Creston Neighborhood

[RiversideGR]

MiBiz put out a good article about Creston's rebound after several failed developments. 

Original link: GR neighborhood rebounds from failed developments with new sense of optimism (mibiz.com)

Link that may help you avoid the paywall: 12ft | GR neighborhood rebounds from failed developments with new sense of optimism

 

Also includes some updates about the Franklin Partners project on Monroe:

Quote

The two mixed-use projects have created some momentum, and the neighborhood association also has been hearing from more developers recently, Hampshire said. That includes a major, long-planned redevelopment of a former industrial building that could connect the Creston Business District to the river.

Grand Rapids- and Oak Brook, Ill.-based Franklin Partners LLC is in the process of revisiting plans for vacant property the firm has owned since 2015 at 1340 North Monroe Ave. NW, between the business district and the Grand River. Several different developers in the past have pursued unsuccessful plans to redevelop the massive former Display Pack Inc. building. Franklin Partners now plans to serve as the developer for the property, said Don Shoemaker, a principal with Franklin Partners.

“We’re excited,” Shoemaker said. “It’s a great connection with the river redevelopment and what’s going on in the Creston Neighborhood. We went back to the drawing board and came up with new plans, and think it’s a really attractive project.”

Shoemaker did not disclose details of the plan, but he said it will be a residential project.

“We bought it without exactly knowing what it would become, but we really liked the location,” Shoemaker said. “We’ll be taking a big, empty industrial building and bringing new life and people to the neighborhood.”

 

[joeDowntown]

1 hour ago, RiversideGR said:

MiBiz put out a good article about Creston's rebound after several failed developments. 

Original link: GR neighborhood rebounds from failed developments with new sense of optimism (mibiz.com)

Link that may help you avoid the paywall: 12ft | GR neighborhood rebounds from failed developments with new sense of optimism

 

Also includes some updates about the Franklin Partners project on Monroe:

 

Interesting. Glad to see Franklin Partners is back in the mix for the old Display Pak factory. I think they've done some really good developments in Grand Rapids. 

Love to see the investment in the Creston area. It has some great old buildings, and with a little more density, I think it'll be a great anchor the near north side of the city.

Joe

[RiversideGR]

5 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:

Interesting. Glad to see Franklin Partners is back in the mix for the old Display Pak factory. I think they've done some really good developments in Grand Rapids. 

Love to see the investment in the Creston area. It has some great old buildings, and with a little more density, I think it'll be a great anchor the near north side of the city.

Joe

I noticed that Franklin also shared the post on social media and said they "look forward to announcing our plans soon". Seems promising but who knows. 

[RiversideGR]

I was surprised when I drove down plainfield today. The north end of the Lofts on Grove building is already taking shape. 

[Plainfielder]

I took this photo the other day on our walk, moving up to the 2nd story.

[RiversideGR]

the Baker Furniture building near Monroe and Ann streets is listed as for sale again.

 

I thought it only sold last year and was potentially going to be developed for housing...anyone have any info?
1661 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 - Industrial for Sale | LoopNet

[whitemice]

5 minutes ago, RiversideGR said:

 

I thought it only sold last year and was potentially going to be developed for housing...anyone have any info?

I work across the street.  The last news I heard was that furniture company was moving into it part of it as office space, and they had planned to to significant modification.   Their plan went before the Planning Commission, was approved, . . . . and then nothing happened (COVID19?)

Being next to it we've been eager to see something happen, but there's no activity there.

[joeDowntown]

1 hour ago, whitemice said:

I work across the street.  The last news I heard was that furniture company was moving into it part of it as office space, and they had planned to to significant modification.   Their plan went before the Planning Commission, was approved, . . . . and then nothing happened (COVID19?)

Being next to it we've been eager to see something happen, but there's no activity there.

Interesting. IIRC, they got approval during Covid. Surprised this didn't happen, but it's also to good of a target to not see redevelopment of some sort soon. I'd like the see them rip the newer portion off (and potentially develop that intersection separately, with apartments in the original building(s).

Joe

[cstonesparty]

37 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:

Interesting. IIRC, they got approval during Covid. Surprised this didn't happen, but it's also to good of a target to not see redevelopment of some sort soon. I'd like the see them rip the newer portion off (and potentially develop that intersection separately, with apartments in the original building(s).

Joe

between this building and the old DisplayPak building, there's gigantic amount of potential housing in a few years up there...

[joeDowntown]

If you read the listing the the Baler Furniture building, it actually says:

”The subject building shares a party wall with an industrial warehouse building that is currently undergoing a modern and hip restoration into the world headquarters of MiEN Company, which is an education focused furniture manufacturer. The facility will be used to showcase and warehouse product, as well as include office space..”

It does seem like there’s been a long delay on Mien moving there, but I think they always intended to partner / sell the rest of the building for residential redevelopment. 

