“There are so many outstanding
things for families to do in St. Joe,” Gomolski
said. “We love the location — obviously,
what drew us there was the location — but our
goals are for family time and adventure.”
Response to the development, which
opened a year ago, was strong: Half of phase one’s
56 units sold quickly. Once called Industrial Island,
the mile-long strip of land was home to a grouping
of manufacturing facilities, some dating from the
1920s. The original marina, now part of Harbor Isle,
provided landing barges used in the Normandy Invasion
in World War II.
Increasing appeal for the gated community
includes a soon-to-be-completed wellness center,
indoor and outdoor pools, a 1.5-mile nature trail,
and shuttle service to beaches and downtown St. Joseph.
Above: Enhanced by
sounds of hooves clopping on pavement, Lake
Huron breezes and prime harbor vistas, Maple
View Manor condominiums on Mackinac Island
is attracting those seeking a unique vacation
retreat. |
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“If you remember being 9, 10
or 11 years old, those memories that resonate are
from real quality times of life,” Gomolski
noted, adding that he and his partners will each
also own Harbor Isle homes. “Spending time
at the beach, or going on a speedboat, or sailing — those
are times in your life that are almost euphoric.”
North up along Lake Michigan’s
coast in downtown Muskegon, 1 million square feet
of potential in the abandoned, 110-year-old former
Shaw-Walker Furniture Factory caught the eye of developers
from Brooklyn, New York-based ANM Group.
In summer of 2005, the new Watermark
Center and Lofts opened as waterfront condominiums
with exposed brick walls, airy, 12-foot ceilings,
and wall-to-wall, eight-foot views of the Big Lake.
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Above:Watermark
Center and Lofts in Muskegon offers Great
Lake views and helps fuel the city’s
burgeoning waterfront downtown. |
“Muskegon, when we came in, was
undergoing a rebirth,” said Sarah Rooks, project
manager, noting that being among the first to refuel
downtown development here is fulfilling beyond business
considerations.
“Our property is designated as
a Renaissance Zone, and having that tool to pass
on to potential buyers is huge — buyers benefit
from property-tax and income-tax breaks.”
Customers include long-time city residents pleased to become part
of Muskegon’s urban renewal, as well as summer patrons seeking
a waterfront address and newcomers attracted to a burgeoning, dynamic
downtown.
“We anticipated buyers would
most likely be young professionals looking for a
contemporary, urban place to live,” Rooks reflected. “We
found the project’s appeal was much wider.
Our target market is now anyone with a busy lifestyle
looking for either a permanent residence or an ‘urban
cottage’ — a place to relax on weekends
without having to mow the lawn.”
To read the rest of this
article, turn to page 22 in the September/October
2008 issue of Michigan BLUE. Cyndi Lieske is
a Howell-based freelance writer.
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