I mentioned this in the GM thread, but don't want to steer that topic too far off track.

Check this shit out, it's going to totally change the western side of the state if it comes to pass.

It's rumored that A&M Records/Geffen/Interscope would be re-locating to GR as part of this.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1143468906252950.xml&coll=6


Document outlines plans for mystery development

Monday, March 27, 2006
By Nancy Crawley and Ken Kolker
The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- A developer with offices in Los Angeles and Atlanta is among the leaders in the mystery project along the Grand River, a spokesman confirmed today.

Duane E. Faust, a California-licensed real estate agent who owns ESNA Corp., is identified in a 22-page document that outlined plans for $1.6 billion project.

The document, dating from April 2005, envisions a 41-acre commercial, entertainment and residential district.

It includes a letter from Mayor George Heartwell in which he expresses his commitment to "creating the entertainment hub of the Midwest here in Grand Rapids."

Details have changed, but the proposal generally describes what the development could look like, spokesman Don Hunt said this morning.

"The specifics in the documents reflect a very early draft and should not be taken at where things are at present," Hunt said. "The dollars and specific components are very much out of date."

The document -- labeled "Draft-confidential" -- lays out a financing proposal for sweeping redevelopment of the industrial riverfront south of downtown.

Among the highlights: a 2,500-seat indoor and outdoor concert venue and a million-square-foot, multi-story mall. That is the same footage as the Woodland Shopping Center.

The district also would include an amphitheater, cinemas and small museums, and up to 1,500 town homes and condominiums. Shops, restaurants, a park and a riverwalk would round out the development.

Hunt said those were preliminary plans, created by a Los Angeles company for the developer. The company, Step Strategy Advisors, no longer is involved, he said.

He said he couldn't say whether the plans have grown or been scaled back.

The document was "commissioned" by the developer and Faust was "one of the parties involved in the project," Hunt said. "Duane is active in the leadership of this project."

He said Faust was not available for comment today but likely would discuss the project this week.

Faust recently bought a $1.37 million home north of Atlanta, records show.

The document states ESNA a year ago was in the process of securing purchase options on private land within the so-called "mystery development" area: from the Grand River east to Grandville Avenue and from U.S. 131 to Wealthy Street. The site has been the focus of intense interest in recent weeks as details have begun to surface.

The document also shows Mayor Heartwell and Faust have been corresponding since at least July 2004.

"I would like the opportunity to express my personal commitment to creating the entertainment hub of the Midwest here in Grand Rapids, Michigan," Heartwell wrote on July 12, 2004.

In another letter a year ago, he referred to the project as "Alpha One" and told developers the city was willing to sell land it owns in the project area. That land was formally put up for bid last week.

Heartwell's letter went on to say the sale process is competitive and told Faust "your proposal would have to pass muster against other proposals. . . . in a fair and open procedure prescribed by law and local ordinance."

Heartwell this morning declined to comment on the document or the letters, written on city letterhead.

"I'm bound by a confidentiality agreement," Heartwell said. "I'm simply not going to put myself in legal jeopardy given the binding document I signed."

The document shows ESNA has been counting on obtaining city-owned land along the river now used by the Public Works Department. It further stated the city "will be providing the public portion of the land under a negotiated long-term lease arrangement."

In the letter, Heartwell acknowledged Faust's proposal "might include deferred payment for the real estate."

Last week, the City Commission voted to put the 16 acres on the market for $35 million, seeking letters of interest from developers by May 19.

ESNA's plan indicates it planned to pay about $25 million for the private parcels within the project area, plus whatever it cost to obtain the city land.

The company would then refinance at a higher value once the whole parcel has been assembled and rezoned and the project designed.

Within three years, ESNA planned to sell the 41-acre parcel to an entity called River Grand LLC. There is no explanation of who controls that group.

River Grand would "seek syndication financing in the amount of $1.6 billion" to buy the land and pay for construction in several phases.

"Each phase of construction will be sold to residential borrowers, national retailers, entertainment conglomerates, major hotel chains, or local and regional business owners," the document says.

No specific entertainment entities are named, but the reference is consistent with confirmations from a number of people familiar with the mystery development. They have said the music and entertainment industry is a significant component.

