Massive Riverfront Project

[GRDadof3]

Got my advance copy of tomorrow's Business Journal, and Apparently a secret developer has been in negotiations with several different property owners near this property on the riverfront (mentioned here a while back): http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.ph...7&hl=riverfront

I can't link to the article, and can't copy it, but speculation is flying with big words being dropped:

Deborah Shurlow is working on it

National developer

Have been working on this for a year

10,000 potential jobs!!

Mark London is guessing it might include an amusement park and/or casino, and he may sell his property

30 acres total are rumored to be under option, including the tire store and a bunch of properties on both sides of Market

Possible kayak park and marina

Words like "high-rise" residential/mixed-use

Terra Firma Eric is quoted and says he is under a confidentiality agreement, and was approached to sell

We were apparently RIGHT ON with our discussion on the city-owned 19 acres. Go buy the Business Journal. It's only $1.50.

Anyone want to speculate what the total package might be?

[GaryP]

Holy Crap! I cant wait to get my business journal tomorrow!

[MAU]

Holy Crap! I cant wait to get my business journal tomorrow!

No mail tomorrow.

[snoogit]

know any news stands in walker who carry it?

[blueradon]

Apparently someone has been listening to us!! This could be good

Where do you think the additional acres may be? Fulton and Market? And what about the strip club....

There's a lot of questions that are racing through my mind

[GRDadof3]

This is a map I made similar to the map that the Business Journal has of the properties that appear to be under option:

Enjoy! I'll be back later.

I was going to say Schuler Books snoogit, but they closed at 7:00

[Prankster]

Thanks, GRDad, you beat me to the scoop. I shouldn't have let you in on my Sunday evening secret.

That article is unbelievable. It basically shows a whole new district being added to downtown bounded by the Grand River to the west, Grandville Ave to the east (including Terra Firma's development), US131 to the north, and Wealthy St to the south. A total of over 30 acres.

They said that the announcement would be made within a month. Everyone that is in the know, has been made to sign confidentiality secrets. So don't expect anything to be leaked out until then.

Snoogit, Schueler's Bookstore on Alpine has copies, or so I've heard.

[GrandRiverCityKid]

Apparently someone has been listening to us!! This could be good

Where do you think the additional acres may be? Fulton and Market? And what about the strip club....

There's a lot of questions that are racing through my mind

Wow. umm....gulp, wow. Let's hope this keeps plugging along.

GRDad, could you give us sharks just a wee bit more chum, please?

p.s. I love the everything mentioned. i.e., Amusement park, kayak park, marina, high rise...

[Greedo]

Call me skeptical, but 10K jobs sounds like an exaggeration.

A marina sounds cool. Is it a straight shot from there to the big lake? No dams or anything like to the North? A water taxi from Allendale/Jenison/Grandville to downtown would be sweet. A marina there would provide excellent access to Central Station... and the world...

[GaryP]

From the looks of that map, Moch looks like he's already stuck it rich with the 3/4 of the block he's controlling right now. Also, does the site include the remaining property south of the tracks on the blocks that got cut off by them (at the Northeast and Northwest corners of wealthy and market)?

[GRCentro]

From the looks of that map, Moch looks like he's already stuck it rich with the 3/4 of the block he's controlling right now.

Yeah, it looks like there are a lot of pieces to this pie: The City, Moch, Mark London, Terra Firma, Custer Offices Showroom, Kelly Tire, the Intersection...

I still can't believe how huge this is. Thirty downtown acres! I wonder who the "national developer" is...

[GRDadof3]

GRDad, could you give us sharks just a wee bit more chum, please?

p.s. I love the everything mentioned. i.e., Amusement park, kayak park, marina, high rise...

chum..

The article says that everyone is under confidentiality agreements until Deborah Shurlow puts together the package for the developer. With this announcement and the 50 Monroe announcement, this coming March is going to bring new meaning to term March Madness!

However, I'm going to be a skeptic on this one. With a development this size, you're talking a Vegas-style $500 - $700 million pricetag. And I'm going to be irritated if they want to tear down 212 - 216 Grandville or the intersection building.

BTW: Custer mentioned they are NOT interested in selling, so I don't know why GRBJ has them highlighted.

I keep remembering tidbits (I should just get the article out again). They said that there most likely won't be any commercial office space.

Mark London also admits that he would be willing to help the city out on a development like this and would consider moving.

[GRDadof3]

Here's London's quote (strip club owner):

"I will not hold up the city from developing what they want to develop"...."I'm hearing this is a property of National Significance...if it's going to help the city for me to not go into business.....I'm certainly not going to hold the property hostage."

GRBJ

He is not under a confidentiality agreement, because he did not sign an option. He also doesn't know all the details either. The owner of the Intersection has also not accepted an option.

