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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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This is obviously an old posting as the Mega Coney Island has been gone for years.
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Uptown Developments, LLC, was formed in 2002 specifically to acquire and renovate real estate in downtown Flint. The development team consists of eight Flint-based investors (listed below) that have strong ties to the community and own and manage some of the most respected businesses in Flint. They are a diverse group of community leaders that share a vision of reinventing downtown Flint with a focus on solid real estate investment in housing, office, retail, and cultural/arts/entertainment uses.
The team also includes the Uptown Reinvestment Corporation, a nonprofit organization with a focus on revitalizing downtown Flint. The Uptown Reinvestment Corporation’s recent accomplishments include the Saginaw Streetscape project and the leasing of the former McDonald’s property to Mega Coney Island.
Currently, Uptown Developments has $30 million dollars worth of investment planned for downtown Flint in seven different building projects. When combined, the projects total over 200,000 square feet of mixed-use space ranging from the Brown Sugar Café to the First Street Lofts, a seven story apartment complex, to a new headquarters for Rowe Incorporated.
Uptown Developments, LLC, believes that downtown Flint possesses the attributes to once again be a healthy urban center, one that is home to a mosaic of people, exciting recreational opportunities, diverse businesses, corporate headquarters, colleges and a vibrant government center.
Uptown Development Partners:
George Falaras
Blue Collar Gourmet, Owner
Troy Farah
West Second Associates, Managing Member
Tim Herman
Uptown Reinvestment Corporation, President
Gary Hurand
Management Diversified Inc., Owner/President
Al Kloss
Daystar Developments, Owner
Laval Perry
Uptown Developments, Managing Member
Ghassan Saab
Sorenson Gross Construction, President/CEO
Phil Shaltz
Shaltz Automation, President/CEO |
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Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:20 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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UPTOWN REINVESTMENT CORPORATION
OUR MISSION:
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Bring together all downtown interests, including government, education, business, and charitable institutions in a broad-based coalition.
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Support existing businesses and encourage entrepreneurial business development in the downtown Flint business district.
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Enhance the public infrastructure and improve aesthetics.
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Increase downtown residency.
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Develop the downtown into an attractive area for business, employment, and entertainment.
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Improve and revitalize the downtown district.
The basic premise of the Flint Uptown Reinvestment Strategy is that many small, locally based initiatives and decisions will, over time; result in sustainable and significant improvements for downtown without the need for massive, single-project developments.
The URC commissioned the help of Sasaki Associates, Inc. to develop a reinvestment strategy for downtown Flint. The strategy identifies the specific actions and projects that can be accomplished individually, while collectively contributing to an implementation framework for the regeneration of downtown Flint. The Flint Uptown Reinvestment Strategy (Initiatives for Uptown) identifies the specific actions and projects that can be accomplished individually, while collectively contributing to an implementation framework for the regeneration of downtown Flint. The strategy will encourage dialogue, discussion and a committed vision for the future of the downtown Flint area. It is key to note the community will play a vital role in determining which actions and projects will be given priority or be implemented as identified by the strategy.
Board Members
Tim Herman, President
Claude High, Vice President
Inez Brown, Chair
Deborah Cherry, Treasurer
Lewis Driskell, Union Printing Co.
Greg Fiedler, Greater Flint Arts Council
Gerard Burnash, DDA Director
Loyst Fletcher, Attorney at Law
David Lossing, U of M Flint
Matt Sharp, The Flint Journal
Kathi Horton, Community Foundation of Greater Flint
Rev. Reginald Flynn, Foss Avenue Baptist Church
Dave Stickel, Citizens Bank
Todd M. Johnson, Marketing Manager, Chase
Bob Nichols, Kettering University
Bob Kittel, The Mad Hatter
Barbara Veasley, American Speedy Print |
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Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:23 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Genesee Regional Chamber CEO Appointed to Key State Economic Board
Posted on February 2, 2010 by Lara DeLosh
Tim Herman, Regional Chamber CEO
The community now has a stronger voice in Lansing when it comes to investment in economic development initiatives and redevelopment efforts in Flint and throughout Genesee County.
