In a somewhat surprising turn of events, a well-known strip club in downtown Grand Rapids has been sold to a real estate developer who wants to redevelop the property as an upscale condominium development, office building, or even a mixed-purpose development. The building, which was once host to The Lady Godiva's Showgirls, will no longer feature a sex toy shop and a club and bar with bikini-clad waitstaff, as it has for many years.

The property was sold on June 30^th to Maplegrove Property Management, a company which already owns properties in the downtown area, including The Heritage Collection, Hopson Flats, and 38 Commerce. As a point of comparison, 38 Commerce is a mixed-purpose building with retail rental spaces available on the street level, office space throughout part of the building, and apartmants and penthouse apartments throughout the rest of the building. In total, there are 35 apartments, all of which are LEED certified. The features that aided in 38 Commerce receiving that certification include a green roof, low-VOC/no-VOC paints and finishes in the units, low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets, Energy Star rated appliances and furnaces, excellent insulation in the building itself, and built-in recycling and trash chutes, helping tenants to minimize environmental impact and waste.

As the building that previously held Lady Godiva's Showgirls is developed, it is likely the management company will continue using green building techniques to create unique, upscale condos with minimal footprint a walking distance from everything that Grand Rapids has to offer downtown. There is also talk of another mixed-purpose building, much like 38 Commerce.

As for the original business, Lady Godiva's has contributed to the Grand Rapids downtown scene, though often in unintended or even negative ways. The venue seemed a magnet for controversy while it was operational, and it regularly made the local news. For example, in 2011, the club was accused by Broadcast Music, Inc of illegaly playing songs at the club, including songs by Amy Winehouse, R. Kelly, and Rivers Cuomo without appropriate permissions or royalties. Broadcast Music, Inc brought a lawsuit, citing “great and incalculable damage.”

That lawsuit was the result of the owner's refusal to pay the higher rate of royalty/useage fees, despite the performers inability to dance topless, following a 2006 local regulation that banned topless performances. Records show that royalty payments were made, but rejected and requested at the higher, adult performance rate.

Of course, the music usage scandal pales in comparison to the on-site shooting that occurred on New Years Day in 2009. A patron, Howard Harris, from Belding, was shot six times after bumping into another patron at the club. Chucky Jackson, the shooter, was eventually shot and killed by two State Troopers. It started as a basic brawl until Jackson drew his gun, shooting Harris and club manager Michael Gritzmaker before being fatally shot by law enforcement himself.

Those who felt that the strip club was a blight on Grand Rapids' downtown can now breathe a sigh of relief; the club was closed last Tuesday once the sale was finalized. Those who can't imagine working or living in a space that used to be home to numerous exotic dancers have no need to fret; the existing building is being torn down, possibly as soon as this fall, with new construction to follow.

Today is the Fourth of July, and there are celebrations planned all across West Michigan for those interested in marking the holiday celebrating American independence from British rule by doing something special or social. Here's a brief list of some of the local celebrations for those of you deciding what they want to do to celebrate today!

The largest display of fireworks and gathering of locals will likely take place in downtown Grand Rapids, where the fireworks display has in the past drawn crowds of up to 150,000 people. The free fireworks themselves will start at 10:30 pm, visible from most of downtown and Ah-Nab-Awen park, which will also host free family-friendly activities earlier in the day, including live music beginning at 5:30 pm.

Nearby, East Grand Rapids will also be hosting a day full of activities culminating in a free fireworks display over Reeds Lake at 10:15 pm tonight. The city-wide celebration begins with a parade at noon today, followed by a free family-friendly party at John Collins Park on Reeds Lake. There will be music, inflatables, games, airbrush tattoos, and plenty more to keep people of all ages entertained and festive throughout the day.

South of town, Kentwood will also be holding celebrations as well. There was a parade held this morning, along with a 5K race and fun walk. Later tonight, there will be free fireworks which will begin at dusk, and there will also be carnival rides (which are not free), live music, giant inflatables, and plenty of other chances for fun.

The Grandville community will also be hosting a celebration today. It began bright and early with a pancake breakfast and parade. There is also a penny carnival, the Ducky Dash, and activities for kids throughout the day. Their fireworks display will also begin at dusk and will be located at the Grandville Middle School.

