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MJLO

By MJLO
in Grand Rapids

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

Posted
Posted

Centex...the builders?

From their site:

We have completed more than 75 retail projects valued at over $400 million, including over a dozen high-end custom retail centers for Bass Pro Shops across the country.

From beachside condos to downtown highrises, from college dorms to mountain hideaways, Centex is busy building the places where people share time with the ones they love most.

From major league sports fields to symphony theater stages, Centex has built a range of public spaces that have wowed, inspired, and entertained people for decades. With over 80 completed public assembly projects valued in excess of $1.6 billion, Centex has repeatedly earned the trust of clients in this diverse and exciting market.

For over 25 years, Centex has built facilities to help travelers get on their way more efficiently and safely with more than 80 completed transportation projects valued at over $1.6 billion.

Sounds like they're ones who could pull this off and have the experience. :)

Centex MAY be involved on the residential side, but I don't know. They've looked at the GR market before and turned their noses up at it (for various reasons). Pulte pulled out of GR because it's so segmented by 1000's of small builders, and they need about 500 closings/market area to make a profit.

It could be Centex as a "partner" on this, but only if their were a MASSIVE COLLOSSAL HUGE corporate anchor presence that they thought would create a firestorm of housing demand.

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torgo Town

torgo

Posted
Posted

You gotta admit, "River Grand" is not exactly the most unique name in the world. I'm sure this could easily be the name of some housing development and not a nod to Centex' involvement in the project. Point A to point B here seems to have quite a long distance between it...

Joe

At least it isnt "Rolling Rapids" or some dopey suburban name like that. :lol:

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MJLO City

MJLO

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It requires a bank with $ to finance it, but with billions, who knows you all gotta be on the right track.. . something big has to have signed on as an anchor. I gaurantee Mr. Fausts company couldn't finance it, itself.

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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I know it's a long shot, but Faust played basketball for three years at Maryland. Maybe one of his teamates he played with is the key. I haven't been able to find any list of team rosters though.

:( Wow...I'm really starting to go off in left field.

Don't worry CityGuy. WOODTV is doing the same investigative reporting as we speak:

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4688861

Here's a guy, who knows Faust, who was working with GRPS on a special "talent search" program.

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kzoovin Crossroads

kzoovin

Posted
Posted

do you think it is even possible to dredge the Grand river all the way to Grd. Haven?

It's possbile, but it would take about 3 years for a 30ft channel dredged 5ft and then to install channel markers, which is what would be needed for 30ft boats. Now 100ft ships would require 10ft deep and maybe 60ft wide, what if 2 of these behemoths were traveling in opposite directions? ...they would need the room to get by each other. That kind a channel would take 4+ years, you'd start in GR and work to Grand Haven, once you finished you'd have lots of ongoing maintenance with the shoaling that will occur. All this for 1 marina? Also, we're talking about maybe 5+ hours to make the Big Lake from GR with a "no wake" limit in the river, maybe 7 - 8 mph, and what's the river length from GR to Grand Haven? ...maybe 43 miles? You could drive to Chicago in less time that it would take to go to Lake Michigan from GR in your yacht. :stop:

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francishsu Hamlet

francishsu

Posted
Posted

I would like to point to a trademark search I did on River Grand. Not sure if it is the project but if it is it does present some new things to look up. It was registered March 9th 2006 so I think that adds a bit of validity to it.

Link: http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=497gv6.2.1

(not sure if that link will work or not, if not you can get to this by searching river grand here on US Trademark site)

I don't believe I have heard the name Centex Corporation before.

Edit: I would like to clarify that there is a good possibility that this has nothing to do with project X and the reason I decided to search it was because WZZM always said TM after river grand.

The River Grand TM is also located in the ESNA document as well. Smart thinking to do a trademark serach. Given that Centex is in the construction/real estate business and that their "mission statement" has similar themes to ESNA, it's seems logical that Centex could be involved. One thing I noticed is that the Centex trademark is RIVERGRAND, one word rather than two. At this point, Centex has filed the application to register the trademark. At a later point, outside parties will get the opportunity to challenge.

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commissionerpd Unincorporated Area

commissionerpd

Posted
Posted

I think there was also "Entertainment Conglomerates" used in the ESNA Report.

