MoDiv wins 2012 Ideation Award from Associated Builders & Contrators

Our downtown 'retail incubator' called MoDiv won the 2012 Ideation Award for Innovation from the Associated Builders and Contractors - West Michigan Chapter as a part of their Excellence in Construction Awards!  Check out this great article on the accolade from MLive.com.<br /><br />Congratulations to the entire team who made this project award-winning!<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #363636; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br /><h1 style="color: #363636; font-family: prelo-slab, serif; font-size: 42px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 45px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">Construction group lauds downtown 'retail incubator' for filling empty space with trendy shops</h1><div class="clearfix"></div><div class="" id="article_container" style="color: #363636; float: left; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; max-width: 620px;"><div id="Byline" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(218, 218, 218); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(218, 218, 218); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; min-height: 40px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://connect.mlive.com/staff/jharger/index.html" style="color: #305cb6; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com" class="Avatar" height="40" src="http://media.mlive.com/avatars/1828164.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: left; height: 40px; padding-right: 7px; vertical-align: middle; width: 40px;" width="40" /></a>By <span class="author vcard" style="color: #dadada; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px;"><a class="fn" href="http://connect.mlive.com/staff/jharger/posts.html" style="color: #305cb6; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com </a></span><br />on November 05, 2012 at 2:00 PM, updated November 05, 2012 at 2:40 PM<br /><div class="EmailPrint" style="clear: none; float: right; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: -7px;"><a class="EmailLink" href="http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/11/downtown_retail_incubator_laud.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://media.mlive.com/design/baseline/img/icons/icon-email.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; 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font-size: 10px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-top: -2px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="caption" style="clear: both; color: #666666; display: block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">MoDiv offers its tenants flexible space and short-term leases</span><span class="byline" style="color: #666666; display: block; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 7px; text-align: right; width: 228px;">Jim Harger | Mlive Media Group</span></span></span></div>GRAND RAPIDS, MI – MoDiv, Rockford Construction Co.’s “retail incubator” in downtown Grand Rapids, has won the “2012 Ideation Award” from the <a href="http://www.abc.org/about_abc.aspx" style="color: #305cb6; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Associated Builders and Contractors</a>– West Michigan Chapter.MoDiv, which offers its trendy tenants short-term leases and flexible space at the corner of Monroe Center and Division Avenue, <a href="http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/01/retail_incubator_modiv_in_down.html" style="color: #305cb6; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">opened in January</a>after Rockford was left with empty space after a restaurant closed and a clothing shop moved out in the old Peck Building.<br />The 'retail incubator' was lauded because “it encourages new retailers in the downtown market and fosters a creative and entrepreneurial environment,” according to the ABC, which presented the award at its 27th annual “Excellence in Construction” dinner on Friday, Nov. 1.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><i>To view full article, click on this link: </i><i><a href="http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/11/downtown_retail_incubator_laud.html">http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/11/downtown_retail_incubator_laud.html</a></i><br /><br />Here are a few photos of the award-winning retail incubator.  For more information on this project, please visit some of our previous posts...<br /><i>•<a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/01/modiv-is-hit.html">MoDiv is a hit!</a></i><br />•<i><a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2011/07/mibiz-article-modivs-motive-to-offer.html">MiBiz Article: MoDiv's Motive to Offer Downtown Retailers Options</a></i><br />•<i><a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/01/modiv-grand-opening.html">MoDiv's Grand Opening</a></i><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboko19E9xy6kMuYFpXiz50b9TtgX0dg3HPscqeo4TXAiqq7nY8ftc045PIv13A4XwK6LMiWUHnAINV0MUWQK3w1TJBI6sDLOQ3GBHxapk9Pp_0rlGe0JsF8pzh3BKENbwSdQ8F_NmtqPy/s1600/MODIV-EXT-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboko19E9xy6kMuYFpXiz50b9TtgX0dg3HPscqeo4TXAiqq7nY8ftc045PIv13A4XwK6LMiWUHnAINV0MUWQK3w1TJBI6sDLOQ3GBHxapk9Pp_0rlGe0JsF8pzh3BKENbwSdQ8F_NmtqPy/s320/MODIV-EXT-15.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGIq2oSXDSloy8qsrJqPxlrLFKeVGdUx79hi5i5vEj6bjM71Be9aKZihHjqxcl7s22VmeCUGVMYqJ0hNtPlZskZ7jI5ueehEmXNscHVYIzuwTf9QvEDySYKcy-FESa-HYxZmZoZ6EotYa/s1600/MODIV-EXT-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGIq2oSXDSloy8qsrJqPxlrLFKeVGdUx79hi5i5vEj6bjM71Be9aKZihHjqxcl7s22VmeCUGVMYqJ0hNtPlZskZ7jI5ueehEmXNscHVYIzuwTf9QvEDySYKcy-FESa-HYxZmZoZ6EotYa/s320/MODIV-EXT-17.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgcuHp0drmaZbabpUy-uXmNvUF9VnAbtVdmgaHZDvou-1uO6rq6XuC5nbd3MjmptDlngRBei19YllpHlxNahp3eWQVWC-8nbaZZdGCrLjQicc73ooxDL_ZRuYipemYTvoRgJnD2IO3KVV/s1600/MODIV-EXT-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgcuHp0drmaZbabpUy-uXmNvUF9VnAbtVdmgaHZDvou-1uO6rq6XuC5nbd3MjmptDlngRBei19YllpHlxNahp3eWQVWC-8nbaZZdGCrLjQicc73ooxDL_ZRuYipemYTvoRgJnD2IO3KVV/s320/MODIV-EXT-20.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi307XnXXrk6kiZnqX0hlXnAH4WA6mnDaJ2wXsGUw4hMU7HCVnLW2zn5hexSji774Xidvo6zV1g8aGvcpClnhK_ysubGou7PSLkxGda8n4VsfenLjF-xw7ewgtl2lkov_ha8sw1I_-BiWqx/s1600/MODIV-INT-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi307XnXXrk6kiZnqX0hlXnAH4WA6mnDaJ2wXsGUw4hMU7HCVnLW2zn5hexSji774Xidvo6zV1g8aGvcpClnhK_ysubGou7PSLkxGda8n4VsfenLjF-xw7ewgtl2lkov_ha8sw1I_-BiWqx/s320/MODIV-INT-02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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MoDiv wins 2012 Ideation Award from Associated Builders & Contrators

Our downtown 'retail incubator' called MoDiv won the 2012 Ideation Award for Innovation from the Associated Builders and Contractors...

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MoDiv is a hit!

People are talking and <a href="http://www.shopmodiv.com">MoDiv</a> is a hit! Check out the recent press and photos of MoDiv and it's retailers...<div><br /></div><div><i>The Grand Rapids Press on MoDiv:</i></div><div><a href="http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/01/retail_incubator_modiv_in_down.html">http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/01/retail_incubator_modiv_in_down.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><i>Grand Opening Ceremony/Reception Photos:</i></div><div><a href="http://www.stellaflysocialmedia.com/archives/6274">http://www.stellaflysocialmedia.com/archives/6274</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Retailer Wolverine Worldwide:</i></div><div><a href="http://downtowngr.org/people-profile.php?profile_id=47">http://downtowngr.org/people-profile.php?profile_id=47</a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Retailer Chai Boutique:</i></div><div><a href="http://downtowngr.org/people-profile.php?profile_id=47">http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/innovationnews/0126chai.aspx</a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Retailer Sofia Bella:</i></div><div><a href="http://downtowngr.org/people-profile.php?profile_id=47">http://mychannel957.com/top-5-local-stores-for-all-things-baby/</a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Eight West on MoDiv:</i></div><div><object data="http://www.woodtv.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=16926" height="340" id="video" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"><param value="http://www.woodtv.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=16926" name="movie"><param value="&skin=MP1ExternalAll-MFL.swf&embed=true&adSizeArray=1x1000,2x40,3x1000&adSrc=http%3A%2F%2Fad%2Edoubleclick%2Enet%2Fpfadx%2Flin%2Ewood%2Fwildcard%5F1%2Fdetail%3Bdcmt%3Dtext%2Fxml%3Bpos%3D%25pos%25%3Btile%3D2%3Bfname%3Dwelcome%2Dto%2Dmodiv%3Bloc%3D%25loc%25%3Bsz%3D%25size%25%3Bord%3D555398612283170240%3Frand%3D%25rand%25&flv=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewoodtv%2Ecom%2Ffeeds%2FoutboundFeed%3FobfType%3DVIDEO%5FPLAYER%5FSMIL%5FFEED%26componentId%3D23453928&img=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia2%2Ewoodtv%2Ecom%2F%2Fphoto%2F2012%2F01%2F10%2FWelcome%5Fto%5FMoDiv4a37d0cb%2D8cc6%2D4004%2D99a3%2D5c47ab4908ec0000%5F20120110130011%5F640%5F480%2EJPG&story=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewoodtv%2Ecom%2Fdpp%2Feightwest%2Fwelcome%2Dto%2Dmodiv%23%2ETwyZNsaN1ig%2Efacebook&category=north%5Fcarolina&title=Welcome%20to%20MoDiv&oacct=dpsdpswood,dpsglobal&ovns=fim&headline=Welcome%20to%20MoDiv&toggleVideoCode=3" name="FlashVars"><param value="all" name="allowNetworking"><param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"></object><p style="width:400px"><a href="http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/eightwest/welcome-to-modiv#.TwyZNsaN1ig.facebook">Welcome to MoDiv: woodtv.com</a></p></div><div><br /></div><div><i>GRNow.com on MoDiv:</i></div><div><div><div><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="340" id="flashObj" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=1407150129001&playerID=34875839001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAB_wnb7E~,pFMO9rMBvUlCXtUnJzJ93fpPhjy-5LXn&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true"><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com"><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=1407150129001&playerID=34875839001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAB_wnb7E~,pFMO9rMBvUlCXtUnJzJ93fpPhjy-5LXn&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="400" height="340" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>

MoDiv is a hit!

People are talking and MoDiv is a hit! Check out the recent press and photos of MoDiv and it's retailers... The Grand Rapids Press on ...

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MoDiv Grand Opening

The<a href="http://www.shopmodiv.com/"> Shops @ MoDiv</a> will have their grand opening later this month! Stores including Haworth, Wolverine Company Store, Vue Design, Eastern Floral, Sofia Bella Couture and others will open their doors for business as part of this retail incubator project on the corner of Monroe and Division.<div><br /></div><div>Congratulations to <a href="http://www.rockfordconstruction.com/">Rockford Construction</a> on a job well done bringing the design to life!</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG5aNJidb2GpZoithN3DuS99RGRIEAOJjhC7xWPEg45jm4Zk_6qiII6grEXBSWVTi_84eqmiaCMWPK3HyjSA33KaIQy13SmaWPitz3qXocHJsuaSCPkU4ACWB9szo8v_edBob2-bIjAo6/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-01-02+at+10.14.51+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693053669915787746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG5aNJidb2GpZoithN3DuS99RGRIEAOJjhC7xWPEg45jm4Zk_6qiII6grEXBSWVTi_84eqmiaCMWPK3HyjSA33KaIQy13SmaWPitz3qXocHJsuaSCPkU4ACWB9szo8v_edBob2-bIjAo6/s320/Screen+shot+2012-01-02+at+10.14.51+AM.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 315px;" /></a>Here are a few of our original design concept sketches...<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqLg0z5TiOXiL8ZxfM_d5NPBNxI9THNAgw5HyCzqgoGFVD7PiN7D_NUsGfgLSDwyDUkEsYypWYmHC9OfVZ4pSRWrCiK6qSaj_anJb2COgIhzSVgpKm5kALy4CZZ-C7WBn6jWHeaeoHxAq/s1600/5c451c5574513a254e8ba64cef99af3a.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693053669577617426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqLg0z5TiOXiL8ZxfM_d5NPBNxI9THNAgw5HyCzqgoGFVD7PiN7D_NUsGfgLSDwyDUkEsYypWYmHC9OfVZ4pSRWrCiK6qSaj_anJb2COgIhzSVgpKm5kALy4CZZ-C7WBn6jWHeaeoHxAq/s320/5c451c5574513a254e8ba64cef99af3a.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7lWBAEXFIsXPnGvuPejXRfKT0U0Yjh2T0Kd8XGJKY-RfGLjZy9IHDpjfTSEYiXIUH_Tx4EW-u9kwGkzZ8vt8sk10x50vFJDk9_niphcH8_mXg0HflxyjcgI9qSoZLg0MVPV6mhb136Tk/s1600/MoDiv-rendering-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693052683286338418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7lWBAEXFIsXPnGvuPejXRfKT0U0Yjh2T0Kd8XGJKY-RfGLjZy9IHDpjfTSEYiXIUH_Tx4EW-u9kwGkzZ8vt8sk10x50vFJDk9_niphcH8_mXg0HflxyjcgI9qSoZLg0MVPV6mhb136Tk/s320/MoDiv-rendering-2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 272px;" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div><i>Check out MoDiv's website for a full list of retailers - <a href="http://www.shopmodiv.com/">www.shopmodiv.com</a>.</i></div></div><div><br /></div></div>

MoDiv Grand Opening

The Shops @ MoDiv will have their grand opening later this month! Stores including Haworth, Wolverine Company Store, Vue Design, Eastern F...

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MiBiz Article: MoDiv's Motive To Offer Downtown Retailers Options

<i>Read this recent artcle in MiBiz on our project with <a href="http://www.rockfordconstruction.com/">Rockford Construction</a> for the space in the Peck Building in downtown Grand Rapids, called MoDiv:</i><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mibiz.com/news/design-build/18280-modivs-motive-to-offer-downtown-retailers-options.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><b>MoDiv's Motive To Offer Downtown Retailers Options</b></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 24px; font-size:15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">source: www.mibiz.com</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 24px; font-size:15px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 24px; font-size:15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">By Joe Boomgaard | MiBiz | </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 24px; font-size:15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">jboomgaard@mibiz.com</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(85, 85, 85); line-height: 24px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">GRAND RAPIDS — Developers of a proposed retail incubator for downtown Grand Rapids hope to break down current barriers to retail expansion in the city’s core.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a class="keyword" href="http://www.rockfordconstruction.com/" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); " target="_blank" title="Rockford Construction Company Inc">Rockford Construction Company Inc</a>.’s plans for space in the Peck Building at the corner of Monroe Center and Division Avenue call for turning the vacant space into a vibrant retail environment ideal for startup businesses or established companies that want to give downtown retailing a try.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Rockford Construction Company, COO at Rockford Construction, said the company has owned the space for a few years. It most recently served as a hub for TEDx Grand Rapids, had been home to Site:Lab, and housed <a class="keyword" href="http://www.artprize.org/" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); " target="_blank" title="ArtPrize">ArtPrize</a> events, but the company didn’t find any permanent tenant in the time it owned the building.</p><table border="0" width="180" align="left" style="padding-right: 10px; "><tbody><tr><td><h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif; font-size: 1.3em; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; ">Photo Gallery</h3><hr /></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Click on the gallery images to view full-size photo.</strong></td></tr><tr><td><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></p><div id="sigplus_6-13-11MoDiv" class="imageSlider" style="clear: both; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none !important; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: none !important; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 22px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><li style="padding-left: 0px !important; background-image: url(http://www.mibiz.com/templates/younews/images/arrow.png); background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; float: left; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><a href="http://www.mibiz.com/images/stories/6-13-11MoDiv/DSC_1775.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[sigplus_6-13-11MoDiv]" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); "><img height="200" src="http://www.mibiz.com/cache/thumbs/66b2387ece4af7f412ef517c5c1dba26.jpg" style="padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 2px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 2px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; " width="200" /></a></li><li style="padding-left: 0px !important; background-image: url(http://www.mibiz.com/templates/younews/images/arrow.png); background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; float: left; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><a href="http://www.mibiz.com/images/stories/6-13-11MoDiv/MoDiv-person.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[sigplus_6-13-11MoDiv]" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); "><img height="200" src="http://www.mibiz.com/cache/thumbs/463ab490a3f91b565974f0676fe838c2.jpg" style="padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 2px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 2px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; " width="200" /></a></li><li style="padding-left: 0px !important; background-image: url(http://www.mibiz.com/templates/younews/images/arrow.png); background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; float: left; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><a href="http://www.mibiz.com/images/stories/6-13-11MoDiv/MoDiv-rendering-2.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[sigplus_6-13-11MoDiv]" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); "><img height="200" src="http://www.mibiz.com/cache/thumbs/604554c5b48d26ad0d93a5f0d2724d8c.jpg" style="padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 2px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 2px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; " width="200" /></a></li><li style="padding-left: 0px !important; background-image: url(http://www.mibiz.com/templates/younews/images/arrow.png); background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; float: left; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><a href="http://www.mibiz.com/images/stories/6-13-11MoDiv/MoDiv-rendering.jpg" rel="prettyPhoto[sigplus_6-13-11MoDiv]" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); "><img height="200" src="http://www.mibiz.com/cache/thumbs/5c451c5574513a254e8ba64cef99af3a.jpg" style="padding-top: 0px !important; padding-right: 2px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 2px !important; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; " width="200" /></a></li></ul></div><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“What we’ve recognized is the need to take the bull by the horns and create something rather than wait for a tenant to show up,” Hassberger told MiBiz.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Hassberger said the vision for the street-level space, known as MoDiv, short for Shoppes at Monroe and Division, is to create a retail incubator with varying options for sizes and length of lease to attempt to lure tenants to the critical corner in the downtown market.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“We want to address some of the objections retailers might have. There will be no long-term leases. Tenants will not have to take a ton of space. We want to take away their objections so they’ll give it a try,” he said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">MoDiv will take up about 8,500 square feet of the Peck Building. The space currently has three entrances, and the plan is to create a physical connection between all of the internal retail spaces. The company envisions up to 12 retailers each occupying various chunks of MoDiv.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The rest of the street-level space in the Peck Building is partly occupied by two retailers, Gina’s Boutique and Lia Rose.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">For the incubator, Rockford hopes to see a mix of established and startup retailers. Hassberger said the site would be perfect for a suburban retailer to try their hand at the downtown market without a huge overhead. Similarly, it might also be perfect for “pop-up” stores that might be timed around various festivals or other events.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The space also has enough room for events — perhaps a wine tasting — and it will retain its existing kitchen. Although the developers don’t think a restaurant is in the cards for the space, they said the kitchen could be useful for a catering business or for hosting events.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Developers expect the entry at the corner of Monroe and Division could be attractive for an anchor tenant, and other smaller retailers could use the space inside.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">To develop the concept, Rockford enlisted Seyferth PR, which is also a tenant on an upper floor of the Peck Building, to investigate a possible use for the street-level space. Hassberger said that Seyferth came up with a retail incubator, a concept that had been tried and proven in Ann Arbor, Minneapolis and other locations.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Rockford tapped <a href="http://www.visbeen.biz/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">Visbeen Associates Inc.</span></a> to do some conceptual designs of the retailer locations. Construction on the project should start some time in June.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“This is a pivotal point, a cultural spot,” he said. “MoDiv is the right thing to do for the space and the city. If we can establish enough retail space downtown, we can create a retail destination, something the concierges can send people to.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">One key to the project was receiving a $75,000 storefront renovation grant from the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority to improve the façade along Division Avenue, which is currently a 100-foot, solid, uninviting brick wall, Hassberger said. The current plan calls for adding windows and other elements to break up the view of the wall and help bring more people toward the building and then on to other retail shops and restaurants along Monroe Center.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Improving the façade will become even more important in creating an inviting space once the portion of Division Avenue the space fronts will shrink from five to three lanes and parking spaces and a bike lane are added, he said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The company decided not to participate in the DDA’s new incubator district program, designed to encourage retail ventures and support community entrepreneurs.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Rockford has a history of trying new ideas like this proposed retail incubator. The company also created MoBevy, an open office space in the Peck Building that allows various small companies to move in and use only the space and services they need. It was also behind the <a class="keyword" href="http://www.grid70.com/" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); " target="_blank" title="GRid70">GRid70</a>, a downtown design hub for several West Michigan companies, including <a class="keyword" href="http://www.meijer.com/" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); " target="_blank" title="Meijer">Meijer</a>, <a class="keyword" href="http://www.amway.com/" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); " target="_blank" title="Amway">Amway</a>, <a class="keyword" href="http://www.steelcase.com/" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); " target="_blank" title="Steelcase">Steelcase</a>,<a class="keyword" href="http://www.wolverineworldwide.com/" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); " target="_blank" title="Wolverine World Wide">Wolverine World Wide</a>, <a class="keyword" href="http://www.pennanthealthalliance.org/" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(157, 28, 31); " target="_blank" title="Pennant Health Alliance">Pennant Health Alliance</a> and others.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“MoBevy has done pretty well, and we hope these two will feed off each other,” Hassberger said. “It’s the same idea — you just have to do something (to address the) demand for smaller, flexible space.”</p></span></div>

MiBiz Article: MoDiv's Motive To Offer Downtown Retailers Options

Read this recent artcle in MiBiz on our project with Rockford Construction for the space in the Peck Building in downtown Grand Rapids, ca...

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