other state with beaches and great lakefront property.

That's because for more than a century the lakefronts along the lakeshore were shipping ports. They're still shipping ports, to some degree. 

[RegalTDP 364]

2 hours ago, GRDadof3 said:

That's because for more than a century the lakefronts along the lakeshore were shipping ports. They're still shipping ports, to some degree. 

You could say it's a similar story along the Grand River.  We're frustrated today with the underutilization of the river and lack of green space, but back in the day people looked at the riverbanks and envisioned sawmills 

[MJLO 582]

They were definitely purposed for their most impactful economic use at the time.  It is now time to repurpose them to their current most impactful economic use.

[GRDadof3 2965]

12 hours ago, RegalTDP said:

You could say it's a similar story along the Grand River.  We're frustrated today with the underutilization of the river and lack of green space, but back in the day people looked at the riverbanks and envisioned sawmills 

Exactly. That's why it's hard to find a city that's more than 100 years old that's not built alongside a river or lakefront.

[Onekama 85]

Phase 1 of this development is also under construction downtown Holland next to the Civic Center property.  Will help extend downtown towards Lake Mac.

http://www.gdkproperties.com/pdfs/0-Downtown-Holland---Online-Brochure-(4)-website-use-2016.pdf

[GRLaker 442]

55 minutes ago, Onekama said:

Phase 1 of this development is also under construction downtown Holland next to the Civic Center property.  Will help extend downtown towards Lake Mac.

http://www.gdkproperties.com/pdfs/0-Downtown-Holland---Online-Brochure-(4)-website-use-2016.pdf

My goodness. That will be an amazing addition to the city. I had no idea that was in the works, let alone currently being built. That is a big step in the right direction toward making it a true lakefront city.

[Onekama 85]

And speaking of lakefront, not sure what will be done with the James DeYoung power plant once the new one GRLaker posted above comes online...  Maybe re-purpose as small version of the Tate Modern in London?

[GRLaker 442]

It would be nice to see some condos go up above the shops they're building on 8th as an extension of downtown. There are really only about three urban condo developments in the city.

[Onekama 85]

Looks like the first building going up will have a whopping 4 condos!

http://www.grbj.com/articles/85529-developer-plans-redevelopment-of-urban-block

[GRDadof3 2965]

I did also notice that just West of the Heinz plant is a condo project going in on Lake Mac. Looked pretty nice. 

[GRLaker 442]

36 minutes ago, Onekama said:

Looks like the first building going up will have a whopping 4 condos!

http://www.grbj.com/articles/85529-developer-plans-redevelopment-of-urban-block

Apartments work too. But a multi-story building of all condos like Grand Haven has built in the last decade would sure be nice. Grand Haven has become the beach town condo city of West Michigan. 

[GRLaker 442]

57 minutes ago, GRDadof3 said:

I did also notice that just West of the Heinz plant is a condo project going in on Lake Mac. Looked pretty nice. 

Haven't noticed that. Is it a condo community or a condo building?

[Pattmost20 286]

1 hour ago, Onekama said:

Looks like the first building going up will have a whopping 4 condos!

http://www.grbj.com/articles/85529-developer-plans-redevelopment-of-urban-block

Hopefully the future developments will include quite a few more condos. Side note, I like your username, been going up to Portage Lake since I was a kid.

[GRDadof3 2965]

52 minutes ago, GRLaker said:

Haven't noticed that. Is it a condo community or a condo building?

They're like cottages. I'll see if I can find it.

[GRLaker 442]

1 minute ago, GRDadof3 said:

They're like cottages. I'll see if I can find it.

Ohh bummer. That would have been the perfect spot for a high rise. 

[GRDadof3 2965]

53 minutes ago, GRLaker said:

Ohh bummer. That would have been the perfect spot for a high rise. 

http://www.southshoreonmacatawa.com/news--gallery.html

[GRLaker 442]

15 minutes ago, GRDadof3 said:

http://www.southshoreonmacatawa.com/news--gallery.html

Not a fan of the materials and colors on the row units, but at least it's a mass unit development that will open up the area market some.

I do love the cottage looking units though. That is sharp. 

[Onekama 85]

2 hours ago, Pattmost20 said:

Hopefully the future developments will include quite a few more condos. Side note, I like your username, been going up to Portage Lake since I was a kid.

Thanks Pattmost20!  Love Onekama (1,) and the Portage Lake area.  We bought a condo at the Portage Point Inn 2 years ago and was the best purchase of my life so far.  

The resort was purchased out of foreclosure a few years back and it's new life is starting to take shape.  As you guys on here like renderings, you can see the current plans here: http://www.portagepointresort.com/ .  The plan is to turn the circa 1912 hotel into more lakefront condos as well.

Seems to be a great time to get into the Onekama/Manistee area.  Arcadia Bluffs is adding a second golf course a few miles away on M22 and expanding their lodging.  The Casino (not that I ever go there) also just expanded.  Brand new Meijer in Manistee.  New North Channel Brewing and a riverfront condo project opening this spring downtown Manistee.  All the beauty of northern Michigan without the Traverse City prices...

Hopefully not too off topic as this is a Lakeshore thread

[GRLaker 442]

1 hour ago, Onekama said:

Thanks Pattmost20!  Love Onekama (1,) and the Portage Lake area.  We bought a condo at the Portage Point Inn 2 years ago and was the best purchase of my life so far.  

The resort was purchased out of foreclosure a few years back and it's new life is starting to take shape.  As you guys on here like renderings, you can see the current plans here: http://www.portagepointresort.com/ .  The plan is to turn the circa 1912 hotel into more lakefront condos as well.

Seems to be a great time to get into the Onekama/Manistee area.  Arcadia Bluffs is adding a second golf course a few miles away on M22 and expanding their lodging.  The Casino (not that I ever go there) also just expanded.  Brand new Meijer in Manistee.  New North Channel Brewing and a riverfront condo project opening this spring downtown Manistee.  All the beauty of northern Michigan without the Traverse City prices...

Hopefully not too off topic as this is a Lakeshore thread

Hey, it's still the lakeshore