It is also not clear whether the project as outlined would include facilities for a recording company, as mentioned in previous reports, or whether an urban music company that made previous inquiries into the site would be a tenant.

I'm not sure how many here will find this story interesting because it deals with the west side of the state, but it sounds like it will definitely have state-wide impact.

It's sounds sort of like part Metreon (for those of you that have been to San Francisco) and part San Antonio Riverwalk.

Very cool.

Some think that this is the precursor to GR getting a major league sports franchise (or two). There is also some speculation that Donald Trump may be involved with the residential aspect of this.

I'm not sure how many here will find this story interesting because it deals with the west side of the state, but it sounds like it will definitely have state-wide impact.

It's sounds sort of like part Metreon (for those of you that have been to San Francisco) and part San Antonio Riverwalk.

Very cool.

Some think that this is the precursor to GR getting a major league sports franchise (or two). There is also some speculation that Donald Trump may be involved with the residential aspect of this.

Where are you getting all this info?

I've been speculating what the hell this is all about, and through digging all I could come up with is it's supposed to have something to do with the Music and Entertainment industry.

I'm hoping for Auotoworld 2! :hyper:

I pretty sure Purple East is just relocating across the street.

Total cost of the project is supposed to top a billion dollars. The only way they can get a financial return off that is to have some type of gambling according to sources. No way that flies in GR, so I remain leary.

Total cost of the project is supposed to top a billion dollars. The only way they can get a financial return off that is to have some type of gambling according to sources. No way that flies in GR, so I remain leary.

If it's privately funded, I think they can build whatever they want, with the mayor's blessing.

It might be political suicide, though, if he red-stamps a casino in GR.

Where are you getting all this info?


I read a lot.

Read this: http://www.mlive.com/grpress/myst.pdf

Where are you getting all this info?


I read a lot.

Read this: http://www.mlive.com/grpress/myst.pdf

No worky.

I'll email it to you as a pdf.

An interesting aspect of all of this is that if it does come to pass, Granholm's "Cool Cities" initiative will likely be a big reason.

What a major coup in an election year, and in Dick DeVos's backyard, no less.

Total cost of the project is supposed to top a billion dollars. The only way they can get a financial return off that is to have some type of gambling according to sources. No way that flies in GR, so I remain leary.

If it's privately funded, I think they can build whatever they want, with the mayor's blessing.

It might be political suicide, though, if he red-stamps a casino in GR.

The native Americans had a 5 year court battle to get the OK to build one 20 miles away, no way anyone lands on right smack in town just cause they have the loot. I would think it would take the OK of city board as well, which IMO has no chance.

Whole thing smells fishy.

I don't think a casino is part of this plan at this point.

Doesn't mean they can't drop a few riverboats in once everything is built (maybe 6-8 years from now).

Who knows what the climate/legislation will be at that time?

A big part of the fight against/failure of the Gun Lake/Wayland casino plan was that Grand Rapids-based business owners didn't want that "entertainment dollar" leaving the city.

It very well could be a "if you can't beat them, join them" scenario at some point, especially if they can keep the $ in GR, eating at their restaurants, buying tickets at their venues, etc.

Where did you read Donald Trump might be interested?

I don't think a casino is part of this plan at this point..

Then it loses money if it indeed has a price of 1 Bil. The only projects like that in such limited space to suceed in te past have been Casinos according to a developer friend of mine who's had an eye on this for over a year.



Doesn't mean they can't drop a few riverboats in once everything is built (maybe 6-8 years from now).

Who knows what the climate/legislation will be at that time?

A big part of the fight against/failure of the Gun Lake/Wayland casino plan was that Grand Rapids-based business owners didn't want that "entertainment dollar" leaving the city.

It very well could be a "if you can't beat them, join them" scenario at some point, especially if they can keep the $ in GR, eating at their restaurants, buying tickets at their venues, etc.

You and I have lived here long enough to know the reason is Jesus. That is a good arguement to make in a courtroom, but its a morals battle that they will NEVER relinquish on their home turf.

Herm, your friend is probably right, especially if he is a developer, I'm just a snoop.

Yes, Jeebus has a lot to do with it, but $ does too, IMO.

TK & Herm, check your PMs in a minute.

Where did you read Donald Trump might be interested?