In Marne, the Berlin Raceway will be hosting the 3^rd annual Lee Anderson Memorial with fireworks. Entrance is free to seniors over 65 and military veterans, and they will also receive $1 hot dogs and draft beers. For everyone else, admission for adults is $12 and kids are $5. The races begin at 6:30, followed by a fireworks show once the races are finished for the evening.

In Grand Haven, there will be a fireworks display at the musical fountain. The fireworks display will actually incorporate the musical fountain, so ideal seating can be located at the Waterfront Stadium, though other excellent vantage points can be found nearby as well. The show starts at 10 pm and runs for an hour.

Finally, there's a Whitecaps home game at the Fifth Third ballpark. The West Michigan Whitecaps will be squaring off against the Great Lakes Loons at 7 pm, with fireworks at the ballpark to follow the game itself.

Happy Fourth of July from Pyxis Realty to all of our readers and clients! May the sun shine warm your day, may your grills never be empty, and may the weather hold for your enjoyment of the fireworks tonight!

Residents of West Michigan have long been exposed to the name Ramblewood Apartments, as the management company regularly advertises the apartment complex on local radio stations. Now, however, that may be changing, as the ownership of the Wyoming-based Ramblewood Apartments has changed hands in a nine figure real estate sale. The purchaser is a real estate investment group based out of Georgia, and they plan to upgrade the facilities at Ramblewood Apartments, which they purchased for $100.4 million. 

Located at 4277 Stonebridge Dr. SW., near the intersection of 44^th Street and Bryon Center Avenue close to Rivertown Mall in Grandville, the Ramblewood Apartments include roughly 1,710 units. Construction and development of the complex began back in the 1970s, 1971 to be exact, and continued through another twelve years, with construction completed in 1983. While Google reviews indicate a tenant-approval rating of slightly below three stars, it is exciting for current tenants to think about what kinds of investments and renovations are int he future for one of the largest apartment complexes in West Michigan.

Apartments range from cozy studio units to three bedroom apartments, with plenty of one and two bedroom units as well. As far as amenities, Ramblewood offers all kinds of perks to its tenants (which will incur ongoing upkeep expenses for the new management but will also draw new tenants and help keep the current ones in place). The amenities include a rentable community center that all tenants have access to, both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ensuring tenants can swim year-round, a resident-only health club, basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts, and a fully-stocked playground for the little ones residing in this large, sprawling complex.

The grounds are one of the primary selling points for potential tenants; Ramblewood Apartments boast amazing curb appeal, with manicured lawns and well-maintained acreage around the buildings themselves. All in all, most consultants and professionals view the sizable Ramblewood Apartments as an excellent investment for a company intending to maintain and improve upon the legacy of excellent rental housing set by this apartment complex.

The staff at Berkadia Detroit negotiated both the financing and the sale itself, with involved staff members including Rick Vidrio, managing director; Walstrom and Rick Brace, senior director; and Jason Krug, office director according to the Grand Rapids Business Journal. The financing was obtained through Fannie Mae via the efforts of additional staff at Berkadia Detroit, including Pete Benedetto, senior managing director; David Sibbold, managing director; and Jillian Maki, AVP.

The $100.4 million price tag surely put off plenty of would-be investors, but those with an eye for a bargain and knowledge about local real estate and rentals can definitely see the potential for major financial gain in owning and operating a well-known and respected apartment complex.

While Pyxis Realty doesn't specialize in commercial real estate, we do have staff who are able to help you sell or buy all kinds of real estate in Michigan. If you need to list a home or if you are in the market for a home purchase or an investment purchase, you should contact one of our highly professional team members to get the process started and see how easy real estate transactions can be!

In case you missed it over the weekend, many of the social media pages of Michiganders are showing off an article by Thrillist.com boasting that Michigan was recently ranked as the #1 state by the less-than transparent process used by the author of the article. While the site usually focuses on more topical articles about food and other goodies or travel, this list is more of a “best overall.” Many Michigan-born people and transplants to our lovely state have been sharing this article around, and with good reason.

