“Arguably the biggest vacant building in west Michigan with 84 hundred broken windows.”
John Rooks of Parkland Properties wants to renovate the abandoned Shaw-Walker Furniture factory into a mixed-use building with a restaurant, retail outlets, apartments, condos and townhomes.
“We have 546 new units in this project.”
Rooks says studio apartments would rent for $800 a month, 2-bedroom apartments for $1700. Condo prices ranging from 200 to upwards of 400 thousand dollars for lake views. Commissioner Rachel Gorman likes the variety.
“Really excited about all the different housing options”
The Shaw-Walker Furniture factory has been vacant since 1989, but Rooks says it is structurally solid.
“It is in great shape just needs to be repaired.”
Mayor Ken Johnson says he is grateful Parkland Properties has a plan for the abandoned building full of broken windows.
“Thank you for taking on this enormous project.”
Rooks says he hopes to start work in the fall and finish the project in 4 to 5 years.
“We want to fix it we want to make it beautiful.”
