If you owned property and had money to spare, you would likely NOT hire someone to build something of their choosing in the hope that it may entertain you. Rather, you would first determine if you wanted a swimming pool, basketball court, tennis court, or swing set, etc. Then you would request quotes and concepts based on your project type, evaluate them by comparing price and specifications, and then make a selection on how to complete your project. This is not what the Grand Haven City Council is doing with the Chinook Pier project. Their approach is more akin to the method supposed in the opening sentence. It is backwards.
The Chinook Pier property currently is home to a mini golf course, the farmer’s market pavilion, associated parking spaces, and a fish cleaning station. In January 2024, the Grand Haven City Council put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) in search of a “visionary developer” interested in partnering with the city and “working toward the common goal of increasing economic vitality at Chinook Pier.” The Request for Proposal provided the following direction for interested developers.
“It is anticipated that new development may occur in phases and could include multiple buildings or incremental approaches to knit this site into the existing waterfront fabric. The recently updated zoning ordinance allows for multi-tenant commercial, eating/drinking, and retail establishments as a special land use on this site.”
“While tourism businesses are prevalent downtown, there is demand for everyday goods and services, such as personal care, groceries, and specialty retail.”
“This district is intended to support water-related development and to provide ample opportunities for public access with a balance of recreational and retail opportunities along the waterfront while maintaining natural characteristics of the area.”
“The City may entertain the creation of a Planned Development.”
“The area will be characterized by an urban form that is scaled for convenient and safe pedestrian access and designed to take advantage of outdoor informal gathering places.”
During the July 15, 2024, council meeting, councilman Kevin McLaughlin very clearly stated the city’s goals for the project. (44:40) “I want to make sure we develop it so that it meets all of the economic needs of the community; job creation, we want to stimulate our local economy, and most importantly we want additional tax revenue.”
According to the RFP, “Exemplary proposals should incorporate the goals of providing multi-generational opportunities, with a focus on Grand Haven as a welcoming community for family friendly uses and activities, maintaining a family-oriented character of development. The proposal should contribute significantly to Grand Haven’s identity and character for year-round use, balancing the interests of local residents and visitors. A successful proposal shall promote Grand Haven’s profile in the region, empowering economic development, attracting residents, businesses, and visitors, and fortifying the City’s position as an anchor in the West Michigan Region.”
In April, three developers responded to the RFP, submitting conceptual ideas. One developer has since withdrawn its submission. The two remaining developers are The Cherette Group and CopperRock Construction.
The proposal from CopperRock Construction consisted of constructing three separate structures.
A 12,000 square foot fully enclosed food market with a demonstration/teaching kitchen and auxiliary mezzanine level for office space and other community use
A 21,000 square foot, two-story building with retail shops
A 7,000 square foot building to house additional leasable space or a nice restaurant
The proposal from The Cherette Group also included three separate structures
A 20,000 square foot children’s museum
A 10,000-15,000 sq ft commercial center
An open-air farmer’s market
Now, city council is evaluating the proposals, but because they created a request for proposals that lacked definition, they are not determining which developer is best suited for the job. Rather, they are determining what they want included in the project. They are attempting to select a developer based on an apples-to-oranges comparison, and looking to the developer to tell them what they want to build on their own property. This is evidenced by the council’s questions during the July 15, 2024, Grand Haven City Council Meeting.
Speaking of the proposed restaurant, Grand Haven City Council member Karen Lowe asked, (41:39) “Is it anticipated that that is going to have an outdoor deck or outside dining?” She continued, “Would it be a commercially licensed kitchen?”
Council member Kevin McLaughlin asked (44:50) “When you are talking about the farmer’s market, are you going to own and operate that? Is that going to be your responsibility?”
Council member Mike Fritz asked, (50:40) “You say you’re going to eliminate the fish cleaning station, and we’re not going to have our charter boat fishing?”
Perhaps a better approach would have been for the Grand Haven City Council to discuss the community input they gathered from surveys, town hall meetings, and public comment in front of the community at meetings, amongst themselves, to set a vision and scope for this project. This would allow the developers to provide more comparable proposals. Does the city want a brewery, children’s museum, or an ice skating rink? It appears both developers are capable of providing whatever the city council desires, but costs, tax revenue generated, and community satisfaction will be very different based on the decision that is made.
If the city council determined they wanted to construct and establish a children’s museum to attract visitors to the area, it would be logical to select a location and then put out an RFP to community members and non-profits interested in operating the facility for the municipality, and a separate RFP to developers interested in designing and building the facility. As it stands, the city council has already selected a non-profit to run a non-existent museum before a location even exists, removing competition and opportunity from other community members. Additionally, it expands government bureaucracy.
The members of the city council were elected to run the city and make decisions in the best interests of the residents of the City of Grand Haven. Their current approach to the Chinook Pier development project is showing a minimum effort on their part. The council majority does not appear to really care what is built on the site so long as it generates tax revenue and does not create additional work for them. This is not good leadership.