Michigan is often viewed by outsiders as the state with Detroit. However, there is much more to the Mitten State, including a currently booming real estate market that still has very reasonable prices, especially when compared with the cost of real estate in big cities on either coast. From large, newly constructed homes to beachfront properties and even vacant land, Michigan offers a perfect mix of affordability and beauty. Also, of course, we have a thriving restaurant industry and more local beer breweries than you can tour in a weekend.

For those who are interested in reading the article at Thrillist ranking Michigan as the best states, the original article can be read here. We always appreciate when our beautiful state gets some positive press, so here's a list of the top three reasons why Michigan should be the place you buy your next home.

3. There is water and beachfront property everywhere. In addition to the beautiful, ocean-like Great Lakes, Michigan boasts roughly 11,000 inland lakes. Statistically, that means that Michigan residents are never more than 6 miles from a lake, according to the Michigan Historical Society. That means that in the summer, it's pretty easy to pack up the kids and hit the beach, even if you don't feel like driving all the way to one of the “big” lakes.

2. We get all four seasons, even if our winter is cold. Many Michiganders really relish the cold, bracing winds and deep, beautiful snows of a Michigan winter. Here on the west side of the state, that is compounded by the lovely lake affect snow storms that roll in off of Lake Michigan. Fall in Michigan is arguably more beautiful than fall in many other places, as our plethora of trees put on a gorgeous color display.

1. You get more bang for your buck. Chicago is the closest out-of-state metropolis, and prices for housing there are astronomical when compared with prices in Grand Rapids and other cities in Michigan. A mortgage goes a lot farther here in the Great Lakes state, and there is a massive market of second homes/summer homes, and cabins as well. Those with a passion for hunting or camping can easily find a small, unimproved parcel bordering on one of the state's sprawling forests to pursue their preferred leisure activity.

Being a Michigan-based company, of course there's some inherent bias to our reception of Michigan's #1 slot in Thrillist's rankings, but we're of the opinion that that position was earned. Despite minor issues, our state is a beautiful one, full of opportunities. There's every reason in the world to buy a home here in West Michigan, and Pyxis Realty would love to help you find that perfect property.

Founder's Brewery has become a mainstay of the downtown Grand Rapids bar scene. The success of Founder's since its creation in 1997, has resulted in massive investments by the company in the local community, not the least of which was the recent announcement of a planned $40 million expansion of their downtown brewing facility. Their cleverly-named and delicious brews are popular with many local beer aficionados and are also available for sale in many other states as well. Their success has been an inspiration to many other local breweries, which have been popping up all over with increasing frequency in the last few years.

Now the President and CEO of Founder's Brewing Company, Mike Stevens, is making headlines again, this time in the real estate world.  The custom mansion he has built, with a total price tag of roughly $1.2 million (not including the $650,000 lot the home was constructed on), has been awarded the 2015 Home of the Year award by Cosmopolitan Home magazine and garnered plenty of local attention, despite not being on the new home tour circuit this year.

Cosmopolitan Home is a West Michigan-based publication, and 2015 marks the 25th year that a newly constructed home has been awarded the Home of the Year award by the publication. The home features plenty of perks and amenities, including a steam bath in the master suite and a television viewable from the bathtub, which conveniently tucks away in well-designed cabinets when not in use.

What does a $1.2 million house in West Michigan look like? It's a sprawling home with nearly 8,000 square feet of living space, with five bedrooms and six bathrooms. Designed by Visbeen Architects and built by J. Peterson Homes, this massive and unique home with every conceivable amenity is located at 2030 San Lu Rae Drive Southeast in East Grand Rapids. Cosmopolitan Home stated in their write-up of the home that the “Baron Room” was one of the stand-out features of this mansion.

If you're wondering what a Baron Room is, it appears to be a massive, well-stocked entertaining space. It includes a full bistro and wet bar, along with a large fireplace, library, and a Tasting Room full of comfortable, overstuffed chairs. In other parts of the home, there are ties to West Michigan history, including a lamp from the old Pantlind Hotel in the secondary entrance and a John Widdicomb table in the living room that was one of the last produced.

