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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Lease applications are being accepted at an old Grand Rapids church that was repurposed into apartments. Saint James Lutheran Church on the corner of Knapp Street and Sinclair Avenue NE, is now Cardinal Point Apartments. It and a neighboring apartment building that share a parking lot were developed by 111 Halo LLC.

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aj Veneklasen has broken ground on a new 24,000 square foot mixed-use development in the heart of downtown Hastings. Lofts@128 will feature 21, one and two-bedroom market-rate apartments as well as retail and office space accessible at street level. The development aims to serve the community's growing need for residential housing in the city center. The four-story building at 128 North Michigan Avenue will be available for residential and commercial tenants beginning mid-2022. We are proud to partner with the City of Hastings, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, R2 Design Group, and Macatawa Bank to make this project possible.

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View groundbreaking media coverage

MLive coverage

GR Business Journal

WBCH Radio

by Lynn Moore, mlive.com/Muskegon Chronicle

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – An $8.5 million mixed-use apartment complex with a restaurant is planned for an “amazing” location in downtown Whitehall.

The four-story complex is planned for the Colby Street hill at the corner of Lake Street overlooking White Lake, the city’s marina, and Goodrich Park. The 25 apartments will each have a balcony as well as a water view, said Chris Veneklasen, CEO of Veneklasen Construction and Veneklasen Development.

His two firms are working on the project that has several other investors with ties to the White Lake area, Veneklasen told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle. He has a cottage on White Lake. “Everyone has an emotional tie to the area,” Veneklasen said of the investment group. “Everyone wants to see the area prosper.”

Construction begins mid-2023

The site at 201 W. Colby Street and 115 Lake Street is the former location of the Pinheads bowling alley, which had been torn down five years before the investment group, 115 Lake St. LLC, purchased the property in 2021. “It represents a great opportunity,” Veneklasen said. “It’s an amazing spot.”Construction is expected to begin later this spring or early summer, he said. Completion is expected to take about a year.

The Whitehall Planning Commission approved the site plan last summer and the Whitehall City Council in May 2022 agreed to a commercial rehabilitation property tax abatement. But when the investment group ran into financial snags, the council agreed to rescind the tax abatement. Now that finances are back on track, the council will be asked again to approve the abatement. That abatement would direct most of the increase in property tax revenue resulting from the development back to the developers as part of the financing package.

The property currently generates about $3,000 per year in property taxes, Whitehall City Manager Scott Huebler told MLive/The Muskegon Chronicle. With the development, annual property taxes would grow to an estimated $70,000, which local taxing entities will collect once the anticipated 10-year abatement concludes, according to information provided to the council last year.

Designed with the needs of the community in mind

The city is already receiving inquiries from people interested in living in the apartments, Huebler said. The building will include covered ground-level parking for residents, space for retail and possibly offices, and a restaurant with outdoor seating and garage doors opening up the space to the outdoors, Veneklasen said.

The restaurant will face Colby and the lake. Two retail spaces, one already reserved by a “neighborhood service-oriented industry", will front Colby, Veneklasen said. The site is next to the White Lake Pathway paved trail and adjacent to a new park the city is planning to develop at Lake and Colby streets.

The market-rate apartments will be developed with professionals in mind who currently work in the Whitehall/Montague area but live in Muskegon, Veneklasen said. “We’ve done a housing needs assessment and there absolutely is a need for housing in the Whitehall/Montague area. Residential options are especially lacking in downtown Whitehall," he said.

“We’re just really excited to get it off the ground,” Veneklasen said. “That site’s been sitting vacant for a long time. There’s a lot of exciting things going on in Whitehall and we feel it’s the perfect time to bring something like this to the area.”

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Solving problems for clients sometimes means traveling with them

The Veneklasen team is customer-centric and wants to ensure a positive client experience on every project.  Not only does our organization perform work locally but we continue to grow our national footprint. Our national growth is a direct result of the trusting relationships we’ve developed with our clients that often take us to new areas of the country to serve them.

After a successful project, clients often prefer to engage the same team and approach in a different market to minimize the stress and challenge of starting over with a new contractor. There is shared knowledge around expectations that streamlines the process. Our consistent delivery paired with our experienced team also translates into successfully developing new clients in new markets.

According to Veneklasen Project Manager, Lynn Bolek, the frustrations that come with breaking in a new contractor in an unfamiliar market can be many. “We strive to understand our client’s business and project goals from the start. I’ve had clients who struggled to work with a new contractor after working with our team. When they come back to us after a difficult project, it’s a real boost to our team to know the client recognizes our approach as best in class.”