I heard he was the muscle behind the casino idea, this just broke to me last week.

Where did you read Donald Trump might be interested?

I heard he was the muscle behind the casino idea, this just broke to me last week.

I don't see where it would fit, especially if there is all that other stuff planned. Seems Trump would scoff at a riverboat.

Also, I heard that the owner of the titty bar that's getting built was supposed to be bought out, but the developers never showed up, thus nixing the whole mystery development idea.

Any truth to that?

I get the feeling that Glenn's gonna fuck this up for Grand Rapids somehow.

[smilie=anxious.gif]

The only thing that can stop this are the cities around GR. Hopefully the windmills in Holland prevent those Bible thumping, tulip farming cloggers from getting wind of this.

Also, I heard that the owner of the titty bar that's getting built was supposed to be bought out, but the developers never showed up, thus nixing the whole mystery development idea.

Any truth to that?

Everyone seems to think either:

A) It's just a negotiating ploy for the club owner to get more $

B) They can build this "entertainment complex/campus" around his club

I haven't seen anyone say that they think that the strip club purchase falling through will stop this deal.

Some people even think they really want the strip club to be part of this, because they were willing to help him relocate further down the street a bit at one point.

The strip club owner is not going to derail a project of this size. If they want his land, they'll get it somehow, IMO.

p.s good stuff Diddy, I loves me some good Dutch bashing

The only thing that can stop this are the cities around GR. Hopefully the windmills in Holland prevent those Bible thumping, tulip farming cloggers from getting wind of this.

That's probably a big reason as to why it's so secret. No way the city and state leaders are completely in the dark on this.

What if they wanted to build a Nazi death camp?

The Bible thumpers would be totally behind that.

Along with the whole selling of the strip club property possibly derailing the development, I had heard that the leak to the media (namely WOOD-TV) of the type of industry didn't sit well with the developers.

Can't really confirm this as the truth, but this person also brought up the sale of the strip club property. Maybe it's just one gigantic strip club? The denizens of West Michigan would love it.

All the cities around GR would feed off this development like crazy. In my econ class at Western (in kalamazoo south of GR) all my teacher has been talking about is the great things that can be caused by this going down.

GRs a great city and hopefully this shit gets done.

This should have came to the D.

This should have came to the D.

Why? Does Detroit have the market on big developments in Michigan? What's wrong with trying to become more than a one-city state?

Exactly, if this goes down we are practically Texas. [smilie=baby.gif]

This should have came to the D.

Why? Does Detroit have the market on big developments in Michigan? What's wrong with trying to become more than a one-city state?

Clearly you are not compelled by the power of Christ right now.

Shame on you.

This should have came to the D.

Why? Does Detroit have the market on big developments in Michigan? What's wrong with trying to become more than a one-city state?

Clearly you are not compelled by the power of Christ right now.


I thought I was, but it turned out to be gas.

If this thing gets developed, whatever it is, do you see GR being the industry/job leader in Michigan, what with the automakers circling the drain?

If so, I think the Lions should move here. It only makes sense.

I'm not bright enough to fully understand what this means to the future of the state of Michigan, it's all I can do to make sure that my belt matches my shoes in the morning.

As far as the Lions go, I know you are joking, but remember who owns the Orlando Magic. They have been having a bit of trouble getting a new arena down there too.

I'm not saying that DeVos is going to relocate the Magic to GR, but maybe he'll sell them to a new group under the condition that the NBA gives him a new franchise in GR down the road.

Just thinking out loud here.

I'm not bright enough to fully understand what this means to the future of the state of Michigan, it's all I can do to make sure that my belt matches my shoes in the morning.

As far as the Lions go, I know you are joking, but remember who owns the Orlando Magic. They have been having a bit of trouble getting a new arena down there too.

I'm not saying that DeVos is going to relocate the Magic to GR, but maybe he'll sell them to a new group under the condition that the NBA gives him a new franchise in GR down the road.

Just thinking out loud here.

I can feel that, although I think the Magic would be SOL if they came here. The Piston loyalty is fierce here. I can't see myself becoming a Magic fan, even if they are in my own backyard. Same goes for the Lions - I don't think I could ever root for any other team.

When we had a CBA team, attendance sucked, and attendance sucks for the Griffins (IHL hockey) as well, despite being a perennially great team and the top farm club for the Wings.

