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For Immediate Release: April 20, 2005
Media Contact: Ron Barger
Phone: (269) 687-9128
Email: ron@classicpressroom.com

Feature Release

FOUNTAIN SQUARE DEVELOPMENT APPROVED BY NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION

Gierczyk Development to Enhance Downtown New Buffalo with 14 Retail Spaces and 62 Residential Condo Units


NEW BUFFALO, Mich. – The New Buffalo Planning Commission has approved Gierczyk Development’s design and engineering plans for the new Fountain Square Development. This development will encompass an entire city-block of downtown New Buffalo, and will combine 14 retail spaces with 62 residential condominium units to provide a thriving retail center and round-the-clock habitat anchor for downtown New Buffalo. The New Buffalo Planning Commission approved the plan at a special session on April 20, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall in New Buffalo.

“Fountain Square embraces the historical significance and character of New Buffalo’s downtown,” Gary Gillings, project manager for Gierczyk, said. “Without this retail center, many businesses may decide to relocate to the nearby expressway. With more than 20,000 square feet of retail space, this development will help anchor the existing downtown retail economy functioning as a catalyst and augmenting the existing merchants within the central core and keeping business thriving in the downtown area. It will draw everyone – businesses, residents, and tourists – to the heart of New Buffalo.”

Unique Design Adds to Fountain Square’s Quaint, Lakeside Appeal
According to the approved plans, the development will stand on the block bordered by Whittaker, Thompson, Mechanic and Merchant Streets in the center of downtown New Buffalo. All of the proposed buildings, except for those on Thompson Street, will have
retail spaces on the ground floor. The fourth building will contain a private indoor pool and fitness center accessible to all of Fountain Square’s condo residents. A pedestrian focused plaza will also lie at the center of the block lined by retail space and common areas to attract shoppers, and allow visitors and residents a sitting area around the fountain.

The 62 residential units will be built with an indoor hall corridor concept. Condominium owners will have the choice of courtyard or street front views with open balconies on all units.

“The indoor corridor concept offers both convenience and safety to our owners,” architect Charles Smith of Aretè 3 ltd. explained. “Being indoors in a controlled environment protects residents from the harsh Michigan winter as well as providing double keyed security to the entrance of their units.”

Underground Parking Easily Accessible, Aesthetically Pleasing
Fountain Square boasts an underground parking garage with 124 stalls –providing roughly two stalls for each residential unit. Elevators make accessing the underground parking from the main units easy. The structure’s design takes advantage of the existing grade change and will not disrupt the character an charm of strolling down Whitaker Street.

“The sloped, geographical layout of the property made underground structures perfect for this development,” Architect Smith explained. “The ground falls more than 12 feet from Merchant Street to Mechanic Street. The garage therefore never protrudes more than 5 feet out of the ground. This makes it aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.”

Project Manager Gillings stated, “We’ve made a conscious effort to design this development with all of New Buffalo’s interests in mind. Parking directly under the structure is a luxury and a necessity. Underground parking within the structure allows the condominium and business owners the convenience of never having to look for a parking space while reducing the parking pressure on Whitaker Street.”

“We have a great sensitivity to the fact that parking is at a premium in downtown New Buffalo. Parking solutions such as these better integrate Fountain Square into the downtown footprint.” He explained that in addition to the Fountain Square underground parking, an additional parking lot of 77 spaces will be developed and donated to the City of New Buffalo by Gierczyk as a part of this development.

A Classic Design to Match the Ageless Character of this Lakeside Village
Set off from the street by almost 20 feet to allow for a softer, less imposing profile to Whitaker Street, the brick and stone Fountain Square is a combination reminiscent of the brownstone era with a hint of English shop-front architecture.

“We’ve left room for sidewalk cafes and open spaces for people to sit and enjoy a little shade. We were very conscientious in designing to enhance and compliment the character of New Buffalo—after all it’s the community we live and work in as well.”

Over the past 25 years, the steadily growing design-build firm of Gierczyk Development, Inc. has been responsible for more than one billion dollars of commercial, industrial, processing, commercial retail and residential projects in Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, Arizona, and Michigan. The more than 350 projects have included residential subdivisions, golf course communities, shopping centers, medical facilities and auto dealerships.

For more information about Fountain Square, or any of Gierczyk Light Harbor Realty’s developments, write 139 N. Whittaker St., New Buffalo, MI 49117;
fax 269-469-7294; call 269-469-6424, or visit www.lightharborrealty.com.
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Fountain Square Development

Who: Gierczyk Developers, Inc.
What: Fountain Square Development
Where: City-block bordered by Whittaker, Thompson, Mechanic and Merchant Streets
When: Approved by New Buffalo Planning Commission on April 20, 2005. Groundbreaking, Summer 2005.
Why: The development will enliven New Buffalo’s retail atmosphere. It will also provide a retail anchor downtown to help prevent businesses from relocating to be near the expressway.


Development Features
• 14 retail spaces totaling more than 20,000 sq ft
• 62 residential units
• Balconies on all units
• Private indoor pool accessible to all residents
• Landscaped courtyard—public spaces
• Indoor hall corridors – providing safety and convenience
• Potential to be turned into rental units
• 124 space underground parking garage with allotted two stalls per unit
• 77 new parking spaces developed and donated to the city