The Hinman Company acquired the Fifth Third Bank Building, 136 E. Michigan Avenue, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The 15-story, 80,000+-square-foot building is located in the heart of Kalamazoo’s central business district, near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Portage Street.
“Having been invested in downtown Kalamazoo for many decades, we are proud to bring this iconic building into our portfolio,” said Roger Hinman, CEO of the Hinman Company.
The Kalamazoo CBD is home to a variety of businesses employing nearly 15,000 people. Much of the downtown’s fine dining establishments, retail shops and entertainment venues are located in the CBD. The Fifth Third Bank building is an ideal location for businesses looking to be in a vibrant downtown location.
With a long-standing commitment to historical structures—including the Kalamazoo State Theatre, the Battle Creek Tower in Battle Creek and 77 Monroe Center in Grand Rapids—Hinman will continue the legacy of this iconic building. Built in 1929, this timeless Art Deco building was designed by Weary and Alford of Chicago, who later designed the Kalamazoo City Hall building at 241 W. South Street. Originally constructed for the Kalamazoo Trust and Savings Bank, the building has been under the ownership of the American National Bank, Old Kent Bank and more recently, Fifth Third Bank.
The Hinman Company will oversee the management and leasing of the building, and Fifth Third Bank will continue to be a major tenant. “The building will remain a multi-tenant office building for the long term,” said Hinman.
Other notable downtown Hinman projects include the nearby Skyrise Business Center, Skyrise Luxury & Elderly Apartments, and its most recent joint venture project with AVB Inc., 400 ROSE, which is a dynamic, four-story, multi-use development that will bring 135 residential units and new retail space to Downtown Kalamazoo, at the corner of Rose and Lovell Streets.