Woodland Industrial Division Our company was founded on five key principles that guide behaviors and decisions. With growth comes change, but our foundation remains unchanged. At Woodland we: Value Teamwork Seek Fairness Build Relationships for Life Strive for Leadership Stimulate Continuous Learning

Local Perspective

All In Due Time

We've all heard the cliché expressions. It's all in the timing; Right time in the right place; It's only a matter of time; The time has come.

Could this be the time for development on Holland's South Side? With Menard's blessing from the City of Holland for its new 400,000 square foot mega store on the former General Electric site at 16th St and US 31, one would think so. Could this be a sign of things to come?

In the mid-1980's it was the city's decision that made it the township's time, pushing the mall and subsequent multi-million square foot retail development northward. Most of us boomers can remember when nothing existed there but farmland and blueberry bushes. No one could tell of what was to come, or that Holland would even support a mall. But, I guess time tells all. It was the foresighted investors that knew. One can imagine how they benefited. Land values soared as real estate development roared through the township. Woodland Realty developed its commercial division about that time. We have seen the cycles, the plateaus and fortunately contributed to the developer's financial growth, as well as the community's. How far north can it go? Or maybe it is time to look south.

Look as far as Exit 49, Holland's only exit off I96 along M40. Developments such as Cabill Business Park , a fully improved commercial property consisting of more than 10 acres of developable land, has Interstate visibility and real upside investment potential. Also consider where M40 intersects Waverly Rd. South Point Center is home to a new 30,000 square foot retail center capitalizing on the 16,000 cars that pass by it daily. And the new 72 unit Marriott Residence Inn is here due to the foresight of its developers. You need not stop here.

There are numerous opportunities for the foresighted. Traveling south from the new proposed Menard's to 32nd St., one can find available vacant sites along Waverly Rd. to 24th St, along US 31 on Heritage Ct. and to Hastings Ave. where a new Microtel Hotel found its home at the end of last year. Continue further south into Allegan County to Veteran's Drive. All these are prime retail or office development sites at land prices, that in some cases are less than half of what one would pay from Lakewood to Greenly.

So, is it time? The foresighted will know.