Hey, what's that (and other miscellanea)?

[joeDowntown]

In the "I don't know where to put it" category, the Feb 9 Planning commission will be reviewing a proposal called "Factory Yards" in the old McInerney Spring Building (14 acres). 

375 apartments, 60,000 sq. ft of commercial space, with a future 100 units planned. $100,000,000 price tag (I kept counting the zeroes to make sure it was accurate). From the packet: 

620, 640 & 644 Chestnut Street SW, 835 & 943 Godfrey Avenue SW, and 700 Martin Luther King Jr Street SW (PC-ZON-2022-0110) 655 Godfrey, LLC (Ben Smith) is requesting approval to rezone the subject properties from the SD-IT (Special District–Industrial Transportation) Zone District to the TN-TCC (Traditional Neighborhood–Transitional City Center) Zone District to facilitate future development. The request will be evaluated by the Planning Commission for compliance with the standards of Article 6 and Section 5.12.10 of the Zoning Ordinance and forwarded to the City Commission for consideration. Factory Yards is a mixed-use development that includes residential, commercial, and self-storage uses in approximately 500,000 square feet of historic furniture warehouse situated on approximately 14 acres. The majority of the property was rezoned from Industrial to Transitional City Center (TCC) by the previous owner. At the time of this re-zoning, there were six parcels within the site that were owned by the Norfolk Southern and CSX Railroad Corporation and these parcels were not re-zoned. With our development plan in place, we are seeking to re-zone these parcels to TCC to ensure consistent zoning across the development.

The property will be a mixed-use development consisting of approximately 375 apartment dwellings, 60,000 square feet of commercial space, and 80,000 square feet of self storage space. A portion of the commercial space has been designated for a food hall, bar, and event space. The balance of the commercial space will be marketed to office, commercial, hospitality, and retail tenants. An additional 100 units are planned for a future phase in a ground up multifamily building on the south end of the site.

Joe

[MJLO]

That would be incredible.  I've said more than once that stretch of Godfrey has the bones to be one of the coolest neighborhoods in town. 

[GR_Urbanist]

It took me a minute to figure out what this place was. My dad worked here back in the late 70s till 1980, and we lived in the "projects" just up the hill behind it. I had no idea that "Mack and Erine" was actually McInerney!

That area is so unique geographically that a project like this will definitely transform that corridor 

[Cookin_peacocks]

Is this the large factory across from Roberto Clemente Park?

[Prankster]

1 hour ago, Cookin_peacocks said:

Is this the large factory across from Roberto Clemente Park?

yep

[thebeerqueer]

1 hour ago, Cookin_peacocks said:

Is this the large factory across from Roberto Clemente Park?

Definitely have been to some fun warehouse /rave parties in those buildings.  Interesting spaces and the place is a labyrinth. 

[Jonesey]

It would be a real miss if they didn't do anything with the rooftop, the view of downtown  from there is fantastic

[HavingAhoot]

16 hours ago, thebeerqueer said:

Definitely have been to some fun warehouse /rave parties in those buildings.  Interesting spaces and the place is a labyrinth. 

I've been to those as well and yeah place is a cool labyrinth! I wonder if is tore down on the far south end or saved. This could be a very cool area/neighborhood that is under utilized atm. 

[DGramza_MCC]

I used to work in that building from 2006-2011.  While old buildings are cool, I would not want to have an apartment in that place.  Too old an creaky for me.

[Cookin_peacocks]

Couldn't find a thread for the Waters Building, but it looks like vacant space on the SW corner of Lyon and Ottawa is going to be a Key Bank. They are putting up signage for Key Bank today.

[joeDowntown]

Read on MIBiz (paywalled) that the University Club (currently in the 5/3 building) is moving to third old RDV / Penninsula club. 

with Warner moving, and the university club moving, that building has to be  pretty empty. Will be interesting to see if CWD will start shuffling tenants around to fill the building, or move 5/3 and completely reimagine the building. 

