McKay Tower explained

McKay Tower
Completion Date:1927
Building Type:Office
Location:146 Monroe Center NW
Grand Rapids, Michigan
United States
Roof:227feet
Antenna Spire:259feet
Floor Count:18
Floor Area:146000square feet[1]
Architect:Owen-Ames-Kimball Company

McKay Tower is a building in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, located on Monroe Center.[2] The building is mixed-use for apartments, office space, retail and is a venue for events.[3] It is currently the fifth tallest building in Grand Rapids.[4]

History

19th century

The location of McKay Tower is where the first non-Native American marriage took place in Grand Rapids in 1834, only a few years after settlers arrived and the area was surveyed as part of the Michigan Territory.[4] [5] The marriage took place in a cabin that was owned by the American pioneer, Joel Guild which involved his daughter Harriet Guild and Barney Burton.[5] The first town meeting was also held at the cabin that had a total number of nine voters.[5]

20th century

The Wonderly Building was then built on the location in 1890.[2] The first two floors of McKay Tower were then built in their current manner in 1915 and the building was then known as the Grand Rapids National Bank.[4] Another 11 floors were added between 1921 and 1927.[2] In 1942, the tower was bought from the Grand Rapids National Bank by Grand Rapids businessman and politician, Frank D. McKay.[4] In the early 1940s, two additional mechanical floors were added to the tower.[4]

From the completion of the tower in 1927 to 1983, the McKay Tower was the tallest building in Grand Rapids until the completion of the Amway Grand tower.[4] The McKay Tower was also the tallest office building in Grand Rapids until Bridgewater Place was completed in 1993.[2]

21st century

In 2000, the University of Michigan, which acquired the building from McKay's will, sold the tower.[4] The building was sold to Greystone Associates later that year.[1] Mark Roller, an internet businessman, purchased the tower in 2006 for $7.8 million,[1] [6] who later listed the property for sale in 2009 for $11 million.[6]

McKay Tower was sold to Jonathan L. Borisch, founder of Borisch Manufacturing Corp. (now Amphenol Borisch) in May 2012 for $10.5 million through his Steadfast Property Holdings company.[7] In January 2020, the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan and the Huron Band of the Potawatomi purchased McKay Tower for $17.5 million from Steadfast Property Holdings.[3]

Architecture

McKay Tower is a Greek Revival structure.[4] The tower currently has a three-story penthouse and a metal dome.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 146 Monroe Center, N.W. The McKay Tower. . History Grand Rapids . 23 January 2020.
  2. Web site: McKay Tower. SkyscraperPage. March 3, 2015.
  3. News: 2 Michigan tribes partner to buy McKay Tower . 23 January 2020 . . 15 January 2020.
  4. News: Ellison. Garret. McKay Tower in Grand Rapids Quietly Sold to Borisch Family for $10.5 Million. March 3, 2015. MLive . . September 18, 2012.
  5. Book: History and Directory of Kent County, Michigan, Containing a History of Each Township, and the City of Grand Rapids; the Name, Location and Postoffice Address of All Residents Outside of the City: A List of Postoffices in the County; a Schedule of Population; and Other Valuable Statistics. 21 November 1870. Daily Eagle Steam Printing House. Grand Rapids, MI. 114–136.
  6. News: Knape . Chris . Internet entrepreneur Mark Roller lists McKay Tower for $11 million . 23 January 2020 . . 5 June 2009 . en.
  7. News: McKay Tower in Grand Rapids quietly sold to Borisch family for $10.5 million . 23 January 2020 . . 19 September 2012 . en.