Third Coast In The News

Developers want to increase project's height Morgan Jarema, The Grand Rapids Press - Grand Rapids, Mich. B.4, Oct 14, 2005

Before they vote on amending a previously approved site plan for a mixed-use development on Michigan Street NE, planning commissioners want the developer to show how the changes would alter the site's look.

Brad Rosely, an agent with commercial real estate firm S.J. Wisinski, which assembled the 6-acre site for the developers, on Thursday described the proposal, which would increase the size of the West Michigan Women's Health Center from 75,000 square feet to 92,000 square feet.

The plan also calls for the addition of three stories to the center -- two levels for a parking ramp and one for additional office space -- bringing the building to seven stories.

It is planned for the north side of the land, overlooking Int. 196 at the end of Union and Dudley avenues. Included on the site are stores and town houses.

If the changes are approved, at least two of the other five buildings planned for the site -- dubbed Mid Towne Village -- would be repositioned, and an interior road would shift.

Rosely used a laser pointer to describe the changes at Thursday's meeting. But planning commissioners want to see it on paper.

"Our concerns aren't so much the height, but the positioning of the building and its relationship to the other buildings," commission Chairwoman Shaula Johnston said.

Two neighbors who spoke about the request also said they were less concerned about the proposed building's height than its appearance.

"You need more height, make it higher, no problem," said Duane DeRoo, who lives a block from the site. "We're just concerned that there's good architectural mix coming east, not the bland look to the west."

The Planning Commission will discuss the issue Oct. 27.