Wealthy Street Mega Thread

[Guest]

15 hours ago, joeDowntown said:

Depends. While not as significant of a building, I bet they’ll run into contaminated soil, and building close to the riverfront (removing flood walls, etc) will be tedious work. 

joe

Ahh yeah very true.  There are gas pumps on the property.  It's also where they store damaged vehicles and run fleet services, there's definitely some contamination.

[grandrollerz]

On 7/5/2022 at 11:37 AM, GRDadof3 said:

I moved the Mary Free Bed expansion thread out of the amphitheater thread, fyi. 

Announced! https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/whitmer-to-tour-mary-free-bed-tout-state-budget/

[cstonesparty]

Could be that they're looking at redoing river's edge access in that property as part of the 'park' that goes along with the amphitheater site.  All that site planning would have to be pretty extensive.  River for All and GR Forward didn't include that area, but here's a clip from the River For All trail templates...

[ZAP!]

On 7/8/2022 at 8:36 PM, GRDadof3 said:

I find it humorous that you think that's an easy thing to do.   If I have an hour and a half to spare this weekend, I'll see if I can do it. Keep in mind this is an Invision board that even with updates, dates back to 2000's. 

I don't like being patronized, so I took the initiative to find every post from the pre-merge Amphitheater thread and organize them into a spreadsheet with permalinks and comment IDs. To save you the trouble of hunting them down.

It includes all of pages 92 and 98-102, plus a few scattered others.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-MhZeu3C2yycGo-bndk8DlcVSlsN8KlKz-CGcWjMJlw/edit?usp=sharing

@GRDadof3 @Neo

[GRDadof3]

11 hours ago, ZAP! said:

I don't like being patronized, so I took the initiative to find every post from the pre-merge Amphitheater thread and organize them into a spreadsheet with permalinks and comment IDs. To save you the trouble of hunting them down.

It includes all of pages 92 and 98-102, plus a few scattered others.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-MhZeu3C2yycGo-bndk8DlcVSlsN8KlKz-CGcWjMJlw/edit?usp=sharing

@GRDadof3 @Neo

I had them all selected and tried to split them off but could not figure it out. Just knowing which posts is about 1/4 of the work. 

[joeDowntown]

5 hours ago, GRDadof3 said:

I had them all selected and tried to split them off but could not figure it out. Just knowing which posts is about 1/4 of the work. 

Yep, it’s not the most intuitive part of this forum app. 

[GR_Urbanist]

The remains of the old Tatum building are starting to get cleared away today. Big machines on-site this afternoon, and they already made a lot of progress.

[GRDadof3]

I think I have it fixed now. This should be all the Wealthy St posts from 2007 to today. 

[terra firma]

@ GR Urbanist-- yes we are busy cleaning that fire mess up as we simultaneously are rebuilding 650 Wealthy next to it  (Dime& Regal, Palace Flophouse)  from damage related to the fire.   We'd have cleaned the building site sooner (we bought it in may I think) but permitting took forever !

We do not yet have a plan for the "Tatum" site, which was formerly known as 666 Wealthy and is now called 680 Wealthy.   We are beginning meetings w/ our architect to evaluate / identify a  direction and will start making plans once we've got a path.  It will be based on what we think fits there, and not driven by a particular use or tenant.

Before we do anything on that site, we will at long last commence renovations on 710 Wealthy (the fish mural bldg) in hopes of being done mid-winter with that one,  at which time I hope to roll right into new building development @ the 680 / Tatum site.   No specific users identified for any of the above at this time.

We are super happy that our Tenants along this corridor are enjoying good business volume and vitality.   What a cool district.

eric wynsma / terra firma development 

Edited August 12, 2022 by terra firma

[joeDowntown]

Thanks for the update Eric. I’d love to see a building with with a similar footprint and style as the original. Have you thought about residential at all? Maybe apartments or condos on the top story?

Joe

[Pattmost20]

18 hours ago, terra firma said:

@ GR Urbanist-- yes we are busy cleaning that fire mess up as we simultaneously are rebuilding 650 Wealthy next to it  (Dime& Regal, Palace Flophouse)  from damage related to the fire.   We'd have cleaned the building site sooner (we bought it in may I think) but permitting took forever !

We do not yet have a plan for the "Tatum" site, which was formerly known as 666 Wealthy and is now called 680 Wealthy.   We are beginning meetings w/ our architect to evaluate / identify a  direction and will start making plans once we've got a path.  It will be based on what we think fits there, and not driven by a particular use or tenant.

Before we do anything on that site, we will at long last commence renovations on 710 Wealthy (the fish mural bldg) in hopes of being done mid-winter with that one,  at which time I hope to roll right into new building development @ the 680 / Tatum site.   No specific users identified for any of the above at this time.

We are super happy that our Tenants along this corridor are enjoying good business volume and vitality.   What a cool district.

eric wynsma / terra firma development 

That is awesome news, excited to see all the development along that stretch. Are you able to say what architect you are using for 680 Wealthy? 

[GR_Urbanist]

I had no idea how bad the damage was next door. I remember the roof and water damage, but the whole side had to almost be rebuilt it seems!

But I'm excited to see how this spot will all develop! 

[GRDadof3]

On 8/12/2022 at 7:19 PM, terra firma said:

@ GR Urbanist-- yes we are busy cleaning that fire mess up as we simultaneously are rebuilding 650 Wealthy next to it  (Dime& Regal, Palace Flophouse)  from damage related to the fire.   We'd have cleaned the building site sooner (we bought it in may I think) but permitting took forever !

