Copyright M Live Michigan
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- A partnership between two West Michigan hospitals is leading to more quality care close to home, but that’s just one of several exciting new developments underway in Ottawa County. Below is a list of five developments planned in October for Ottawa County. Projects are in various stages of planning, and construction timelines are contingent on final approval from the local municipality. Westpark Specialty Center Holland Hospital and University of Michigan Health on Oct. 22 began construction of the new, $45 million Westpark Specialty Center at 8334 Westpark Way in Zeeland. Expected to open in 2027, the 63,000-square-foot health center will have a variety of essential services, including clinical procedure space for specialty infusion therapy, laboratory services, a specialty pharmacy and radiology services such as X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound and echocardiograms. Leaders of Holland Hospital and U-M Health said the facility will serve thousands of Lakeshore patients who previously had to travel to Grand Rapids or further for these services. 1445 Columbus St., Grand Haven The Grand Haven City Council during its Oct. 20 meeting hosted a public hearing to consider a tax exemption application for a 45-unit apartment project at 1445 Columbus St. The property owner and applicant is an entity tied to Greg Oleszczuk, owner of Grand Haven-based Westwind Construction. Oleszczuk is seeking an eight-year Commercial Rehabilitation Act Exemption Certificate with an estimated benefit of $638,357. The project involves demolishing two vacant industrial buildings to make space for a new building consisting of 45 market-rate apartments. It would have a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units. Rental rates are projected to be between $1,422 and $1,978 per month. The overall cost is estimated to be $11.06 million. Demolition of the existing buildings is expected to begin this fall, with utility and foundation work going through the winter. The company expects the new building to be open for occupancy by spring or summer of 2027, according to city documents. Legacy Wine & Spirits Husband-and-wife team Lance and Anjalie Wassink plan to open Legacy Winery & Spirits, a new distillery and tasting room on the first floor of Terra Station at 5400 School Ave. in Hudsonville. Legacy Winery & Spirits secured its license to manufacture spirits in October. It still must gain approval for its tasting room, which is planned to open in March, Anjalie Wassink said. The new tasting room plans to offer barrel thieving, a tasting experience unique to Kentucky. Rather than sampling bottled bourbons, customers get the uncut, unfiltered bourbon straight from the barrel into their glass. Grand Rapids-based Veneklasen Construction last fall broke ground on Terra Station. The $32.5 million development will have 141 apartments and 4,500 square feet of ground-floor retail once it is complete. Salvation Army Holland Center The Holland Township Planning Commission during its Oct. 7 meeting unanimously approved a special land use application by the Salvation Army that would expand services at its Holland Corps Community Center at 104 Clover St. The Salvation Army’s application detailed a “place of worship” that includes family support, a food pantry, women’s fellowship group, book club, Christian day camp, Christmas distribution, utilities/rent/food assistance, showers, pickleball groups, a warming and cooling center as needed, meals by Community Action House’s community kitchen, on-site referrals and support from other nonprofits. Matthew Winters of the Salvation Army told the planning commission a special land use application was approved for the expansion of the building in 2017, and many of the special land use items — such as case management and an approved kitchen — were already approved then, according to the meeting minutes. Two proposed services being requested are serving daily lunch and showers. The center would offer drop-in hours for showers no more than eight hours per week. The showers would also be used by staff, recreational facility users and those coming in for case management, Winters said. Reenders & Baker housing for farm labor The Grand Haven Township Planning Commission on Oct. 6 reviewed a special land use permit application from Reenders & Baker to convert an existing, single-family dwelling at 13528 168th Ave. into housing for farm labor. Reenders & Baker is involved in the operation of various agricultural sites in the area, which frequently use migrant workers, especially during the harvest season, according to planning commission documents. While the township can approve the use itself, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will regulate the project and ensure the converted building is safe for occupation.
