Behind the Scenes – MAC close to opening
A great Arts & Entertainment District needs outstanding nightlife, and while City Café, Tipsy Toad, Racquets, Mikes Inn, and the Harbor Steakhouse provide a variety of places for fun, another destination will soon be added to the mix. The Muskegon Athletic Club is the brainchild of Andy Buck, a White Lake native who couldn’t get enough of the great nightlife in Southeast Michigan, while an architecture student. As no one was stepping up to fill the void, Andy did and his vision will become a reality in any day when the Muskegon Athletic Club will open in the old National City Bank building that was part of the former Muskegon Mall. While not quite sugarplums and fairies, Andy has put a log of imagination into the project and it will be sure to impress. Main Street caught up with Andy to get the scoop.
MS: What is the Muskegon Athletic Club?
AB: The MAC is a downtown style sports restaurant and bar that includes outdoor sidewalk seating, retractable doors that allow the outside in, 5 video walls, 2 Wii stations to be played on 150" screens and a semi private area for business luncheons with an easy access point for Power Point presentations.
MS: Who do you see this venue appealing to?
JR: I designed it with hopes that it would appeal to almost everyone. Even if you don't like watching sports, we still offer a fun menu (see our website) as well as a nice facility.
MS: How did you match the building to your vision for the MAC?
AB: The bank building has a raw, industrial feel and so I incorporated that same feeling on the inside with a splash of color.
MS: Any special food, or drink items that will be unique to the MAC?
AB: Our signature food is MAC n' cheese. We will always have 6 different MAC's as well as a MAC of the Month.
MS: How do you think the MAC fits in/adds to the revitalization taking place downtown Muskegon?
AB:I hope that what we are bringing to the downtown is close to what our city has been hoping for. My educational background is in architecture and urban design. I've been lucky enough to study and visit some cities that have been successful in the revitalization process. Through these experiences and talking with downtown planners, I did my best to incorporate the things that have worked in other cities with what the planners believed downtown Muskegon needed.
MS: Well as a sports fan and a technology lover I am guessing you’ll be able to find me there often. Thanks for stepping out there and making your vision a reality. It’s one thing to have ideas about what would be a hit, it is quite another to actually give it a go. Congratulations!
AB: Thanks.
Check it out on the web
Muskegon Athletic Club website
Downtown Muskegon A&E
Downtown Photo-Op - North Muskegon Cleans UP
One of the projects of the Leadership Class of North Muskegon was a downtown cleanup that took place September 27. For two hours 12 students picked weeds and trash in the boulevard area, ensuring the downtown will look great as the busy fall cultural season is upon us.
Downtown Website - Check out D&D site
Details & Design, the marquis interior design firm in the Muskegon area, recently added a website to their marketing arsenal. The site is tastefully done and a great example of the high quality establishments choosing downtown Muskegon.
Link to Details and Design Website
Downtown Review - Runs w/ Spatula visits Mia & Grace
If this doesn't want to make you visit Mia & Grace, nothing will.
Runs with Spatula blog post
Behind the Scenes – HighPoint Moving Forward
With the recent opening of Renaissance Place, an upsurge in interest in 297 Clay, and ground breaking on Heritage Square Town homes, downtown Muskegon is finally achieving its goal of heads in bed. Downtown living was identified as the key component by Imagine Muskegon to spurring mixed use revitalization downtown. Among the current projects, one stands tall, eight stories tall, in fact. HighPoint Flats is the redevelopment of one of downtown Muskegon’s great buildings, the Hackley Bank building, and is being developed by Jon Rooks of Parkland Properties. Jon’s vision for HighPoint Flats, along with his proven track record of turning a vision into a downtown living reality make this an exciting project for downtown Muskegon and last week the City of Muskegon Planning Commission agreed and gave the project site plan approval. Main Street caught up with Jon to check in on the project’s progress.
MS: What is the vision for the HighPoint Flats project?
JR: Our vision for HighPoint Flats is to bring affordable urban lofts to the growing downtown area. These urban lofts will boast big city living with their ceiling to floor window walls, generous balconies and roof top decks, hip and custom design features, and common areas like a lounge, fitness center, movie room, and roof top deck. Our buyers are very excited about the downtown growth, Tax Free living, and great lake views from the large windows, balconies, and roof top decks. The 70 condos at HighPoint Flats is expected to bring in over 100 new downtown owners. The extra disposable income being spent will further support the downtown area. If each resident spends $5,000 downtown per year it would bring in an additional $500,000 to the city each year. This spending also helps to grow a stable platform for local businesses and shops to thrive.
