Mold Remediation in Allegan, MI

DORR TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A major corporation could soon set up shop in West Michigan, as Microsoft has just bought four parcels of land in Allegan and Kent counties.

With over 700 acres of land total, the company has spent millions on local property, but it's not yet clear exactly how they plan to use it.

The computer giant finalized one purchase just weeks ago in Dorr Township off of 144th Avenue and 14th Street near US-131.

It's not the only investment they've made in the Great Lakes State. Gaines Charter Township confirmed that the company bought up an additional 300 acres on property formerly owned by Steelcase.

It is one of the biggest single-use purchases of land Dorr Township Supervisor Jeff Miling said he’s ever seen in the area.

"They were looking for a large piece of property that had sewer and water and the utilities they needed to make a data center," Miling said.

While there are no concrete plans for its use yet, he believes the convenient location and the access to resources were likely what drew the company to the county.

Miling added that while business is already coming into town at a steady pace, it's tough to let so much farmland go all at once.

"They're going to have a lot more traffic, a lot more people wanting to buy, more developments are going to go in quicker than we probably wanted," he said.

It’s an opinion shared by other residents, who feel that a reduction in land means a reduction in the food supply.

"I believe that it's important for us to keep our farmland," Dorr Township resident, Sondra Pletcher, said. "We need agricultural resources and things to be around."

While it’s still a mystery for what purpose Microsoft is paying close to $150,000 an acre, others said they’re ready to accept a break with tradition, and a potential future in which West Michigan is a technology destination.

"Stuff's going to develop faster and faster, so I guess you've got to step away from the past," Dorr Township resident, Steven Kacznowski, said.

News Channel 3 also reached out to Microsoft, who issued the following statement Thursday:

"Microsoft has acquired industrial land in Gaines Charter Township and Dorr Township, Michigan, for potential datacenter development. This [Gaines Charter Township property] was identified in collaboration with The Right Place as part of our ongoing search for development opportunities in the Michigan market. Project plans, capital investment, and potential employee numbers are yet to be finalized, but we will provide updates as information becomes available.”

If the company does begin to develop, Miling said he hopes to see an interchange put in north of town at the same time; addingit would keep the traffic of a major corporation separate from life in a smaller town.

Did you know this was a thing?

Blockbuster is alive and well in downtown Allegan, Michigan baby! Well, sort of.

If you are of a "certain age" you probably remember your local video store being the place to be on Friday nights. At least in my hometown of Allegan I remember driving over to Movies & More to stock up for the weekend's entertainment.

First it was VHS, then it was DVDs and Blu-Rays and now it's not even anything tangible; everything is streaming to our devices on-demand.

Video rental stores don't even exist anymore and things like Redbox are barely hanging on. In fact, it's nearly been a year since Netflix stopped operating their original business model of sending out physical DVD rentals by mail.

Where did our youth and culture go? Thankfully, all is not lost!

As part of a national movement to reignite the public's passion for physical media the iconic old Regent Theatre in downtown Allegan announced they've joined the "Free Blockbuster" movement.

Essentially, it's like one of those free neighborhood libraries that you see popping up around town-- but with movies. Perhaps a movie you left behind could be someone's next favorite movie.

The Free Blockbuster library will be located in the lobby of The Regent Theatre at 211 Trowbridge Street in downtown Allegan. Free Blockbuster will make its debut on October 14, 2023 during the screening of the horror film V/H/S as part of the theatre's annual Shocktober! film series.

According to The Regent Theatre,

The box will be located inside the lobby and will be available whenever the movie theater is open. Don’t forget to take home some popcorn and candy!

You can follow along on Instagram at @freeblockbusterallegan to learn more.

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Road construction and special events will require more than 75 additional closures this week throughout Michigan.

Various degrees of lane, ramp and road closures for the state’s primary roadways are on the calendar for Sunday, Sept. 22, through Saturday, Sept. 28, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

Construction projects will require closures on a number of major roadways, including I-196 and U.S. 131 in Kent County, U.S. 23 in Livingston County, I-475 in Genesee County, M-89 in Allegan County, and U.S. 45 in Ontonagon County.

