The Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce makes history becoming the first businesses to occupy the shiny new office building, the first new development on the former downtown Muskegon Mall property, at the corner of West Western Avenue and Third Street during the summer of 2008.

The three-story, 31,500-square-foot building also will be the new home of EarthTronics and Waddell & Reed and Northwestern Mutual. A 1,900-square-foot, second-story office space and a 2,500-square-foot, main-level coffee/sandwich shop area remain available from developer Capstone Real Estate LLC of Grand Haven.

The Hines Building is named for Hines Corp. President Larry Hines, who was the lead contributor in a $400,000 fundraising effort to provide the chamber new offices. While it is the first occupied new building in the "city center" development, others are under construction including the Sidock office building, Baker College's culinary arts school and the Heritage Square Townhomes.

"This new building is going to send the message that the chamber will be playing an important role in the downtown and the community for years to come," said chamber Chairman Wes Eklund.

The chamber, which has purchased its portion of the Hines Building while others are renting, has invested nearly $1.2 million into its 7,000-square-foot space on the second floor that includes new furniture and computer equipment, according to chamber President Cindy Larsen.

The chamber moved from the Hume Office Building on Third Street, which had about 4,000-square-feet of space. The additional space in the Hines Building is being used as meeting rooms and a large training center that can hold up to 45 participants, Larsen said.

"A new chamber building reflects the businesses in that community," Larsen said of an organization with nine full-time staffers and 1,250 members. "The building is a reflection of Muskegon: Sophisticated yet casual, welcoming yet professional and contemporary yet tied to tradition. This is how we see ourselves as a business community."

Besides the chamber, the second-floor space will be shared with Muskegon Area First, the economic development agency; Muskegon Main Street, the downtown promotional group; SCORE, the retired executive volunteer business counseling group; the Procurement Technical Assistance Center; the Employers Association of West Michigan; the Muskegon Area Labor-Management Committee and the Greater Muskegon Jaycees.

Click here to view the Chamber's entire new building campaign from ground breaking to occupancy!