MS: After completing due diligence and finalizing entitlements for the project you started marketing in earnest around the time of Summer Cel. It has been, and will continue to be a busy summer downtown. How’s the marketing going?
JR: Marketing is going great and we currently have 27 reservations for the 70 condos. HighPoint Flats offers complete customization, fun amenities, no city income taxes, no state income taxes, and no property taxes until 2023, so the building sells itself. We just launched our website at www.highpointflats.com which includes information on the building, the area, floor plans, reasons to buy, news, FAQ, pictures, virtual tours, and contact information. We also have a nice flyer, which are in pick up boxes outside the building. You can call Brad Veneklase at 616-988-6466 for more information or to reserve a condo today.
MS: Any guess at a time frame for rehab of the building commencing?
JR: We hope to start interior demolition and expansion of the window openings late this winter. Some windows will be the size of a two-car garage door. Once we begin, we expect the construction and occupancy to take 10-14 months depending on our buyers customization needs. The entire project will be done in one phase and the commercial street fronts and residential will all come together at once.
MS: I know there are some incentives for those choosing a condo at HighPoint. Can you summarize those?
JR: Since the property is located in a state designated Renaissance Zone, you’ll be exempt from all state income tax, all city income tax, and nearly all property taxes. And since HighPoint Flats has been granted the longest Renaissance Zone available, you’ll enjoy living tax-free till 2023! Lets take an example: Mike & Melanie are married and a combined annual income of $95,000. If they bought a 2-bedroom condo with a balcony for $150,000, their mortgage expense with a 6.5% interest rate and 10% down would be $853 per month. Association dues would be around $230 per month. They would pay $0 property taxes. Their federal tax deduction for owning would be -$204. Their city and state income tax savings would be -$423 per month. This gives them a total monthly cost of ownership of $456. This is quite the deal for anyone! Not to mention, with the growth downtown is experiencing, appreciation could create a pretty nice profit as well.
MS: I understand owners may have an option for Muskegon Lake access. Is that the case?
JR: We are hoping to have nearby boat slips for sale for our HighPoint Flat buyers. We are big fans of amenities and waterways and enjoy watching our buyers enjoy their surroundings. This is why we like our location so much. And of course, it’s more than Muskegon Lake access; it includes access to Lake Michigan and all of the ports connected to Lake Michigan.
MS: The sense of place available in this project really stands out. In order to get a better taste of the project I definitely recommend visiting the High Point Flats website, which in addition to describing the experience available for High Point Flats potential owners, does a fantastic job of showcasing the greater downtown Muskegon area. Thanks for your investment in downtown, your work through this point on HighPoint, and the best of luck on the project.
JR: Thanks. We are very excited to be a part of downtown Muskegon’s revival. Please give our website, www.highpointflats.com, and Brad Veneklase’s phone number, (616) 988-6466, to anyone who is interested in purchasing, or simply just curious.
Thanks to Brandon Bartoszek for the use of the HighPoint Sign Photo above. Check out more of Brandon's great downtown photos as part of the downtown Muskegon Flickr Group
Check it out on the web
HighPoint Flats website
Parkland Properties website
A great Arts & Entertainment District needs outstanding nightlife, and while City Café, Tipsy Toad, Racquets, Mikes Inn, and the Harbor Steakhouse provide a variety of places for fun, another destination will soon be added to the mix. The Muskegon Athletic Club is the brainchild of Andy Buck, a White Lake native who couldn’t get enough of the great nightlife in Southeast Michigan, while an architecture student. As no one was stepping up to fill the void, Andy did and his vision will become a reality in any day when the Muskegon Athletic Club will open in the old National City Bank building that was part of the former Muskegon Mall. While not quite sugarplums and fairies, Andy has put a log of imagination into the project and it will be sure to impress. Main Street caught up with Andy to get the scoop. 
AB: The MAC is a downtown style sports restaurant and bar that includes outdoor sidewalk seating, retractable doors that allow the outside in, 5 video walls, 2 Wii stations to be played on 150" screens and a semi private area for business luncheons with an easy access point for Power Point presentations. 