This luxury home is an expert combination of the newest technology paired with an intentional historic feel, made to fit in perfectly in the upscale East Grand Rapids neighborhood. An older house was demolished to make way for this new construction, and the new mansion that sits on the lot will surely help contribute to local property values. While the home is, again, not being listed on any real estate tours this year, readers can look at the interior of the home in the feature article in Cosmopolitan Home, which is available for free online by clicking here.

Summer is here and in full swing, and that means cook-outs, hitting the beach with family and friends, fireworks, and generally just getting out and enjoying the fresh Michigan air. There's nothing quite like a quiet summer morning by the lake or a late night out with the kids, watching lightning bugs find their soul mates after cooking homemade s'mores and pie iron pizzas over a campfire.

Instead of renting your little slice of heaven, this year may be the time to finally take the plunge and purchase your own getaway. Here are five reasons why buying your own cabin or vacation home is a good idea.

5. Real estate is always a good investment. If you have the flexibility in your schedule to finance another property, investing in a second home is a great way to diversify how you hold your assets, and the sky is the limit as far as how much you can improve the property and increase the value of your holdings.

4. No time share scheduling and no calling or emailing for reservations. There's that gut-sinking moment when you realize it's only two week until the 4^th of July and that no one has made reservations for the cabin you rent every year. If you own the cabin in question, you never have to worry about a rate increase, damages caused by other tenants, or not being able to secure the property when you'd like to visit it

3. It can provide rental income as well. If your family is using the cabin only a few weeks every year, you will have the option, provided it meets certain standards, of renting the property out. These days, with free websites like Craigslist and service sites like AirBnB, it is very easy to advertise rental properties without investing a lot of money.

2. You can customize the space to ensure it fits your esthetics. Maybe you hate the country/cabin decorating scheme found in many rental cottages. Maybe you refuse to cook on an electric range. Or you can't find a rental cabin that allows you bring three big dogs and your son's pet snake. Or maybe you can't imagine relaxing in the woods without a hot tub out under the night sky to soak in. Whatever your personal preferences, when you own your own little getaway, you can make sure it fits your requirements without losing a security deposit.

1. You'll always have some place to escape to when life gets hectic. No reservations required; you can always just hop in your car, pack up the kids and dog, and head out somewhere quiet to get away from it all. Nothing says relaxation like having the ability to enjoy the fresh outdoor air without any planning or stress involved.

If you are considering purchasing a cabin, summer home, or other investment property, Pyxis Realty is here to help! Michigan has some amazing locations to choose from when considering a second home, cabin, or summer home. Whether you're looking for a place right on the water somewhere or a quaint place tucked far back in the woods, there's a place to suit every need in our state. Contact our office today to get started on the search process for the perfect summer getaway!

Well House is a locally-owned non-profit organization whose focus is on helping the indigent and homeless in the city of Grand Rapids. Their primary form of outreach is placing homeless residents of the city in permanent, shared housing. Those who qualify for their services can rent a single room in one of the organization's facilities for $275 per month.

Earlier this week, it was announced that the Michigan-based W.K. Kellogg Foundation approved a grant worth nearly half a million dollars to Well House. In total, Well House will receive $475,000 over the course of three years. Those funds will have a major impact on the ability of Well House to continue to serve those it is already helping and to expand, offering new housing to those currently in need.

Executive director Tami VandenBerg was quoted by The Grand Rapids Press as saying that these funds, the largest single grant the organization has ever received, will allow Well House to purchase three more homes in the Grand Rapids area. Well House currently owns and maintains nine houses and five urban unimproved lots. Two of the new acquisitions will be used to help house families. Rent for families will range from $375 to $475, depending on the number of minor children in the families being considered.

The third new house will be used as a home for young people who are homeless. It will offer shelter to those ages 18 to 24 who are in need of housing, perhaps due to becoming homeless when they age out of the foster care system. Additional funds will be used to obtain new lots as well, which will be used for the same purposes as the lots already owned by Well House: as an urban farm. Tenants in the Well House homes are encouraged to garden and grow their own organic food. There are plans to create a Children's Garden, which will be focused on encouraging young people to become passionate about gardening and growing their own food. For the last three years, Well House has raised funds for their program by selling heirloom seedlings in the spring as well, allowing residents who grow the plants a chance to help support the organization that is helping them.