[snoogit]

Here's London's quote (strip club owner):

"I will not hold up the city from developing what they want to develop"...."I'm hearing this is a property of National Significance...if it's going to help the city for me to not go into business.....I'm certainly not going to hold the property hostage."

GRBJ

Im sure London could move further south, maybe even down near the franklin/hall area if he wanted to.

Is the GRBJ as vague as you are, or are you being hush hush because you dont want to spoil the GRBJ?

[GRDadof3]

Im sure London could move further south, maybe even down near the franklin/hall area if he wanted to.

Is the GRBJ as vague as you are, or are you being hush hush because you dont want to spoil the GRBJ?

They are vague, vague, vague There's some discussion in there from different City Commissioners, but nothing worth noting. The article is a bit confusing because they keep talking about the RFP for the city portion coming up this Spring. I don't know how that fits into the whole scheme with THIS particular unnamed developer. Maybe he is trying to get a corner on the market and be able to present a much more superior proposal for the city property

[GaryP]

chum..

The article says that everyone is under confidentiality agreements until Deborah Shurlow puts together the package for the developer. With this announcement and the 50 Monroe announcement, this coming March is going to bring new meaning to term March Madness!

Did the article mention an announcement in march?

[GRDadof3]

Did the article mention an announcement in march?

Oh yes, Deborah Shurlow said there will be an announcement in the "coming month".

[GaryP]

Oh yes, Deborah Shurlow said there will be an announcement in the "coming month".

Sweet

Can you guys imagine how cool it would be to have an urban amusement park with roller coasters running over streets!

[GrandRiverCityKid]

Did the article mention an announcement in march?

AAARRRRGHHH!!! My girlfriend and I are sitting here trying to figure out what in the world this could be...

'National Significance'??? 30 urban acres??? Just hope everyone involved does what needs to happen to make this come about.

I'm sure some people here know, but aren't saying. ***psst, we won't tell***

[GRDadof3]

AAARRRRGHHH!!! My girlfriend and I are sitting here trying to figure out what in the world this could be...

'National Significance'??? 30 urban acres??? Just hope everyone involved does what needs to happen to make this come about.

I'm sure some people here know, but aren't saying. ***psst, we won't tell***

Yah, just us and the 5000 - 6000 other lurkers around here.

Well Deborah Shurlow is a RETAIL expert at Grubb & Ellis.

[GaryP]

The large block outlined in purple is owned by the city. If this deal goes through I think they should sell it and move. They keep busses there and it couldn't be moved right away, but down the line it would be way out of place in the neighborhood. Plus it would limit new development to the South.

The green outline is what Moch has under contract right now. Again if the 30 acre deal happens, hopefully he can modify his design with a more inviting ground floor hopefully including some retail. Best case scenario IMO; he sells out to this 'national developer.'

[GRDadof3]

Amazingly Gary, Moch says he hasn't even been contacted.

Here's my take on this after some consideration and some PM's/emails I received about a month ago that are now making more sense:

They want both sides of Market to create a true new entertainment "street"

This development will probably have a proposed casino

I doubt we'll see a "Michigan's Adventure", but maybe an indoor water park as part of a hotel/resort package (they are going up everywhere now)

They are thinking as we did that any parking garage should be off of the most valuable riverfront land

This project will take 7 - 10 years to complete

What do you guys think?

[quoteme3]

Amazingly Gary, Moch says he hasn't even been contacted.

Here's my take on this after some consideration and some PM's/emails I received about a month ago that are now making more sense:

They want both sides of Market to create a true new entertainment "street"

This development will probably have a proposed casino

I doubt we'll see a "Michigan's Adventure", but maybe an indoor water park as part of a hotel/resort package (they are going up everywhere now)

They are thinking as we did that any parking garage should be off of the most valuable riverfront land

This project will take 7 - 10 years to complete

What do you guys think?

Im thinking "oh gee lucky me" 'cause I'm about to open the only retail storefront on that part of Grandville Ave. (!!!!!!)

I love it.

does this mean you guys are going to be doing an all nighter tonight?? (chuckle)

[BigPlayJ]

If the 10,000 jobs figure is true, think about this: Alticor employs about 13,000.....WORLDWIDE........only 3900 in West Michigan.

Here is another idea, an urban Mall along the lines of Circle Centre in Indianapolis. ????

Or possibly a relocation of a corporate headquarters by a national company.?????

Mind boggling.

[GRDadof3]

If the 10,000 jobs figure is true, think about this: Alticor employs about 13,000.....WORLDWIDE........only 3900 in West Michigan.

Here is another idea, an urban Mall along the lines of Circle Centre in Indianapolis. ????

Or possibly a relocation of a corporate headquarters by a national company.?????

Mind boggling.

Mind boggling is right. I did a search for "massive downtown entertainment project". Here are a couple:

Bridges of St. Paul

Bricktown - Oklahoma City

10,000 jobs is pretty exaggerated. Anyone know how many people are employed at Rivertown Crossings?