Over 500 housing units planned for Shaw-Walker factory in Muskegon

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — The former Shaw-Walker Furniture Company building in Muskegon may soon have new life as plans to redevelop the property take steps forward.

If you’ve traveled along West Western Avenue near the intersection of Division Street in Muskegon, the old Shaw-Walker factory may have caught your attention.

“It’s a 730,000-square-foot eyesore that’s been blighted since 1989, almost 40 years ago,” said Jon Rooks, president of Parkland Properties of Michigan.

Since the factory’s closure, portions of the property were turned into condos, a conference and events center and a coffee shop, but a large part of it remained in rough condition.

In 2022, Parkland Properties of Michigan purchased the site, with plans to turn it into 432 apartments for the workforce housing market, 69 luxury condos, 37 townhomes, and eight retail spaces across from Muskegon Lake.

“This is a transformational project for the community, not only, but for the entire West Michigan area,” Rooks said.

Rooks said amenities will range from a rooftop pool to a restaurant to a daycare center.

Earlier this month, the project received approval from the Muskegon Planning Commission. The city’s planning director, Mike Franzak, said it would help address housing needs in the area.

“We did a housing need assessment last year and it showed we need over 3,000 residential units over the next five years to keep up with market demand,” Franzak said.

As the plan headed to the Muskegon City Commission for review on Tuesday, Franzak said it would be historic for Muskegon.

“This is one of the largest developments in Muskegon’s history and it’s something we desperately need,” Franzak said.

Developers say preliminary studies show the redevelopment would have a $15.3 million economic impact in its first year, a number that’s expected to grow over time.

“The 50-year aggregate economic impact is projected to be $1.5 billion,” Rooks said. “So it’s a big, big impact, bigger than any project we’ve ever done.”

If Parkland Properties receives all approvals, they hope to begin construction by the end of the year.

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