Hackley sold

July 09, 2007
By Karen Gentry
MIBiz

MUSKEGON — The Hackley Bank building, the last structure to be sold on the former Muskegon Mall property, has been purchased by Grand Rapids developer Jon Rooks. Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, Main Street Manager in Muskegon told MiBiz that a purchase agreement for the property was executed in late June.

Although specific project details were not available as MiBiz went to press, Rooks is known for condominium renovation projects. He is currently creating apartments in the Boardwalk building on Monroe Avenue NW in Grand Rapids and the Union Square condominiums in the former Union High School on Broadway Street NW in Grand Rapids. He also developed the City View condominiums in downtown Grand Rapids and 24 condominiums as part of the Monroe Terrace project in Grand Rapids’ North Monroe business district.

Rinsema-Sybenga said the Hackley building, the former home of the Muskegon Mall offices, is in need of renovation. The building, with white marble façade, still includes gigantic safes on the first floor and in the basement.

The sale of the Hackley building, as well as the National City bank building to New Trend Investment LLC, means all of the existing mall buildings are spoken for. New Trend Investment Partners Jack Wallen and Brand VanBergen, who own Montague-based Windberg Construction LLC, bought the National City building a couple of months ago. The partners are exploring their options and are seeking tenants for the 15,000-square-foot, two-story building.

"We’re looking to do probably a mixed use of offices, a restaurant and retail," VanBergen told MiBiz. Site condominiums for office spaces are also a possibility. They plan to start interior demolition and renovation of the exterior façade this summer.

Mall progress

Hegg’s Fine Furnishings, a Hart-based retailer, plans to move into the Century Club, another building on the 23-acre mall property this summer. Developer Gary Post and his partner Russ Strong purchased the Century Club, the Muskegon Savings Bank building and the Daniels building about two years ago. Post said renovation of the Daniels building is in progress and tenants are being sought. Post and Strong will move their businesses, Port City Construction and Development and Muskegon Office Furniture respectively, into the Muskegon Savings Bank building by late summer.

The mall property in downtown Muskegon should look a lot different by next July. Rinsema-Sybenga said by summer 2008, the building that will house the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce will be constructed and the new Sidock Group building will be about half done.

Other new construction projects at the mall site include Baker College Culinary Arts School that should be finished in time for a fall 2009 opening, and another Post project - 16 units of live/work space as part of Heritage Square Townhomes across from converted condominiums in the old YMCA building. A Muskegon County project will also bring a transit facility, parking ramp and bus center to the mall site.

Rinsema-Sybenga estimates there are close to 10 more projects possible on the mall property with a number of vacant parcels available.

"It will definitely take a few more years but we’re very pleased with the progress that we’re making," he said of the development’s progress.

The Downtown Muskegon Development Corp., a nonprofit group formed by the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, the Paul C. Johnson Foundation and the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce purchased the former mall property in 2002. DMDC’s goal is to create a mixed-use development combining housing, office, retail, dining and entertainment. All but the five structures on the site were demolished leaving 16 acres available for new construction.

This article appeared in the Monday, July 09, 2007 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who are employed in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz, visit www.mibiz.com.