Madison Square's first co-working environment is under construction and owner
Lighthouse Communities hopes it will not only bring professionals to the neighborhood, but will show those already in the neighborhood they don't have to go elsewhere to be part of a collaborative workspace.
Lighthouse Communities broke ground on the rehab of a vacant building at 1167 Madison Ave. SE with the vision to renovate and expand the building into new office space for the nonprofit on the second story and several retail incubators on the main level. That idea shifted when Lighthouse decided to provide incubator space in each future commercial development and another 7,000 square feet of proposed incubator space at a planned development at the nearby T.J. Appliance building.
That left room to retain a couple of incubator spaces and develop a co-working environment in the rest of the main level, says Co-director Darel Ross.
"We'll have wireless access, video conferencing, individual work stations and modular furniture for small group meetings, plus a private conference room for rent," Ross says. "The
WorkBar Boston in Boston, Mass. is the feel we're shooting for with our 100-year-old building. We'll keep the original wood floors and the exposed brick, but make it really modern, urban and chic."
To help develop its economic development vision throughout Kent County, Lighthouse hired Jorge Gonzalez to fill a new position as economic development director. Gonzalez speaks Spanish and English and is the current president of the
West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Lighthouse just completed wrapping the building's foundation in a protective membrane with a ventilation system to prevent chemical contamination from a former Laundromat from affecting the new development center. The co-working center will be operational by May 2011.
Source: Darel Ross, Lighthouse Communities
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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