MJLO, right here (ignore the 100' yacht part):

I am a Real Estate Attorney from Duluth GA. I had an opportunity to review several "plan" documents recently that pertain to the development in Grand Rapids MI. Here is what I can tell you--and what all West Michigan Residents should know:

The development centers around a "Marina/Entertainment" complex located directly off of the Grand River. The river's entire length will be dredged to allow for luxury yachts up to 100' in length. The reason the project is so expensive is that the grand, from Lake MI to downtown Grand Rapids will need to be dredged---it will take 4-5 years at a cost of $500 million dollars. The building of the marina/entertainment area will be modled after Navy Pier in Chicago and will cost OVER $500 million.

This entire project will take 10 years in total to build--with the first 3-4 years being very slow moving.

Ultimately there will be a major sports complex (NFL or MLB) anchoring the property with the Marina being the main draw.

Look for a local investor to pop up with several hundred million to fund the sports team. THat WILL happen by 2010.

The "Port of Grand Rapids" will become a tourist destination and include casino's, adult recreation, sports and music venue's.

It will also house the offices of Interscope Records and teh David Geffen Institute for Advanced Hearing Studies.

The landscape of Grand Rapids will change significantly.

I will remain anonymous but promise to keep you informed.

Your great city will NOT be the same in 5 years!!

What do you make of that? How could someone make that part up?

I just got back on and had to bring this guy's post back up and just mention that it shouldn't be discredited. Look for more info to be released towards the end of the week.

I personally am not a fan of what is to be accomplished (from the old report) within the 36 month scope. It is looking like the midwest's largest ever property valuation sceme and I think the realtor is right on.

Look and see how many of the essential properties do not have signed options. I see several of the "private" properties changing hands shortly thus dramatically increasing their "flipped" value. There is a lot of potential with several of the existing properties and if it is realized the acquisition prices if pushed much further could make London's 6 mil (which could go up greatly) sound like a steal.

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Rizzo City

Rizzo

Posted
Posted

http://www.umbcretrievers.com/files/155.pdf

A Duane Faust played seasons 86' - 89' A posible roster can be made from this

A Larry Simmons was on the roster when Faust played... If this is the same Simmons:

http://www.atlantathrashers.com/View.aspx?...c1-6fcb4e4a6658

Atlanta connection?

I know I'm linking names, but you just gotta role with what you got

Edit: Nevermind, Simmons bio dosen't mention Maryland.

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

Posted
Posted

I just got back on and had to bring this guy's post back up and just mention that it shouldn't be discredited. Look for more info to be released towards the end of the week.

I personally am not a fan of what is to be accomplished (from the old report) within the 36 month scope. It is looking like the midwest's largest ever property valuation sceme and I think the realtor is right on.

Look and see how many of the essential properties do not have signed options. I see several of the "private" properties changing hands shortly thus dramatically increasing their "flipped" value. There is a lot of potential with several of the existing properties and if it is realized the acquisition prices if pushed much further could make London's 6 mil (which could go up greatly) sound like a steal.

Which realtor is "right on" commissionerpd? I'm confused on how this works.

BTW: The original poster of this to the MLive boards is a woman ;)

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kzoovin Crossroads

kzoovin

Posted
Posted

The River Grand TM is also located in the ESNA document as well. Smart thinking to do a trademark serach. Given that Centex is in the construction/real estate business and that their "mission statement" has similar themes to ESNA, it's seems logical that Centex could be involved. One thing I noticed is that the Centex trademark is RIVERGRAND, one word rather than two. At this point, Centex has filed the application to register the trademark. At a later point, outside parties will get the opportunity to challenge.

Buy the domain name for $613

http://rivergrand.seeq.com/seeq/20051013te...d.com&referrer=

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commissionerpd Unincorporated Area

commissionerpd

Posted
Posted

Which realtor is "right on" commissionerpd? I'm confused on how this works.

BTW: The original poster of this to the MLive boards is a woman ;)

GrDad,

This is from a couple of pages back:

I think there was also "Entertainment Conglomerates" used in the ESNA Report.

MJLO, right here (ignore the 100' yacht part):

I am a Real Estate Attorney from Duluth GA. I had an opportunity to review several "plan" documents recently that pertain to the development in Grand Rapids MI. Here is what I can tell you--and what all West Michigan Residents should know:

The development centers around a "Marina/Entertainment" complex located directly off of the Grand River. The river's entire length will be dredged to allow for luxury yachts up to 100' in length. The reason the project is so expensive is that the grand, from Lake MI to downtown Grand Rapids will need to be dredged---it will take 4-5 years at a cost of $500 million dollars. The building of the marina/entertainment area will be modled after Navy Pier in Chicago and will cost OVER $500 million.