The only sport that seems to do well here is baseball - the Whitecaps sell out every game. And I could get behind a major league baseball team in GR. The Tigers only have my loyalty due to proximity.

But I don't see any pro franchise scenario happening, mainly because in my lifetime, nothing exciting (on a national scale) has ever happened to GR.

I'm not sure that comparing the success of minor league sports to possible success with major league sports is a good idea.

Me, for one, could give a rat's ass about the Griffins, the Whitecaps, the CBA's Hoops, etc. I feel the same way about most college/women's sports.

I only want to watch the best. Give me a major league team, and I'll support the hell out of it.

I think GR's location is key too. If they drop an NBA team here, as part of this huge entertainment development/destination, not only will it draw from all over Michigan, but fans of the Bulls, the Bucks (they can now take the ferry right across the lake), the Pistons, etc. would potentially be willing to come here for "the experience".

Anyone else watching Glenn show his true colors?

Perhaps we should have him watched ... [smilie=alpaca.gif]

ha ha

Pistons would still trump all.


(unless they hire Isiah or Laimbeer for some significant role in the organization)

I don't know about the rest of you over here, but this could have a major effect on keeping me here. As a Chef/marketer the industry has all but dried up and I've been forced to turn to government work. An open enterprise like this would be the tide that raises all ships for income potential in the service industry, and enable me to make a bit more cash over the next 10 years. Then again, Mexicans will take all the jobs, never mind.

Then again, Mexicans will take all the jobs, never mind.

Meet our new line cook... Udonis

http://espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/3765.jpg

Sounds like it's a pretty exciting prospect for you, then, Herm.

Are you a chef in a restaurant in the downtown area?

I was pondering what this could do to property value in the 'burbs if it actually turns out to be the "entertainment hub of the midwest". I suspect maybe a mild bump, but not much. Other than that, I don't see it helping my engineering career much.

Then again, Mexicans will take all the jobs, never mind.

Meet our new line cook... Udonis

http://espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/3765.jpg

Well fucking done my friend!

Sounds like it's a pretty exciting prospect for you, then, Herm.

Are you a chef in a restaurant in the downtown area?

.

I haven't worked in a restaurant in about 6 years. I opened a place on the Westside for some guys about 9 years ago and then got involved in sales in order to have a 9-5. Econonmy got crumby so I opened a catering biz, hated doing that. Now I'm a lunch lady.

Sounds like it's a pretty exciting prospect for you, then, Herm.

Are you a chef in a restaurant in the downtown area?

.

I opened a place on the Westside for some guys about 9 years ago and then got involved in sales in order to have a 9-5.

Westside, as in the burbs? Grandville?

Probably real fun competing with restaurant row....unless of course you're affiliated with one of them.....

Sounds like it's a pretty exciting prospect for you, then, Herm.

Are you a chef in a restaurant in the downtown area?

.

I opened a place on the Westside for some guys about 9 years ago and then got involved in sales in order to have a 9-5.

Westside, as in the burbs? Grandville?

Probably real fun competing with restaurant row....unless of course you're affiliated with one of them.....

No, Walker.

Sounds like it's a pretty exciting prospect for you, then, Herm.

Are you a chef in a restaurant in the downtown area?

.

I opened a place on the Westside for some guys about 9 years ago and then got involved in sales in order to have a 9-5.

Westside, as in the burbs? Grandville?

Probably real fun competing with restaurant row....unless of course you're affiliated with one of them.....

No, Walker.

Johnny Noto's? Sluggos??? [smilie=hyper.gif]

I'm hitting too close to home, aren't I?

LOL @ Sluggos! First place I used my fake ID while I was at GVSU. Also the first place I did a FFBL draft and lots of buddies bands played there.

No, I opened the kitchen @ Shamrock at the end of Wilson past Rememberance.

I also managed for a couple years at that bigboy on the corner while I was in school.

LOL @ Sluggos! First place I used my fake ID while I was at GVSU. Also the first place I did a FFBL draft and lots of buddies bands played there.

No, I opened the kitchen @ Shamrock at the end of Wilson past Rememberance.

I also managed for a couple years at that bigboy on the corner while I was in school.