Tim Herman, CEO of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, recently was appointed to the 16-member Michigan Magnet Fund Board. The board is made up of economic development officials, financial sector representatives, and various organizations, including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the Great Lakes Capital Fund, and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
“I am thrilled to be able to serve on the Michigan Magnet Fund Board,” Mr. Herman said. “The Michigan Magnet Fund has made a real difference for a couple of projects here in Genesee County and Downtown Flint. Now as a Michigan Magnet Fund board member, I can assist other communities statewide the same way that we have been helped by the Michigan Magnet Fund in our community. By selecting the projects that will have the most impact on local economies, I believe we as a board can help spur more economic growth in communities throughout the state.”
The Michigan Magnet Fund finances projects throughout the state through the federal New Market Tax Credits Program. The fund received its second $60 million allocation from the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program last October. Through the federal allocation, the Michigan Magnet Fund is able to provide tax credits to eligible businesses in low-income communities throughout the state.
Projects in Flint and Genesee County have benefited from Michigan Magnet Fund assistance. The ROWE Building project, which recently was completed in Downtown Flint, was a recipient of Michigan Magnet Fund assistance. Other projects in Downtown Flint and Genesee County also are currently under consideration for New Market Tax Credits through the Michigan Magnet Fund.
Tim Herman’s appointment to the Michigan Magnet Fund Board is great news for Flint and Genesee County, said Troy Farah, founding member and partner of West Second Street Associates, a Flint-based company that specializes in real estate development and long-term management of General Services Administration buildings throughout the United States.
The appointment is testimony to the hard work that Mr. Herman has done in collaboration with Uptown Developments, key investors, and other stakeholders to revitalize Downtown Flint and encourage new investment in Genesee County, said Mr. Farah. Mr. Farah also is co-owner of the Capitol Theatre building in Downtown Flint and a founding and managing member of Uptown Developments, which acquires and renovates real estate in Downtown Flint.
“We’ve done a phenomenal job in Flint and Genesee County of delivering projects that work,” said Gary Hurand, owner and CEO of MDI Real Estate Services, and a managing member of Uptown Developments. “Having people on these boards in Lansing is almost a necessity. The more people Flint and Genesee County have on the boards of these agencies, the better off we are. We need to be visible in the state, and Tim is the perfect guy to be visible for us.”
Al Bogdan, chief business development officer of the Michigan Magnet Fund, said Mr. Herman was the logical choice for the board appointment.
“We wanted somebody who was a leader in economic development for the Flint area,” Mr. Bogdan said, “and we felt that Tim would be the best person to help bring the input from that region to the board.”
This entry was posted in Economic Development and tagged Economic Development, Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tim Herman. Bookmark the permalink. |
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Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:37 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Second Consecutive Year →
Revitalization of Downtown Flint Gathers Momentum with ROWE Building Completion
Posted on February 2, 2010 by Lara DeLosh
The revitalization of Downtown Flint reached another significant milestone with the completion of the ROWE Building project—and business leaders say the development is only the beginning of a renaissance now taking place in the downtown.
From left: Scott Whipple, Development and Project Manager for Uptown Developments; Phil Shaltz, Managing Member for Uptown Developments; Flint Mayor Dayne Walling; John Matonich, President and CEO of ROWE Professional Services Company; and Tim Herman, CEO of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Community and business leaders recently gathered at the new building, located in the 500 block of South Saginaw Street, at a building dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the $22.7 million project. The four-story, 83,000-square-foot building now houses nearly 100 ROWE Professional Services Company employees and 14 residents who live in eight apartment lofts in the upper portion of the building.
“We’re very proud to be a part of the downtown business district,” said John Matonich, president and CEO of ROWE Professional Services Company. “This project is a testimony to what’s possible when we work together.”
The ROWE Building project was the catalyst for the exciting changes now taking place in Downtown Flint, said Tim Herman, CEO of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, and president of Uptown Reinvestment Corporation (URC).
“It was ROWE’s strong commitment to this project that helped encourage other investors to join in the effort to make Downtown Flint a more vibrant place to live, work, and do business,” he said. “The completion of this project furthers the momentum that we’ve got going on in Downtown Flint. We’ve made great strides, and over the next few weeks and months, we expect to be making more exciting announcements about revitalization efforts in the downtown.”
Negotiations now are underway with prospects who have expressed interest in opening a couple of restaurants in the lower portion of the ROWE Building, Mr. Herman said. Witherbee’s Market—a grocery store that will be located on the corner of King Avenue and University Drive—is expected to open its doors soon.