Joe

[RiversideGR]

3 hours ago, joeDowntown said:

If you read the listing the the Baler Furniture building, it actually says:

”The subject building shares a party wall with an industrial warehouse building that is currently undergoing a modern and hip restoration into the world headquarters of MiEN Company, which is an education focused furniture manufacturer. The facility will be used to showcase and warehouse product, as well as include office space..”

It does seem like there’s been a long delay on Mien moving there, but I think they always intended to partner / sell the rest of the building for residential redevelopment. 

Joe

Wow. There was some interesting stuff in that listing text. They are planning to do some modernization to the facade of the industrial portion which is good. 
 

this rendering also looks like there are new build condos along the riverfront side of the warehouse too

[grandrollerz]

On 3/25/2023 at 5:07 PM, Plainfielder said:

I took this photo the other day on our walk, moving up to the 2nd story.

I saw that driving down Monroe last night and was like wtf is a crane doing there...then realized, ah yes. this! that's moving fast.

[RiversideGR]

The north end of the building is now at 3 stories. Still kind of in awe at how fast they are moving. 

It looks like the commercial space next to Rez Lounge has leased. The windows are all covered so I’m interested to learn what it will be used for.  I also noticed that the old Sun Title offices have been divided into several tenant spaces. Will be interesting to see what goes in there too…

[joeDowntown]

Amazing how fast pre-fab panel construction goes up. On the fourth story (top floor) already. From the rendering, it looks like they'll paint the upper floors dark gray with brick accents:

 

 

[RiversideGR]

39 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:

Amazing how fast pre-fab panel construction goes up. On the fourth story (top floor) already. From the rendering, it looks like they'll paint the upper floors dark gray with brick accents:

 

 

I'm really enjoying this transformation - I wonder if they already have a prospective tenant for the commercial space. From the permit records, it looks like they could start moving dirt on the Quimby/Plainfield site in as soon as a couple of weeks.

[numstead]

33 minutes ago, RiversideGR said:

I'm really enjoying this transformation - I wonder if they already have a prospective tenant for the commercial space. From the permit records, it looks like they could start moving dirt on the Quimby/Plainfield site in as soon as a couple of weeks.

Is there commercial space? That first floor so far has openings like the ones above for windows and PTAC mechanical units. Seems like ground floor residential.

[RiversideGR]

8 minutes ago, numstead said:

Is there commercial space? That first floor so far has openings like the ones above for windows and PTAC mechanical units. Seems like ground floor residential.

yeah the southern end at the corner of Grove and Plainfield will be a commercial space. that portion hasn't been constructed yet.  An article said it's a 3,275-square-ft retail space.

[arcturus]

^ Nice touch with the purple car.

Any word on what's to become of the old Red Jet Cafe?

[Winston1206]

53 minutes ago, arcturus said:

^ Nice touch with the purple car.

Any word on what's to become of the old Red Jet Cafe?

Looks like Red Jet hasn’t sold since 2019 so assuming the owners have just given up on Mad Grub. Wish they’d let it go and see if someone else can do something with it. 

[cstonesparty]

2 hours ago, arcturus said:

^ Nice touch with the purple car.

 

Is that a Gremlin?

[RiversideGR]

Curious if anyone has the scoop on what is going in to the spot at 1414 plainfield? ( between Rez Lounge and Sun Title)
It had a for lease sign up for several months. The sign is now gone, and the windows are call covered in some reflective sheets. 

[RiversideGR]

There's a interior demo permit submitted for the commercial building at 1590 Plainfield. Not a ton of information but indicates that the future use of the building will be "retail".

It looks like the building has been vacant for quite some time. A facade was removed in 2020 or 2021 exposing the original masonry.

Google streetview from November 2020:

[ctpgr34]

2 hours ago, RiversideGR said:

There's a interior demo permit submitted for the commercial building at 1590 Plainfield. Not a ton of information but indicates that the future use of the building will be "retail".

It looks like the building has been vacant for quite some time. A facade was removed in 2020 or 2021 exposing the original masonry.

Google streetview from November 2020:

Retail wine and floral shop with onsite consumption is plan I have seen.  Extensive remodel to the building interior/exterior.  Hope it works out.

 

[RiversideGR]

6 hours ago, ctpgr34 said:

Retail wine and floral shop with onsite consumption is plan I have seen.  Extensive remodel to the building interior/exterior.  Hope it works out.

 

oh wow you weren't kidding. big overhaul.  Fingers crossed!

[RiversideGR]

On 3/27/2023 at 9:09 PM, RiversideGR said:

Wow. There was some interesting stuff in that listing text. They are planning to do some modernization to the facade of the industrial portion which is good. 
 

this rendering also looks like there are new build condos along the riverfront side of the warehouse too

for those interested, it looks like MiEN is offering a tour of the Baker building next week.

Link to register: Michigan (a4le.org)

also included an additional rendering for the corner of Ann and Monroe: