MUSKEGON, Mich. — Muskegon City Commission has given the green light for Windward Pointe to develop the site of the former Sappi Paper Mill.
Commissioners gave Parkland Properties the approval to move forward with its plan to build hundreds of housing units on the 123-acre property next to Muskegon Lake.
The developer assured commissioners that they are aware the site of the former paper mill has PFAS and they want to clean up the area before building the project.
Since July, the developer has undertaken additional environmental, soil, zoning and market research for the project.
Parkland Properties says it has spent more than $1 million in testing and improvements are underway to include additional environmental, soil and water testing.
Windward Pointe will be a mixed-used development with up to 2,300 housing units that include single-family homes, townhomes, condos and apartments.
The goal is to have apartments that cost under $1,000 for larger 3-bedroom apartments, and condos with waterfront views ranging from $200,000 to $350,000. There will also be waterfront sites for homes with lots ranging from $150,000 to $250,000.
Parkland Properties says its goal is to provide meaningful and sustainable businesses that are supported by the new and neighboring housing.
The goal is to have about 20-40 business tenants on the property with up to 95,000 square feet of available space based on demand. The developer says this is more square footage of a commercial business and retail space than any non-industrial/manufacturing project in the last 30 years in Muskegon.
The development is expected to generate $492 million in economic activity for Muskegon County and bring in nearly 4,000 jobs according to an economic impact study by Dr. Paul Isley, Associate Dean and Professor of Economics for the Seidman College of Business.
The planned development still needs to be approved by the state. A traffic study and storm water permits will also be needed before final approval.