GRAND RAPIDS | Development Thread

[deja vu]

The 26-unit West Garfield Apartments project is complete -

Partners Complete 26-Unit Affordable Housing Development​​​​​​​
Ehren Wynder | GRBJ
October 21, 2020

LINC UP and Orion Construction cut the ribbon on West Garfield Apartments. West Garfield is a $6.5 million development that provides 26 two- and three-bedroom units of affordable housing to the Garfield Park Neighborhood. The units are available to residents making 30-60% of the area median income, and will rent between $550 and $800 per month...

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[deja vu]

Here is a recent rendering of the new restaurant that will replace Cygnus, near the top of Amway Grand. It will be called MDRD (pronounced "Madrid") -


Source: WoodTV

[DetroitSky]

Perrigo Company to employ more than 170 West Michiganders with new HQ in Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Perrigo Company announced Tuesday its new North American Corporate Headquarters will be based in downtown Grand Rapids, employing more than 170 West Michiganders.

Company officials said the new office is a capital investment of $44.7 million over the 15-year lease. It will be constructed within the Michigan State University's Grand Rapids Innovation Park at 430 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, on what is known as the Medical Mile.

The 63,550-square-foot office space will primarily house corporate and functional leadership and certain administrative roles.

[deja vu]

Two news updates for outdoor spaces in Grand Rapids - one existing, one planned. Busy morning here, so I haven't even read them myself yet, just PSA's - in case anyone else is interested.

Public-private partnership clears hurdle to redevelop land eyed for 14,000-seat Grand Rapids amphitheater
Brian McVicar | MLive
November 10, 2020

Rosa Parks Circle getting $2M in renovations next year
Bianca Cseke | Fox17
November 10, 2020

[deja vu]

The new Grand Rapids Veterans Home is nearing completion - 

New GR veterans home nears completion​​​​​​​
Justin Kollar | Wood TV8
November 11, 2020

Click the link for the video, or just see some screen grabs below -










Source: Wood TV8

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[deja vu]

Some necessary sewer infrastructure work to catalyze development of the Market Ave. Corridor, including the proposed outdoor amphitheater at 201 Market St. has gotten a big injection of funding from several sources, including the city, CAA, AHC Hospitality, and 63 Market Avenue Holdings LLC.

Convention, arena authority approves infrastructure work that could spur development of 14,000-seat Grand rapids amphitheater
Brian McVicar | GRBJ
November 13, 2020

Partners shoulder cost of removing barrier to 201 Market redevelopment
Ehren Wynder | GRBJ
November 12, 2020

Source: GRBJ | Courtesy City of Grand Rapids

[deja vu]

double post

[deja vu]

New photos of MDRD - the new restaurant atop Amway Grand Plaza - shared by Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce on LinkedIn -










And speaking of Amway Grand Plaza, here is an update photo from Tuesday, 11/10/2020, shared by Cookin_peacocks on Urban Planet -

[DetroitSky]

Seems like they’re taking their time on recladding Amway. I thought they’d be farther along.

[deja vu]

Originally Posted by DetroitSky

Seems like they’re taking their time on recladding Amway. I thought they’d be farther along.

I know it is a challenging job, but yes, they are taking FOREVER!

[deja vu]

Now why couldn't Kalamazoo do something like this with its Congregation of St. Joseph campus?

Nonprofit converts historic seminary into senior living space
Ehren Wynder | GRBJ
November 27, 2020

Source: GRBJ | Courtesy Samaritas

[deja vu]

Here's a few random news updates -

10 Ionia / Residence Inn by Marriott - seen Thursday evening via Construction Cam -

Source: Ox Blue via Urban Planet | mpchicago

Amplify GR seeking $2.2M in incentives to demolish vacant factory, construct office building
Brian McVicar | MLive
December 3, 2020

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A community development group plans to demolish a vacant industrial building on Grand Rapids’ Southeast Side and replace it with a new office building for a data management company. Amplify GR is asking the city of Grand Rapids to provide it with $2.2 million in tax incentives as it seeks to tear down the former Dexter Lock Company factory at 1601 Madison Ave. SE and redevelop the 10-acre site. The building is located in the city’s Third Ward, a stretch of Grand Rapids that has not seen the same level of investment and new construction as downtown and other city neighborhoods. The cost of the project, including the construction of a 60,000 square foot building on a portion of the property, is expected to cost $12.5 million. Amplify GR is not identifying the company that’s expected to occupy the new building until its lease agreement is finalized...

