HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Feb. 1, 2022) – A land swap has been proposed in the latest development on the City of Holland’s “Waterfront Holland” initiative.
On Tuesday, the city announced that Geenen DeKock Properties has offered to acquire the site of the former James DeYoung power plant off of Pine Avenue, and then swap that property with the land around the Verplank Dock Company off of West 8th Street. The power plant site would house the dock, while the Verplank property would be redeveloped, along with some city parcels surrounding it, into a 108-residence, four-building, mixed-use development. It would include ground floor parking, a 50-room hotel, a marina with both private and transient slip, restaurants, and a docking area for cruise ships. Currently, the Verplank dock has been used for such cruise ships that come into Lake Macatawa.
As for the DeYoung site, GDK is looking to set aside a portion of it for a new internal truck circulation system that would support traffic flow for the three waterfront users.
The city stresses that this GDK proposal is being reviewed by city and Holland BPW staff, “assessing its alignment with the vision statement and guiding principles of Waterfront Holland,” in a municipal statement. After the review, a decision will be made as to whether to go forward with this proposal and negotiate a development agreement with GDK. No timetable for when such a decision would be made was announced.
Waterfront Holland grew from the efforts to consider the future of the DeYoung site after the BPW decommissioned the plant five years ago and moved its electric generating operations to the Holland Energy Park.
There are many factors that could potentially affect the value of the property, including its location, potential uses, environmental conditions, and local real estate market conditions. It would be important to consider these and other factors in determining whether the offer is a good one. It might also be useful to consult with a real estate professional or other knowledgeable individuals in order to get a better understanding of the value of the property and the potential risks and benefits of the proposed acquisition.