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920 Cherry, ICCF/Blodgett Home and Fairmount Square

joeDowntown

By joeDowntown
in Grand Rapids

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starrfish Whistle-Stop

starrfish

Posted
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Nice! Is this the new 4 bay retail building shown here on the site plan:

So there is retail as part of the plan...cool! Looks like he proposed building will fit in well with the existing buildings on the block. This block has a lot going for it already, but the whole block will be rockin' with the completion of these projects! Anyone know a time table for the retail building?

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Nitro Burg

Nitro

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Nice! Is this the new 4 bay retail building shown here on the site plan:

Yes, actually it will be three bays. The west side will be one large unit.

Nice! What can you tell us about the time line for this project? Another green roof?

I can't say anything on the timeline yet. No green roof on this one. The roof drains will be tied into ICCF's cistern that they are using for landscape irrigation of their park and the grounds. So essentially we are still managing the stormwater in a proper manor it's just going next door for the park rather than the green roof.

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GRGridGirl Hamlet

GRGridGirl

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So there is retail as part of the plan...cool! Looks like he proposed building will fit in well with the existing buildings on the block. This block has a lot going for it already, but the whole block will be rockin' with the completion of these projects! Anyone know a time table for the retail building?

For as small as the East Hills Business District is compared to other busines districts, it continues to amaze me how it draws 1,000 of folks from outside the area. This new retail building will help fill in the "gap" between the east/west sides of the business district on Cherry.

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Houser Crossroads

Houser

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Hey there folks -- it is about time for an update on the old DA Blodgett building. After a slower than anticipated summer, things are finally really kicking into high gear with our herculean restoration project. While nearly every day had something going on, we did get slowed up this summer because of the challenge of figuring out several structural reinforcement issues, identifying an acceptable source for fabricating the architectural ornamentation peices, and then defining how many of which peices needed to be made, structural and architectural detail for the massive front porch, etc.

Well, most of those hurdles have now been passed and we are making great progress. The elevator shaft has been constructed inside, various old holes in the floors have been closed and filled, the brick in the areas above the forth floor has been reinforced with steel, the exterior of most of the building has been gently washed first with Joy dish soap and water and then a second time with a very mild cleanser designed for historic structures. Much of the exterior brick work has been tuckpointed and soon some of the new brick will be layed in the myriad of places that need repair. Also soon the old roof material will be stripped and removed completely and a new spray on roof will be applied. A couple of weeks a go a 1800 cubic foot (about the size of a one bedroom appartment!) cistern was sunk in the front yard of our building. This will be kept full with rain water from our building and the retail building to the east.

Far and away the most delightful progress made so far is in the pouring of the walls for the new front porch. Soon brickwork will begin around those walls. Also soon you will begin to see meaningful progress in the layout of the formal gardens that we have had designed for our front yard. In fact there will be some plantings installed already this fall.

The original plan had completion by next April 15. That date is no longer likely. But everyone is working very hard to be complete in May. There are a few things over which no one in GR has much control (eg. the approval by the National Park Service of the architectural ornamentation peices (being made in Dallas, TX and the windows, all 173 of them, that are being made by Pella windows in Pella, IA) therefore a more solid move-in date is a bit tough to call right now.

Thanks to all of you for your interest in the project and your invaluable words of encouragement.

Houser

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  • 2 weeks later...
2story Crossroads

2story

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Wondering if anyone affiliated with Bazzani, Second Story or Lighthouse could give us some updates on the Uptown/Wealthy developments (hint, hint). I have not seen any movement on either of these sites :( I would really like to see some renderings/site plans for 920 Cherry/Fairmount Square ;)

We SHOULD have the retail foundations in the ground before freeze. We have an LOI from a very exciting retail tenant and are negotiating the lease.

Stay tuned...

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Mark Miller Whistle-Stop

Mark Miller

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What I can tell you is that, due to the somewhat unusual nature of this project, we will be back before planning commission in October, in order to get the changes that have been made to the PRD approved.

These changes include:

Very minor tweaks to the building placement for the residential portion of the project (NO changes to the architecture).

Changes to one of the access points coming into the project. (Existing drive onto Cherry Street is now going to be relocated to tie into Hollister.)

More detail for the proposed park in front of the D.A. Blodgett building, which is really going to be a nice component of this project.

The project currently as approval for phase 1, which includes the DA Blodgett building, the parking area and the retail building along Cherry. Those portions are moving along or will be starting very shortly.

Phase 2 and 3 are all related to the residential along Hollister and along the new Blodgett Street.

Stay tuned and watch the site.

The retail tenant should be exciting to most on the forum. I am pretty sure it is not a Cabelas or a Whole Foods.

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