Homelessness is often cyclical, a never-ending cycle of loss and suffering for those trapped in poverty or by their disabilities. Well House is working to interrupt that cycle and help its residents make long-term lifestyle changes that will result in healthier living and a stronger local community. Additionally, the purchase, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the homes and vacant lots that Well House obtains via the Kent County Land Bank helps increase the value of nearby homes, which would be negatively impacted by unmaintained, abandoned properties, including houses and unimproved lots.

Well House hopes to have a total of 14 properties available for occupancy by 2018, with the help of this grant. In addition to providing low-cost housing and healthy foods, Well House also provides income to part-time contractors who will be helping to rehabilitate properties purchased by Well House. When it comes to helping keep the real estate market of West Michigan one of the strongest in the state, this kind of outreach and community service goes a very long way. Readers who would like to get updates about the outreach done by Well House can follow the group on Facebook.

Although area residents were long under the impression that the unusual building in Gaines township was in the process of being sold to a proposed school, that contract fell through unexpectedly last month. Just as unexpected was the sudden offer of a Nevada-based firm to purchase the long-vacant pyramid that was once the Steelcase Corporate Development Center and the quick closing on May 29^th.

The purchasing company, Norman Pyramid LLC, closed on the massive building in a secretive agreement with Steelcase, with the amount of the sale price remaining undisclosed. Their acquisition is one of the most expensive and iconic buildings in West Michigan. When the Pyramid, whose address is 6100 East Paris Avenue Southeast, was originally built in the late eighties, the cost of construction was $111 million dollars.

That original price tag included a team of architects, builders, designers, and even psychologists working to oversee the design and construction of the facility, as well as an inspection by Egyptian engineers. The final building is a massive, memorable fixture on the south side of town. At one time, it was a research and development facility, but as Steelcase downsized last decade, the staff from the pyramid were eventually moved to the Steelcase headquarters.

Once it was abandoned and put up for sale, the asking price was a healthy $19.5 million for the facility. As the years dragged on, however, Steelcase flirted with donating the facility to an organization and entertained price offers as low as $3 million. The facility housed sound proof rooms for noise testing, numerous laboratories, exercise and locker rooms, a data center, a photo studio, a gigantic pendulum extending down through the center of the building, ending in an enormous water feature, and even a full cafeteria. Given the size and layout, the pyramid was not necessarily an optimal location for a typical office environment.

Because of the labs and working environments, an organization interested in running a school in the massive facility, settled on a n125-acre lot, stepped forward, even coming close to receiving funding from the state of Michigan to help with the creation of the school in 2014.  However, only a little over a month ago, hopes that a sale to The Pyramid Campus would result in the building being repurposed as an educational facility were dashed, and talks began with a new buyer.

The recent purchase has been referred to as a “cash purchase,” meaning it is possible the price was less than $3 million, despite inferences made by the Pyramid Campus. Whatever the price, Norman Properties appears confident that this transaction will be financially beneficial for their company. Renovations and changes to the facility will likely be taking place in the near future; Norman Properties owns another building in Portage that they invested $7.5 million in renovating. That building, however, is being rented to a number of tenants. They are, at this time, hoping to locate a single tenant interested in the space. According to a statement by their representative, they hope to renovate and sell the property in the next few years.

There are several events scheduled by the Grand Rapids Public Library system today that are sure to interest readers. Throughout the summer (and the rest of the year), the Grand Rapids Public Library system and the Kent District Library System both host amazing informational sessions and social events, some of which are literary-related, others of which are just educational and entertaining.

Tonight, for example, at the Blanford Nature Center, the Grand Rapids Public Library system will be hosting Ghost Stories for Adults, a guided walk through the nighttime woods at the nature preserve. Everyone knows that one of the best ways to beat the late spring heat is to induce a major case of the goosebumps, and this little adults-only campfire could be the perfect opportunity to do so. Sadly, registration for this free event is currently closed; all available spots have already been RSVPed, but those who scored a spot around the campfire are sure to enjoy the spooky stories being shared by John Steven Crowley, Gloria Cangelosi and Bob Sadowski

If scary isn't your thing (or you didn't know about Ghost Stories for Adults in time to register), you're in luck! There's also an amazing Cartoonists of Grand Rapids Exhibit taking place beginning today and running through Saturday, August 15^th. This free exhibit will be housed at the main branch of the Grand Rapids Library, which is located downtown at 111 Library St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The exhibit contains artwork pulled from the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department, and includes artwork by and biographies of Kreigh Collins, Ray Barnes, Jaro Hess, Gertrude Van Houten, and Orville Bulman. Works available for purusal will include Ray Barnes' Razzin' the Rapids and Kreigh Collins' Do You Know Michigan, among others.

