Gorath

SpartanNash claims to be a Fortune 500 company. https://www.spartannash.com/investors But their ranking places them at 811 on the Fortune 1000 http://fortune.com/fortune500/spartan-stores-inc-811/

Mllive has a news story about it. You may have missed it as it has a strange or misleading headline. Play City Planner: Design this 'marvelous piece of dirt' near Celebration Village

I don't know where Fox17 got this from, but hopefully it looks better then this.

Fox 17 is reporting that New Holland Brewing is expected to make an announcement that they will be opening at the corner of Bridge and Broadway. http://fox17online.com/2014/10/01/announcement-planned-for-new-brewery-on-west-side/ I think the vacant building they refer to is the former Classic Video & Lingerie store.

The Kent County Convention Arena Authority wants to build a 700 space parking ramp in lot 2 directly south of the VAA. This ramp would prevent any future arena expansion. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/09/van_andel_arena_parking_ramp_i.html

Big cranes are used to erect tower cranes. But I don't see a foundation for a tower crane at this job site either.

I think Bridge street is the northern boarder of SWAN. And 420/421 Alabama is north of Bridge street. Here's a snippet from the Brownfield Redevelopment Finance Authority agenda (9-18-14) "The Developer has met with the West Grand Neighborhood Association and has received support for the project, and the Economic Development Project Team reviewed the project at its meeting on September 9, 2014." Looks like this project is in West Grand.

I noticed on today's planning commission agenda that there is a second metro Potbelly's planned for Centerpoint Mall.

Just to add, I'm not fond of buildings being built on top of parking ramps. But I blame the zoning ordinance for this, which requires large new buildings to provide parking. While I'm sure that the parking requirements can be meet by building a new, separate parking structure that can serve several new buildings. It's no doubt easier for developers to provide their own parking on site by building the layered cake type building. Why don't I like buildings built on top of parking ramps? Because parking ramps have a life span of about 40-50 years. Like most bridges they need to be replaced . And I would hope that developers would plan for their apartment buildings, medical schools and cancer treatment centers to be around for more then 50 years.

This is the kind of parking structure that we used to get. Very utilitarian and no ground floor retail. I think we all agree that this kind of structure makes for a bad urban environment. Now this is so much better. Ground floor retail. This is, IMHO, the best looking parking structure in the city. I think it looks better then some of the new buildings that get built around here. This is newer then the Leo's structure. Just how did this get approved? Sure it has the faux window openings on the upper floors. There's an expression line between the first and second floors. And it has a cornice like thing at the top. Good things. But where is the ground floor retail? Wasn't that required by the zoning ordinance when this was built? And I thought visibly seeing the sloping ramp from the street wasn't allowed either. However I can't find anything in the current zoning that says you can't. As for Arena Place. It looks to me that they found a loop hole in the materials requirements to make the exterior walls of a parking ramp look nice by not building any walls at all.

It's not going to be EIFS. The zoning ordinance doesn't allow it to be used here. Unless the planning department lets them get away with it. Materials for Traditional Neighborhood - City Center (refer to Table 5.6.08.A)

This project is dead. I don't think there is a bank out there that will loan him the money when Gilmore's ability to get a liqueur license (and keep it) is in question.

The demolition was approved with a unanimous vote.

Would be a perfect spot for a drive thru only Starbucks. haha, Only kidding.

I don't remember where I read it, but two of the developers are Michigan based. And one is a national developer. I have no idea who the developers are, but I think a good guess is The Christman Company. They do a lot of work for MSU, including the College of Human Medicine, and the Biomedical and Physical Sciences facility in East Lansing. It is likely that the national developer has partnered with a local developer. CWD is probably a good candidate for the local developer. In the past they partnered with a Chicago developer for The Gallery on Fulton. And CWD have experience in medical facilities (primarily Spectrum Health).

Rockford Construction & Peter Secchia intend to buy both buildings (35 and 41 South Division) and raze them to prepare the site for new construction. Mlive: Demolition sought for slumping buildings in downtown Grand Rapids

My understanding is that only three developers (who are not named) qualified via RFQ. And that the RFP are not due until July 29. I doubt we will see anything before then.

Pub Kraal, a new bar & restaurant is being planned for the former Copper Top on Stocking. An adjacent banquet facility is also part of the plan.

The county records have been updated to show that Lofts on Alabama LLC not only owning 420 and 421 Alabama. But also 448 & 458 1st Street. They now own the entire NW corner of that block plus the parking lot across the street. The mailing address for Lofts on Alabama LLC is the same as 616 Development's.

Big news. 616 Development & Rockford Construction partner to buy complex of buildings on Alabama Avenue. GRBJ: Developer buys urban property for $1.6M

GVSU buys 524 Butterworth SW, currently occupied by Worthen Industries, and plans to tear it down and build ....... wait for it ...... a parking lot. GVSU says they just don't have enough parking near there so more surface parking is needed. Worthen Industries has up to five years to move out according to the deal. GVSU buys 1.2-acre Butterwoth Street property for $950,000

"On Wednesday, May 21st, the City of Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) will meet to discuss two advisory proposed projects in East Hills at 619 Wealthy Street SE and 750 Cherry Street SE." I'd say that if the HPC is involved then it's an historic building. I believe that prevents them from building above.

It was. Technically, the addition is on a different lot and could still happen. The spire though is on the car wash lot and could get axed.

The Trade Center @ 50 Lewis must be feeling really empty now. But then I read on M-live that CWD is trying to get Chemical Bank to move into Lee & Birch's space. Mlive: Downtown Grand Rapids boutique moving closer to customers