Project Manager Lynn Bolek keeps the client, the remote crew, and the Michigan team connected.

Veneklasen Construction works with a local sub-contractor in Indianapolis

Veneklasen's project team's top priority is earning the trust of local sub-contractors

We take the out-of-state question very seriously

We recently asked customers if there’s anything we should be doing to serve them better. The paraphrased reply from many was “I wish I could use Veneklasen as my contractor across the US.” After much thought, we’ve concluded that we will travel to support strategic customers if two details are in sync:

1. We are familiar with and respectful of each other’s processes and operations.
2. The client’s growth geography and project timeline are aligned with Veneklasen’s capabilities and resources.

Before we say yes to an out-of-state project that fits these criteria, we also consider the impact on our team and make sure the opportunity aligns with our goals and mission. Chris Veneklasen, CEO says “If we’re going to ask our team to travel for a client, we want it to be a great match with no surprises for either party. We want everyone to be all-in on the decision so we can effectively deal with the inherent complexity and do a great job.”

Building relationships and trust across the US

It’s a fact that Veneklasen’s people and culture are responsible for our success at home in Michigan and beyond. Our dedicated team members have been building commercial facilities and the company’s reputation in remote markets from Indianapolis to the Poconos Mountains and beyond. At the heart of a Veneklasen travel team are two professionals:

• A thoughtful project manager who partners closely with clients to proactively build an effective construction plan.
• An experienced and confident superintendent who has embraced the unique experience of leading a remote project.

It takes experienced individuals with a sense of adventure and an unfailing dedication to the client to make these remote assignments work. Lynn Bolek, Veneklasen Construction Project Manager recalls “I listen a lot and learn a lot when I work on a remote project. New projects go smoothly when you leverage what you learned on a previous project. There’s no substitute for first-hand experience especially when we’re working across state lines.” Jesse Fuerch, Veneklasen Superintendent says “remote work isn’t for everyone, but I’ve been on the road for nearly three years and I love it. After spending most of my career working in West Michigan, I was reluctant to travel at first, but it’s been the best decision of my career. I’ve learned so much because of the challenges and have become much better at my job. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to work with so many new people and serve important customers.”

Building bridges comes first

From their temporary home base, the travel team researches and hires local subcontractors and skillfully manages these relationships throughout the project while also facilitating regular progress meetings with the full project team. Superintendent Fuerch says “you can’t underestimate the importance of building relationships with sub-contractors when you arrive in a new market. That’s job number one for me. I work very hard to get to know my sub-contractors and invest in developing trusting relationships. Building those bridges is the key to a successful project.”

When we relocate an experienced superintendent like Jesse to a remote jobsite, not only do they have the full support of the team, but we are mindful of their personal situations when away from home. Fuerch says these supportive and family-friendly policies make a big difference. He acknowledges that it can be hard to feel super confident when faced with the vulnerability of being alone in a new market, but Veneklasen policies give him the footing he needs to do great work. “I feel very supported by our executives. They really do want us to be happy and fulfilled and that means a comfortable place to stay – and knowing that I can be home on weekends if I choose.” As evidenced by 35,000 flight miles and 70,000 miles on his truck since 2020, Fuerch does connect with colleagues and friends at home in Michigan regularly, but the customer and the needs of his sub-contractor partners are his priority. “If my subs are working on a Saturday because our timeline demands it, I’m there to lead and support them.”

5 secrets to remote project success

In the commercial construction business, every project is unique and complex wherever it’s located. We embrace five traits that mitigate the inevitable challenges of out-of-state projects and allow us to partner effectively in any region.

• Innovation – Embracing technology that helps bridge the distance, allowing customers to feel like they’re onsite with our team is imperative. On-site cameras and software such as Procore and Holo-builder deliver real-time 2D and 3D virtual images to laptops, HQ conference rooms, and video calls.
• Design-Build process – The biggest key to success is a tried and proven process of communication and collaboration. We call ours the Vene-Built^SM process, that brings everyone together around a solid design, then sets the stage for the full construction process.
• Transparency – A culture where people are empowered to discuss problems and make changes immediately results in a project where there are no surprises. Commenting on the inevitable need to adjust construction plans, Bolek says “When an issue arises, the customer knows when we know. We own mistakes because we know we’re not perfect and our projects are complex. We do the right thing and operating with 100% transparency is the best answer in any situation.”
• Leadership – Integrated leadership where people know their roles and how to support each other is critical. The project manager is the liaison with the client and the quarterback for the entire project. The on-site superintendent builds a unified team and manages day-to-day activities. Veneklasen executives support and guide these project leaders and never get in their way.
• Trust – When 1 through 4 are combined with a complementary customer mindset, the result is mutual trust – that elusive state where forward progress and achievement of goals is assured.