Below is a summary of 11 closures to watch out for this week. All projects are weather-dependent. State officials remind drivers to slow down and follow posted signage in work zones.

A complete list of road projects is available through MDOT’s online map and construction list.

M-85 in Wayne County

M-85/Fort Street Bascule bridge between Miller Road and Oakwood will have bridge inspections affecting bridge operation from Monday through Thursday. Each of those days, one lane will be open in each direction from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

M-37 in Barry County

A resurfacing project is getting underway on M-37 near Battle Creek. It’s a $1.4 million expenditure to improve 5 miles between Groat Road and the Barry/Calhoun County line.

Drivers can expect lane closures from Monday into mid-November.

M-6 in Kent County

Daily lane closures are scheduled Monday and Tuesday on eastbound M-6 between Thornapple River Drive and 48th Street. Drivers can expect reduced lane options from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

I-196 in Kent County

Eastbound I-196 between Chicago Drive and Market Avenue in Grand Rapids will have lane closures for road work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday. The same area on the eastbound side will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday.

M-89 and M-40 in Allegan County

Starting Monday, crews will begin building a roundabout at the M-89/M-40/Hubbard Street intersection in Allegan. The $7 million project will require the intersection to be closed into November.

Additionally, M-89 will be resurfaced between M-222 and 29th Street.

U.S. 45 in Ontonagon County

Two culverts are scheduled to be replaced on U.S. 45 near Dutch Road. Starting Monday, the highway will be closed and detoured for the work that’s projected to wrap up Oct. 3.

The closure is from Dutch Road to about 500 feet southeast. Drivers will be detoured using M-26 and M-38.

I-196 in Allegan and Ottawa counties

The latest step in the resurfacing of I-196 between Ganges and Casco townships in Allegan County will be the closure of the Glenn Rest Area off the northbound highway. The closure begins at noon Wednesday and continues through October. Lane closures in the area will remain in effect through November.

Eastbound I-196 will also close one lane between Ottogan Street and Black River from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

U.S. 131 in Kent County

Southbound drivers won’t be able to exit the highway at 68th Street beginning at 9 a.m. Monday through early next week.

U.S. 23 in Livingston County

Traffic on U.S. 23 will be reduced by one lane in either direction between Grand River Avenue and I-96 starting Monday. The closures are scheduled overnight between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. and will continue through Friday.

I-475 in Genesee County

A brief closure is coming on Tuesday to I-475 in Genesee County. The work area is between Lakeview Avenue and Grand Traverse Street. Drivers should expect the left lane to be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The entrance ramps from Atherton Road will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday.

U.S. 24 in Oakland County

Starting Friday, drivers on southbound Telegraph Road (U.S. 24) should plan for double-lane overnight closures between Orchard Lake Road and Square Lake Road. Lane closures are scheduled from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. over the weekend.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trowbridge Dam boat launch and canoe/kayak portage, at the intersection of 26th Street and the Kalamazoo River in Allegan County, will be closed starting Friday, Sept. 20, as part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Kalamazoo River cleanup project.

Located within Allegan State Game Area, the boat launch will be closed until 2027 during the ongoing cleanup of the Allied Paper Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund Site.

Crews are preparing the site to be a staging area to support project construction. A second staging area is also underway on the north side of 108th Avenue, just west of 26th Street.

See PDF map of project area.

Heavy trucks delivering equipment and materials will be entering and exiting the area frequently. To ensure public safety, orange traffic signs are posted to alert motorists of slow-moving vehicles.

Hunting and fishing access along the Kalamazoo River will be limited during this time. Recreational users should plan ahead and expect to exit the river at Pine Creek and Fox Mountain/Bittersweet public access areas. After Sept. 20, the 26th Street boat launch will no longer accommodate canoe or kayak pickups.

Further information and updates on the Kalamazoo River cleanup are available on the EPA website.

An accompanying map of the area of restricted Kalamazoo River access is available below for download.

Department of Natural Resources Department of Natural Resources MI Newswire Boating Hunting Safety Wildlife Press Release Closures