And with more people living and working in the downtown, there will be a growing need for more businesses and services nearby, Mr. Herman said. Investors involved with the revitalization of Downtown Flint continue to talk to students and others who live and work in the downtown area about the kinds of businesses and services that they would like to see locate in the area.
“The community really has a lot of momentum going,” he said. “We are already seeing an exciting multiplier effect take place in the downtown.”
And the population of residents and people working in Downtown Flint is only expected to increase in coming months, Mr. Herman said.
With a recently announced $7 million repayable grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Riverfront Residence Hall will be expanded by 298 beds, for a total of 541. The facility houses students from area universities and colleges. Part of the expansion—slated for completion in fall 2010—also will include the renovation of a conference center into a state-of-the-art meeting space.
“It’s an exciting time to be living and working in Downtown Flint,” Mr. Herman said. “We have a front-row seat, and we’re watching all the exciting changes take place before our eyes.”
Successful completion of the ROWE Building project was made possible by a number of partners and dedicated investors, including ROWE Professional Services Company, the URC, Uptown Developments, the C.S. Mott Foundation, the Ruth Mott Foundation, Sorensen Gross, the City of Flint, Genesee County, the Michigan Magnet Fund, US Bank, LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), HUD, the State of Michigan, and the Regional Chamber staff.
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Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:40 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Renaissance Continues in Downtown Flint
Posted on February 5, 2012 by Elaine Redd
Uptown Reinvestment Corporation enters a purchase agreement with The Flint Journal
The Flint-area economy is moving in the right direction and if it’s up to Uptown Reinvestment Corporation (URC) and its partners, the community will continue to see the revitalization of downtown Flint.
Today, the momentum continues. URC, a nonprofit corporation created to strategically target downtown Flint for redevelopment has entered an agreement with The Flint Journal. The agreement is to purchase two Flint Journal properties: the historic Flint Journal building (Located at 200 East First Street) and the former newspaper printing facilities (Located at 100 East First Street). The combined buildings total nearly 200,000 square feet of space and over five acres of land. The intent is to renovate and lease the former newspaper offices to one or more organizations.
In recent weeks, Michigan State University (MSU) announced expansion plans for its medical education and public health programs in Flint. MSU, which received a $2.8 million grant for the expansion from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in December 2011, has expressed interest in creating a campus in downtown Flint.
Tim Herman, president of the URC says that MSU could be an ideal tenant for the former Flint Journal property.
“URC is working with the C. S. Mott Foundation and MSU to determine if the property is a good fit for MSU’s needs,” said Herman.
“Health care is one of the fastest growing sectors in Flint-Genesee County and a key driver of our local economy,” said Herman. “So we’re really excited that MSU wants to bring its medical education and public health program to Flint – especially to downtown.
This program provides great option for local students who are interested in public health education.”
“URC is off to a good start with redevelopment projects this year with the former Flint Journal properties,” said Inez Brown, Board Chair for URC. “We look forward to matching the space to the right business or nonprofit organization, and generating excitement about revitalization efforts in downtown Flint.”
“We couldn’t be more pleased that Michigan State University is expanding its medical education program and bringing its public health program to the Flint area – where it will complement an already thriving college and university atmosphere,” said Charles Stewart Mott Foundation President and CEO William S. White. “Finding a suitable location for the program – preferably downtown – has been uppermost in the minds of all of us associated with this project including Uptown, which has been actively scouting locations. Giving new life to an older building, such as the Flint Journal property, would be a welcome addition to the various revitalization efforts that have taken place downtown in recent years.”
The purchase agreement on the former Flint Journal property is subject to finalization once all aspects of due diligence has been completed.
URC is committed to make downtown Flint one of the best “small-city” downtowns in the United States. It’s an aggressive goal; however the Corporation has had influence over the past eight years on downtown investment projects totaling more than $387 million.
“We’re excited about what’s happening downtown,” said Herman. “We have had a good string of developments and we plan to keep the momentum going. This is going to be a good year!” |
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Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:45 am |
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brianstarr
F L I N T O I D
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| in case any one hasnt noticed the rest of the city beyond the downtown area is being left to rot by uptown development and until this somehow changes this city overall is going to be in bankruptcy so as i keep saying what FRIGGIN GOOD DOES A SO CALLED DOWNTOWN REVITILIZATION DO WHEN THIS CITY IS IN THE CONDITION ITS IN OVERALL |
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Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:20 am |
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