In the end, it’s all about facilitating our customer’s success

Team Veneklasen’s dedication to the commercial construction needs of our clients is fueled by our respect for their business needs and growth goals. Our purpose is linked with their purpose. Our first project together may have been on a jobsite in Michigan, but when their business demands a new space in another state, we’ve created a strong process that includes solid experience, a proven plan, and the people who can deliver.

The Hastings Banner

Grand Rapids Business Journal

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A local supplier of wholesale cell phone replacement parts has been acquired by a Virginia-based company in the same industry.

Grand Rapids-based Mobile Defenders last month said it joined with MobileSentrix, a move which combines the knowledge and expertise of two leading mobile replacement part suppliers, according to Mobile Defenders.

Jordan Notenbaum, co-founder and CEO of Mobile Defenders, said the company had been considering an exit strategy and decided to pitch the idea to MobileSentrix.

“We’ve been in the phone repair business since 2011, and we were talking about a change,” Notenbaum said. “I thought the best possible solution, or buyer, would be our biggest competitor, which was MobileSentrix.”

Notenbaum flew to Virginia earlier this year, and the two companies worked out a transaction. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Now, the combined buying power of both companies will be leveraged to drive down prices, improve quality and contribute to a better customer experience. Mobile Defenders’ manufacturer relationships and offerings will be a key addition to MobileSentrix.

“It’s a win for our customers,” Notenbaum said.

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Chris Veneklasen recently spoke with Metal Construction News about the impact of the pandemic on our business and the new lessons we've learned. While this was an incredibly challenging time for our company, industry, and community, we successfully adapted and found new ways of serving our customers and team members that have become an ongoing part of our operation.   

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Excerpts from Metal Construction News. Article by Mark Robbins

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused global disruption to companies and livelihoods, creating upheaval for businesses and employees. It spread throughout the world at an unprecedented speed. While the COVID-19 crisis turned the working world upside-down, employers demonstrated remarkable resilience. As businesses re-enter the market and vaccinations increase, we look at how construction companies adapted, what they learned, and what policies and procedures they’ll take with them into the future.

Pandemic Adaptation

How did companies adapt to the unprecedented changes that COVID-19 brought? Grand Rapids, Mich.-based a.j. Veneklasen Inc. adapted rapidly to the changing guidelines and policies set forth by the state of Michigan and the federal government. Its president, Chris Veneklasen, says, “Our executive team met daily and many times hourly to assess risks and keep open communication with our entire AJV team, clients, and trade partners. This communication allowed us to also confirm our team members were following proper protocols and performing their jobs in a safe manner.”

Lessons Learned

A common lesson learned from the impact of the pandemic on construction is how to best implement and use remote communication. “Our best lesson though COVID was to communicate quickly, honestly, and often,” Veneklasen says. “Many members of our team expressed appreciation for our ramped-up communication efforts. Moving forward, video communication is by far our most notable efficiency improvement. While we strongly value face-to-face engagement with our team members and our clients, the rapid adoption and acceptance of video communication has made quick, informal meetings much easier to schedule and execute.”

Aftermath and the New Normal

Remote work and video communication are the most prevalent changes enacted within a.j. Veneklasen’s organization. “They clearly go together which has proven to have great benefits,” Veneklasen says. “Video has also proven to be a great asset for our field communications since it saves time traveling to a single location and allows us to dive deeper into topics through screen sharing beyond just a bulleted PowerPoint. Through the use of Microsoft Teams, we were also able to quickly organize a face-to-face conversation or group chat that would have normally taken hours or days to coordinate.” Is Veneklasen going to keep allowing employees to work from home? Our culture is everything to us and face-to-face interaction and relationships are extremely important to our brand,” Veneklasen says. “Like most everyone, we were forced to very quickly learn how to work remotely which challenged our cultural ideals. Ultimately, we are happy to be back in our office environment, but we did see the benefits of remote work. It provides opportunities for increased work efficiency, the ability to work around scheduling conflicts, and further work-life balance. With these and other benefits in mind, we have woven remote work options into the fabric of our company, which is yielding good results for our team.”    

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