I was only at the Shamrock once, many moons ago. Didn't eat, either.

Sluggos was the shit back in the day when they had those huge concert/bar nights. I don't know if you ever went, but they'd have 6 or 7 bands going at the same time upstairs, downstairs, and outside. Place was butts to nuts back then - they even had to run a shuttle to get all the people in there. I'm sure fire codes were boken. Some of the most drunken fun I've had.

Then they had to get greedy with the drink prices and drive all the college students away. I was so pissed about that.

Sluggo's sucks. Big fan of Uccello's though. My favorite place to catch a Pistons game.

This should have came to the D.

Why? Does Detroit have the market on big developments in Michigan? What's wrong with trying to become more than a one-city state?

Because the one city in this state is in trouble and needs some help.

As a Detroit resident, I'm kind of disappointed.

Arch,

After I'm done delivering this project to GR, I'll get to work on one for Detroit.

Exactly, if this goes down we are practically Texas. [smilie=baby.gif]

Except not as fat, stupid, toothless, ugly, or bible-thumping.

Exactly, if this goes down we are practically Texas. [smilie=baby.gif]

Except not as fat, stupid, toothless, ugly, or bible-thumping.

You haven't been to GR, obviously.

I've been to GR, and it's not as bad as Texas.

This should have came to the D.

Why? Does Detroit have the market on big developments in Michigan? What's wrong with trying to become more than a one-city state?

Because the one city in this state is in trouble and needs some help.

As a Detroit resident, I'm kind of disappointed.

How is that GR's responsibility? Where was Detroit when Flint went belly-up?

Okay, this officially has taken a turn to the weird side. Who would have guessed that AC Green would be involved? No word on Michael Cooper's involvement at this time, although he wanted to pass a "I got you Larry" on to Larry Bird* .

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4743449


Big name investor pulls out of RiverGrand project

By Patrick Center

(Grand Rapids, April 7, 2006, 7:33 p.m.) He was a big name behind the RiverGrand development project, but he is no longer affiliated with the plans.

After a number of emails and phone calls made by Target 8 Investigators, a spokesperson for retired pro basketball player A.C. Green told us Green will not be a RiverGrand investor.

Jan Patterson told Target 8 Investigators the former NBA star was initially "intrigued" by the project, but as time passed and for a variety of reasons, he decided against making a financial commitment.

Green was introduced to the project a couple of years ago during what Patterson called the "fact-finding" period. Green’s name was mentioned amid dozens of city emails Target 8 Investigators obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

"Show me the money" are the words Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell used in a June 2004 email to city staffers involved in the RiverGrand project. If the mixed-use, entertainment-focused development was going to become reality, the mayor wanted the developer to start acquiring properties.

The developer, Duane Faust, has in recent months acquired nearly 85 percent of the private properties needed for the 42-acre project. But when it came to closing with strip club owner Mark London, Faust was a no-show.

Terra Firma Development ownership says Faust failed to close with them, too. Terra Firma Development told 24 Hour News 8 it questions whether or not the developer currently has enough funds available.

In a June 2005 email, the city learned that Green, who retired from the NBA after the 2000-2001 season, was a potential soft-cost partner. His money would be used to acquire options for properties. But less than one year later, he's out.

"Well, I'm disappointed," said Mayor Heartwell. He told us Green was the only investor he was aware of in the project.

Target 8 Investigators wanted to know why Green pulled the plug. Patterson told us, "The people involved kept changing. It was a strange situation.”

“A.C. could never get his arms around it and backed away from the project," explained Patterson, who informed us Green backed away last fall.

The mayor told us he was unaware. "It might have been useful to tell the mayor, yeah,” said Heartwell. “However, I think that losing one investor of a project of this magnitude doesn't spell the end of a project."

Mayor Heartwell said the developer has lined up a number of investors. As 24 Hour News 8 previously reported, we do know at least one major investor - Pacific Everhart of Beverly Hills - is prepared to loan $37 million to Faust. Before the loan, though, Faust must be awarded the 17-acres of public land along the Grand River and acquire all of the needed private property.


*obscure reference, not sure if anyone will get that one.

Since its in GR and Mr. Green was a part of it is there any question abstenance was involved? Is it possible this is the first Christian themed casino?