We do not yet have a plan for the "Tatum" site, which was formerly known as 666 Wealthy and is now called 680 Wealthy.   We are beginning meetings w/ our architect to evaluate / identify a  direction and will start making plans once we've got a path.  It will be based on what we think fits there, and not driven by a particular use or tenant.

Before we do anything on that site, we will at long last commence renovations on 710 Wealthy (the fish mural bldg) in hopes of being done mid-winter with that one,  at which time I hope to roll right into new building development @ the 680 / Tatum site.   No specific users identified for any of the above at this time.

We are super happy that our Tenants along this corridor are enjoying good business volume and vitality.   What a cool district.

eric wynsma / terra firma development 

Awesome news.

Anyone heard any word on what's going to happen with Elk Brewing? 

[GR_Urbanist]

The building on the SE corner of Wealthy and Eastern has really begun to spring to life after what seems like renovations that have gone on for years! Big windows are starting to appear on the ground floor as of this morning, and just those alone already makes the intersection look 100x better.

[GR_Urbanist]

On 9/30/2022 at 8:22 AM, GR_Urbanist said:

The building on the SE corner of Wealthy and Eastern has really begun to spring to life after what seems like renovations that have gone on for years! Big windows are starting to appear on the ground floor as of this morning, and just those alone already makes the intersection look 100x better.

Finally managed to get a red light so I could get a photo!

 

The interior is still a long way from being completed.

Edited October 14, 2022 by GR_Urbanist

[MJLO]

How many decades has that building been closed off to the street?    I remember what  that strip of wealthy was like late 80s/early 90s.  Neighborhood was so bad McDonalds abandoned it.  Crazy to think how different things are. 

[joeDowntown]

Good article from WoodtTV a few days ago. The building used to be a post office (among other uses). Looks like they uncovered a mosaic tile floor and tin ceiling. Looks like it’ll be a really interesting place:

https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/chartreuse-sisters-french-bakery-and-cafe-coming-to-grand-rapids-uptown/amp/

[TheLonesomeHobo]

6 hours ago, MJLO said:

How many decades has that building been closed off to the street?    I remember what  that strip of wealthy was like late 80s/early 90s.  Neighborhood was so bad McDonalds abandoned it.  Crazy to think how different things are. 

The first house I rented in the mid 00’s was on Calkins and I always remembered walking by that abandoned McDonanlds. Now, almost 18 years later I live in a building on the lot where that McDonalds used to be.

Edited October 15, 2022 by TheLonesomeHobo

[GR_Urbanist]

The last boarded-up storefront on Wealthy is officially on its way to renovation! The "Fish Mural" building was without the mural as of 5pm when I drove by.  15 years after the start of this thread!

Was too shocked to even get a photo!

Edit: photo for the record:

Edited November 30, 2022 by GR_Urbanist

[terra firma]

On 8/13/2022 at 9:10 AM, joeDowntown said:

Thanks for the update Eric. I’d love to see a building with with a similar footprint and style as the original. Have you thought about residential at all? Maybe apartments or condos on the top story?

Joe

Hi Joe !

the new building will indeed be same footprint / similar in form and structure to what was there.     We will have just over 3,000 SF of retail space and 3 apartments up, each with its' own parking spot on-site behind the building.  These will be 2BR units.

We have not yet submitted anything for permits or HPC approval, i'm confident the group here will like it !   

eric

[terra firma]

On 11/28/2022 at 5:57 PM, GR_Urbanist said:

The last boarded-up storefront on Wealthy is officially on its way to renovation! The "Fish Mural" building was without the mural as of 5pm when I drove by.  15 years after the start of this thread!

Was too shocked to even get a photo!

Edit: photo for the record:

new windows / doors / storefront system coming early January, much of the infrastructure work is already done including HVAC, electrical, floor repairs, carpentry work etc.    

we are hopeful of a mid-january completion of the base-building improvements and hope to move into tenant buildouts  straight away, as we have  strong tenant interest from two candidates, both of whom would  contribute fully  to the trendy local flavor and hip urban vibe of this neighborhood.    

when there's something to announce we'll remember to post  it here first.

EDIT:  and YES we have stored the 'fish mural'  panel series that covered the existing storefronts... I'm hopeful our eventual Tenant can find a way to implement them in their interior design scheme in some way; a tip of the hat to REB the artist of course and a fun way to remember the status of these buildings not so long ago.

eric

Edited December 30, 2022 by terra firma

[joeDowntown]

1 hour ago, terra firma said:

Hi Joe !

the new building will indeed be same footprint / similar in form and structure to what was there.     We will have just over 3,000 SF of retail space and 3 apartments up, each with its' own parking spot on-site behind the building.  These will be 2BR units.

We have not yet submitted anything for permits or HPC approval, i'm confident the group here will like it !   

eric

Can’t wait to see it! Any timeframe for renderings?

[terra firma]

On 12/30/2022 at 5:00 PM, joeDowntown said:

Can’t wait to see it! Any timeframe for renderings?

Joe, gimme a week or two on that...

[Zads]

I live right around the corner from these locations on Wealthy St. (Penguin, Tatum sites) in East Hills. I don't know if these two locations are actually inside the border of East Hills, probably just outside of it. 

Anyways, looking forward to the renderings and updates.

[Zads]

On 11/28/2022 at 5:57 PM, GR_Urbanist said:

The last boarded-up storefront on Wealthy is officially on its way to renovation! The "Fish Mural" building was without the mural as of 5pm when I drove by.  15 years after the start of this thread!

Was too shocked to even get a photo!

Edit: photo for the record:

Workers were out yesterday putting up windows in this building.

Also surveyors I believe were out at the old Tatum BookBinding building site as well. I wasn't able to get any photos unfortunately. I'll try for that next time.