Rapid Growth's Deborah Johnson Wood is covering this week's UM/ULI Forum. Look for updates tonight and tomorrow morning from the closing day of the event.
UM/ULI Real Estate Forum shines spotlight on West Michigan developments, successes
Organizers of the University of Michigan Urban Land Institute Real Estate Forum opted to hold its annual conference outside the Detroit area for the first time in the forum’s 22 year history. This week, Grand Rapids is hosting WEST SIDE STORY: Grand Rapids, Grand Vision, Grand Region at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
Grand Rapids’ Clearwater Place a catalyst for neighborhood redevelopment
In 2005, DeVries Development began the daunting task of renovating an abandoned 40,000-square-foot water filtration plant that had 500 windows in 20 different styles and 50 roof elevations. That effort eventually served as a catalyst for neighborhood redevelopment of the properties surrounding the renovated building, Clear Water Place, 1430 Monroe Ave. NW.
Harbor 31 reimagines Muskegon waterfront from industrial to green
Muskegon’s former Edison Landing, now known as Harbor 31, is 34 acres of Brownfield redevelopment along Muskegon Lake at the end of Terrace Street, with the potential for $100 million to $200 million worth of green, sustainable development. The owner, Grand Rapids-based True North, is marketing that potential nationally and is prepared to wait for the right developers with the right vision—green and self-sustainable.
Regionalism: economic development through collaboration, not competition
Since its inception in 2000, the West Michigan Strategic Alliance has worked with eight West Michigan counties to promoting the philosophy that all sectors can, and should, work together as to promote the region. Initiatives such as Clean Cities, Green Infrastructure, Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED), the Internship Portal and others have effectively gotten leaders in the region to adopt a regional mindset.
Competing as a region is the next step.
Beyond VAI: What’s next for Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile?
The thriving life sciences development in Grand Rapids is positioning the city to attract young medical professionals from around the world. At Wednesday’s session of the University of Michigan Urban Land Institute Real Estate Forum, leaders from some of the medical community’s largest stakeholders addressed what's next for the Medical Mile when it comes to attracting and keeping young life sciences talent.
Human Capital—the next development toward a progressive, competitive West Michigan
Grand Rapids has some of the things Millennials want—a vibrant nightlife, affordable housing, places to hang out—but it’s lacking a lot of things, too. And because educated Millennials tend to be very mobile and their skills are in demand they choose first where they want to live and then worry about getting a job.
VAl: What medical, clinical research means for Grand Rapids
For 40 years, there was talk among Grand Rapids business and economic leaders of establishing a medical school in the city. But it wasn’t until the Van Andel Institute broke ground in 1998 that the corridor, soon after to be named the Medical Mile, would begin to evolve and eventually attract a medical school.
Changing stripes: Linking urban land use and the knowledge economy
You can’t run a successful downtown in 21st Century America unless it is first and foremost a neighborhood.
So says Lou Glazer, president of Michigan Future, Inc., an Ann-Arbor based think tank devoted to developing prosperity and success for Michigan in the Information Age. Michigan Future authored the study Michigan’s Transition to a Knowledge-Based Economy.
Check back for updates...