[joeDowntown]

This seems like a great addition to the Downtown Market. I always thought Monroe Center in front of Rosa Parks would be an ideal location but the Downtown Market will be nice as well. If someone serves the melted cheese on bread thing, I'm in a lot of trouble (yum): 

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2023/04/first-ever-christkindl-markt-planned-for-grand-rapids-downtown-market-this-year.html

[numstead]

13 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:

This seems like a great addition to the Downtown Market. I always thought Monroe Center in front of Rosa Parks would be an ideal location but the Downtown Market will be nice as well. If someone serves the melted cheese on bread thing, I'm in a lot of trouble (yum): 

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2023/04/first-ever-christkindl-markt-planned-for-grand-rapids-downtown-market-this-year.html

That's fantastic! My wife is from Strasbourg, France where they have one of the most famous Christmas Markets in Europe, so this will be a bit of a taste of home for her.

[Cookin_peacocks]

Didn't know where to put this, and wasn't sure it warranted a new thread. But there's some movement in the little abandoned two story building on the corner of Louis and Ottawa downtown. Anyone have anything?

[joeDowntown]

34 minutes ago, Cookin_peacocks said:

Didn't know where to put this, and wasn't sure it warranted a new thread. But there's some movement in the little abandoned two story building on the corner of Louis and Ottawa downtown. Anyone have anything?

Interesting. What is going on? I thought for sure this building would sit empty and eventually be knocked down for something bigger. 

Joe

[Cookin_peacocks]

57 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:

Interesting. What is going on? I thought for sure this building would sit empty and eventually be knocked down for something bigger. 

Joe

It just looks like they are removing the things from it. That's all I saw. There's a dumpster in the lot and some cars that are, I assume, workers. 

 

I'm right there with you. That lot needs something bigger. Much bigger

[Allison Slater]

16 hours ago, Cookin_peacocks said:

I'm right there with you. That lot needs something bigger. Much bigger

Like a steam pig!

[Jonesey]

That building and the adjacent lot are probably the most prime development sites in the core downtown.  I really hope whenever it gets developed, it's 25 stories+

[joeDowntown]

I drove by today and it looked like very light demolition. A porta potty, and a dumpster with some drywall in it. It would seem smart to me to lease it for a while until they they do something bigger down the road. 

Joe

[joeDowntown]

The Factory Yards development goes in front of the economic development committee tomorrow. Hoping this develops at a faster rate than the Sligh furniture building development:

https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/grand-rapids-warehouse-could-be-turned-into-apartments-restaurants-and-more

 

[RiversideGR]

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but there is an item on the agenda for the next Historical Preservation Commission meeting for a proposed mixed-use development at 241 State Street

[walker]

3 hours ago, RiversideGR said:

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but there is an item on the agenda for the next Historical Preservation Commission meeting for a proposed mixed-use development at 241 State Street

 

I like it.  

The most historic thing on that wedge block is the Calkin's Law Office Building at 201 State Street, supposedly the oldest building in Grand Rapids.  But keep in mind that isn't its original location.  It was originally downtown at Monroe and Ottawa and it was moved from there later to Ionia Ave.  It fell into disrepair and was saved and was restored and moved to where it is now when the museum was across the street.  Without the museum there it is kind of an orphan building and maybe should be moved again, especially if it is used as an excuse to stop this redevelopment.  Back in 2007 there was a discussion here about whether the Calkin's building should be moved or not:

Urbanplanet - 2007: calkins-law-office-building

'

Before the move

 

 

  

Edited April 12, 2023 by walker
to fix typos

[Jonesey]

I read that IKEA is looking to add eight stores in the U.S.  Coincidently, they currently have eight "pick-up points in the country with GR being one of them.  The article did mention they are looking mainly at the south and east coast.  Anyone think we'll finally get an IKEA?

[Prankster]

Nope. 

[RiversideGR]

Has there been any update on that soccer stadium stuff? Maybe I am being greedy, but I feel like we are overdue for some kind of big announcement. It sure would make this week of crappy weather more bearable.