YOU KNOW THAT big, ugly hole next to the Hampton Inn along the lake?
Well, it’s about to be filled.
The investors’ group that’s building the Founders Landing condos is finally, after some delays, getting ready to build what will be known as Marquette Place. It’ll consist of a two level garage below ground, and then above ground, we’ll see two, or maybe three buildings. Plans, in the words of the investors, are “flexible.”
What we know for certain is that the garage will go in this summer, and then on top of it, the first of the buildings, five stories high, will be constructed, likely starting in early fall. It’ll be mixed use: a street-front cafe with views of both Lakeshore Boulevard and the lake, itself, along with a fitness center, offices and “urban-style” apartments.
Urban-style? That means high ceilings, maybe exposed beams. They’ll look like the refurbished lofts in big cities, except that these will be new construction.
A tenant for the restaurant has not been locked in yet. Developers are working on it.
Occupancy for this first building, One Marquette Place, is scheduled for August of 2016.
The next phase of the project will also be mixed use. It’ll include a high-end, lakeside restaurant, more offices, and expensive condos.
Obviously, market conditions will play a role in the final shape of Marquette Place and the speed with which it goes up, but the parking garage and the first, five story building are now a done deal.
What’ll it look like? Architect Barry Polzin, who’s created much of the city’s architectural look along the lake, says the new buildings will harken back to Marquette’s history–think of the wharfs, the harbor, the coastal industries. Working places. Old style, but new and classy.
Colors? Similar to what we see now in other lakeshore buildings: rust, and variations of rust. Why rust? We’re a city that’s shipped a lot of iron ore. Get it?
This final commitment to go ahead with the development will likely be met with relief by many (that hole is unsightly), and skepticism by others who detest any buildings on the lakefront. Especially a five story building.
But the approval is there, the money is there. You’ll see some earth-moving soon.
The applause you hear has to be coming from the Hampton Inn which has been waiting for a couple of years for the building to go up…and waiting especially for a new restaurant where they can send their hungry guests who now face at least a three or four block walk, and maybe uphill.
You gotta think city officials are cheering the news too. A big, ugly hole in the ground doesn’t bring in much tax revenue.
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