This entire project will take 10 years in total to build--with the first 3-4 years being very slow moving.

Ultimately there will be a major sports complex (NFL or MLB) anchoring the property with the Marina being the main draw.

Look for a local investor to pop up with several hundred million to fund the sports team. THat WILL happen by 2010.

The "Port of Grand Rapids" will become a tourist destination and include casino's, adult recreation, sports and music venue's.

It will also house the offices of Interscope Records and teh David Geffen Institute for Advanced Hearing Studies.

The landscape of Grand Rapids will change significantly.

I will remain anonymous but promise to keep you informed.

Your great city will NOT be the same in 5 years!!

What do you make of that? How could someone make that part up?

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Phizzy Hamlet

Phizzy

Posted
Posted

My point freezout was that I don't believe we have the market right now to support a development like this.........unless, it included a MASSIVE corporate relocation-type presence as its main anchor. Just my $.0275.

I agree. I figure it has to be something that makes someone say "WOW!", be it a major corporation relocation, a Universal Studios-type theme park, or something else huge or unique.

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

Posted
Posted

GrDad,

This is from a couple of pages back:

I think there was also "Entertainment Conglomerates" used in the ESNA Report.

MJLO, right here (ignore the 100' yacht part):

I am a Real Estate Attorney from Duluth GA. I had an opportunity to review several "plan" documents recently that pertain to the development in Grand Rapids MI. Here is what I can tell you--and what all West Michigan Residents should know:

The development centers around a "Marina/Entertainment" complex located directly off of the Grand River. The river's entire length will be dredged to allow for luxury yachts up to 100' in length. The reason the project is so expensive is that the grand, from Lake MI to downtown Grand Rapids will need to be dredged---it will take 4-5 years at a cost of $500 million dollars. The building of the marina/entertainment area will be modled after Navy Pier in Chicago and will cost OVER $500 million.

This entire project will take 10 years in total to build--with the first 3-4 years being very slow moving.

Ultimately there will be a major sports complex (NFL or MLB) anchoring the property with the Marina being the main draw.

Look for a local investor to pop up with several hundred million to fund the sports team. THat WILL happen by 2010.

The "Port of Grand Rapids" will become a tourist destination and include casino's, adult recreation, sports and music venue's.

It will also house the offices of Interscope Records and teh David Geffen Institute for Advanced Hearing Studies.

The landscape of Grand Rapids will change significantly.

I will remain anonymous but promise to keep you informed.

Your great city will NOT be the same in 5 years!!

What do you make of that? How could someone make that part up?

Yah, I know. I copied and pasted it from the MLive forums from a member there. Do you think it's legit?

Also, I re-read the ESNA Report and see what you mean. They will refinance the project in 36 months, based on revalued land due to new zoning and "prepping" it for development, to finance the rest of the project.

However, Heartwell is now saying they are going to buy the city-owned land outright:

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4686742

Any more insight you can provide commissionerpd? :dontknow:

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commissionerpd Unincorporated Area

commissionerpd

Posted
Posted

Yah, I know. I copied and pasted it from the MLive forums from a member there. Do you think it's legit?

Also, I re-read the ESNA Report and see what you mean. They will refinance the project in 36 months, based on revalued land due to new zoning and "prepping" it for development, to finance the rest of the project.

However, Heartwell is now saying they are going to buy the city-owned land outright:

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4686742

Any more insight you can provide commissionerpd? :dontknow:

The reason I brought your post back up was from where I stand there is a lot of info in there that I was frankly surprised to see and should be not be thrown out. I will give you that there is a new siteplan that is nothing like the old one.

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

Posted
Posted

The reason I brought your post back up was from where I stand there is a lot of info in there that I was frankly surprised to see and should be not be thrown out. I will give you that there is a new siteplan that is nothing like the old one.

Let me guess:

Geffen

Interscope (may now be a different label)

Pro-sports team

Are all spot on?

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TheCityGuy Whistle-Stop

TheCityGuy

Posted
Posted

I will give you that there is a new siteplan that is nothing like the old one.

I've sort of thought this all along. Give the public what it wants, but when the real story comes out, they'll still be surprised.

I also found this on wikipedia, regarding Wayne Huizenga, formerly of Calvin College. Interesting read, although I don't think he's involved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Wayne_Huizenga.

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