Not all the events are aimed at entertainment. Later in the week, on Thursday the 18^th, there will be an event at 7 pm at the main lilbrary titled “Transgender: Defined and Updated.” This event has been scheduled for months, but is more culturally relevant than ever given the fallout in mainstream and social media following the release of Caitlyn Jenner's post-transition photo shoot. Those who are confused about the term “transgender” or what all of this has to do with civil rights will likely find the lecture by Dr. Julie Nemecek, enlightening. She will talk about what the term means, what the medical consensus is regarding the cause of and optimal treatment for, transgender people. There will be a question and answer session following the lecture, allowing for those with questions to pose them directly to an expert.

These are just three of the numerous free programs this one week; more events are scheduled throughout the summer. Other events by the library this week include a free play featuring handmade puppets on Tuesday morning, entitled Greg Lester’s Puppet Adventures: Jack and the Beanstalk and Everyday Hero Multicultural Stories & Music on Wednesday afternoon, which features not only storytelling but also musical instruments. For more inforamtion on the excellent educational, free programs offered by the Grand Rapids Public Library, visit their website here!

This Saturday and Sunday, June 13^th and 14^th will see the 23^rd Annual B-93 Birthday Bash here in West Michigan. If you are new to the area (or not a fan of country music), you might not be aware of this massive festival, but most everyone who lives in the area is familiar with this major music festival.

The B-93 Birthday Bash is a massive outdoor concert series, held over one intense weekend. This year's line-up is pretty extensive. Featured acts who will performing at this event include Jake Owen. Kip Moore, Maddie and Tae, Granger Smith/Earl Dibbles Jr., and Jackie Lee. On Sunday, the musical acts scheduled include Mongomery Gentry, Frankie Ballard, Sam Hunt, Raelyn, and Cadillac Three. Some of these acts, such as Montgomery Gentry, have performed at previous Birthday Bash events. More information about the scheduled acts is available by clicking here.

This festival is put on every year by a West Michigan Country radio station, whose call numbers are 93.7 as a celebration of its continued existence (the “birthday” of its first day on air). The B-93 Birthday Bash will be held at the US 131 Motorsports Park, which is located at 1249 12th St, Martin, MI 49070. Attendees should be advised that no outside food or alcohol is allowed to be brought into the event. This is strictly enforced; those found with outside alcohol will be asked to dispose of it or leave the event.

Tickets are available today, June 12^th, at area Art Van stores. Tickets will be available at the Holland Art Van location from 11 am until 1 pm, and at the Comstock Park Art Van store from 4 pm to 6 pm. The Art Van locations in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Muskegon, and Lansing will also have limited supplies of tickets available. Those who would prefer to purchase a ticket can still do so online (tickets can not be purchased at the door of the event. They are $39 each, and can be purchased by clicking here.

Please note, however, that in order to gain entry, those attending the event must also have a parking pass, which is $60 and not available for online purchase. Like the tickets, the parking passes must be purchased in advance. They are available today at the ticket drop locations (the Art Van stores listed above), and are not available for purchase online.

Children ages twelve and under do not need a ticket for admission; their entry to the event is free! The US 131 Motorsports Park will open for attendees at 8:00 am each day, with gates into the performance areas opening at 10:00 am and the musical acts scheduled to begin at roughly noon both days. The concert line-ups will run all day, until roughly 8 pm. Please note that there is no overnight camping allowed; all attendees must exit the performance areas after the concert conclude.

If you are looking for something entertaining to do this weekend, and you enjoy country music, then the B-93 Birthday Bash may be right up your alley! Make a point of stopping by an area Art Van store this afternoon to obtain tickets at a ticket drop and purchase your parking pass. This all ages event will go on, regardless of rain.