Friday, August 13, 2004
By Robert C. Burns

CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

The street layout envisioned for Muskegon's new downtown is practically identical to that of the old, pre-mall downtown -- plus Shoreline Drive.

And minus most of the buildings, of course.

A new street plan went before Muskegon's planning commission Thursday for preliminary planned unit development approval.

The commission, after some discussion and a very brief public hearing, voted to accept the preliminary plan as presented in the form of a street map.

Downtown Muskegon Development Corp., which acquired the 23-acre mall site in a foreclosure proceeding, is seeking city planning approval as it moves to transform the old mall site into a "new" downtown, as its signs say.

It still will have to come back to the city for final PUD approval, as well as approval of a site plan or plans, probably in stages.

Thursday's favorable action was a necessary step in a process leading to the reconstruction of Western Avenue and several intersecting streets -- First, Second, Jefferson and Market -- that were vacated when Muskegon Mall was built in the mid-1970s. Some underground utilities also must be upgraded.

The request before planning commissioners was for "mixed-use residential and commercial development." Before it abandoned its interest in the site, Charter Development Corp. of Southfield had envisioned something of similar description, but proposed to wipe clean the entire 23 acres in order to do it.

That raised considerable opposition from many who felt it vital to "preserve the historic core," as planning commission Chairman Peter Sartorius said Thursday, and build up from that.

The difference between that time and this is that Downtown Muskegon Development is marketing the property to a number of developers. The consortium of Muskegon institutions will sell buildable lots according to developers' needs, provided they adhere to the old street system and stay within certain limitations in size and design.

James B. Edmonson, president and chief executive of Muskegon Area First, presented planning commissioners with copies of a new downtown-area marketing plan by the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce and updated them on Downtown Muskegon Development's efforts so far.

A number of prospective investors, from the Muskegon area, around Michigan and from out of state, have shown interest in parts of the mall site, which will offer 15 to 17 acres of buildable space once the new streets, sidewalks, parking areas and landscaping are in place.

They are waiting until the streets and underground utilities are in before committing themselves, Edmonson said. But none so far has expressed interest in any of the five buildings still standing, either to reuse or demolish.

"All the developers so far are looking at vacant properties around existing buildings," Edmonson said.

The mall site owner plans to keep at least the facades of the Century Club and the Muskegon Savings Bank building, but is prepared if necessary to sacrifice the other three -- the Daniels Building, the former National City Bank and former Comerica buildings.

The fact that the "new" downtown plan looks a lot like the "old" is partly attributable to the work of Imagine Muskegon, a citizen group that involved 260 people in a study of the downtown site which ended with a list of recommendations for future development.

One of its primary wishes was that the historic street system in what used to called the Central Business District be preserved. That is also what Downtown Muskegon Development and the city's planning commission also seem to want.

Planning Commissioner John Aslakson said, "I really like the way this is setting up. I think we're heading in the right direction."

Planning Commissioner Larry Spataro, who was especially critical of earlier plans of Charter Development, added: "Everyone should be very pleased."

Asked if her organization and the city are now on the same page with regard to downtown redevelopment, Downtown Muskegon Development's Chris McGuigan said: "It appears we are, and we are very happy to have their endorsement.""

Downtown Muskegon Development is working with the city and county governments and officials on the state and federal levels to obtain grants to assist in the initial rebuilding stages.

According to Cathy Brubaker-Clarke, Muskegon's director of economic and community development, the planning commission's action is also needed for creation of a brownfield redevelopment district, offering state Single Business Tax for those who invest and build in the mall area.

In the short run, Edmonson said demolition of buildings is complete and piles of crushed concrete should be gone by November. Rye and dune grass will be planted to stabilize a vast area of sandy soil left behind after demolition.

As the development proceeds, Edmonson said some ideas have been suggested to bring people into the downtown, such as sodding slow-selling lots and making them available for lunch-hour picnics. Another idea was to set up a temporary ice skating rink in a vacant lot near the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor.

Yet another was a temporary golf driving range, which, until downtown begins to repopulate, would not seem to present much of a hazard.