$32M apartment project rebrands

$32M apartment project rebrands

Courtesy Dan Harmsen

A 19-story historic landmark in the region has been renamed to honor a city's history.

Redevelopment of the previously condemned Heritage Tower in downtown Battle Creek, at 25 W. Michigan Ave., is nearly complete. The building will feature a mix of apartments, office space and retail, and the tower has been rebranded as The Milton to signify its revitalization.

The Milton’s lead developer, Mark Harmsen, said the name was inspired by the city’s history. Battle Creek was first known as the Village of Milton in the 1830s, a growing community established around a flour, grain and saw mill center for local farmers.

By the end of the 19th century, local industries were distributing products across the country and some even globally, Harmsen said.

The building will be home to 85 apartments, in a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and micro-units, as well as 32,000 square feet of retail and office space on the first and second floors.

The tower was built in 1930 to house the Old Merchants National Bank and Trust Company. The building stood empty and condemned until Harmsen took over about two years ago, according to a previous Business Journal report.

After Harmsen acquired the building, the redevelopment team had to remove years of mold, asbestos and leaking roofs to restore the structure, before beginning renovations last fall.

Integrated Architecture is the lead project's architect, along with historic architect Randy Case.

The Christman Company is the general contractor on the $32 million project.