Developer seeks to transform West Michigan golf course into large-scale housing, office complex
Brian McVicar | MLive
December 2, 2020

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — An Illinois-based real estate investment firm has resubmitted plans to transform the Lincoln Country Club property in Walker into a large-scale housing development, complete with apartments, single-family homes and office buildings. Stoneleigh Companies has an agreement in place to purchase the 100-acre golf course, banquet hall and bowling alley at 3485 Lake Michigan Drive NW if the city of Walker signs off on the firm’s request to rezone the property for residential and commercial use, said Stoneleigh President Rick Cavenaugh. The company owns and manages multifamily housing communities in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. The firm’s plans call for the construction of a series of one-story buildings, housing 204 high-end apartments and 68 lots available for single-family homes. In addition, plans call for preserving 10 acres of the property along Lake Michigan Drive for commercial office space...

Grand Rapids details improvements coming to 15 city parks
Michael Kransz | MLive
December 2, 2020

...The upcoming and completed projects were mostly funded by the city’s seven-year parks millage, with a great deal of help from grants and other funding sources. Voters last year approved replacing the millage, which expires this year, with a permanent one beginning in 2021. Once all current and upcoming projects are completed, the 2013 millage will have helped fund 83 park improvement projects since it began. The total millage investment for these projects has been $22.8 million, with another $17 million coming from outside sources like grants, organizations and fundraising...

[deja vu]

I spotted this photo of Acrisure LLC's new office building under construction at Studio Park, posted by Downtown GR Inc. on December 12 via Instagram -



Speaking of, MEDC recently modified its incentive requirements for this project, in response to COVID-19 & construction delays (in favor of the company) -

MEDC tweaks incentive agreements for insurance company coming to downtown Grand Rapids
Brian McVicar | MLive
December 8, 2020

[deja vu]

Update on the Brookstone Capital / Karl Chew proposal for 78 S. Division Ave. - 

Grand Rapids board tables developer’s housing proposal, citing lawsuit and ‘communication’ concerns
Brian McVicar | MLive
December 9, 2020

[deja vu]

Follow-up story on the Perrigo HQ -

Perrigo seeks $4.1M in tax incentives for planned GR headquarters; Holland expansion moves forward
Kate Carlson | MiBiz
December 17, 2020

GRAND RAPIDS — Perrigo Co. plc is seeking a 12-year incentive agreement estimated at $4.1 million in total property tax savings for its plans to relocate its North American headquarters to downtown. The Grand Rapids City Commission set a Jan.12 public hearing to consider the agreement. The commission will consider an Industrial Development District for the project, as well as a 12-year Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate and a 12-year New Personal Property Exemption Certificate. Perrigo’s new headquarters is planned at 430 Monroe Ave. NW, where it has committed to a 15-year lease...

According to this article, Perrigo must retain 150 employees in downtown GR within 2 years of completing the project to remain eligible for these incentives.

[deja vu]

The Marketplace at Studio Park opened recently. Here are some photos posted on Instagram by downtowngrinc about a week ago -

[deja vu]

MSU Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building - December 9, 2020 -


Source: Urban Planet | ctpgr34

MSU Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building - Construction Cam view from today -


Source: True Look

10 Ionia / Residence Inn - posted December 23, 2020 -


Source: Instagram | @downtowngrinc

Amway Grand Plaza, posted December 22, 2020 -


Source: Instagram | @hoteldistrictgrandrapids

Amway Grand Plaza, posted November 30, 2020 -


Source: Instagram | @chadronald

DeVos Family HQ - December 9, 2020 -


Source: Urban Planet | Cookin_peacocks


Source: Urban Planet | ctrgp34

The former UICA building is officially on the market (paywalled article) -

Former UICA building in downtown Grand Rapids listed for $8.7M
Kate Carlson | MiMiz
December 8, 2020

GRAND RAPIDS — The former Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts building in downtown Grand Rapids is officially on the market for $8.7 million...

[The North One]

GR is looking really good, definitely Michigan's 2nd city.

[deja vu]

Originally Posted by The North One

GR is looking really good, definitely Michigan's 2nd city.

Yes, a city to be proud of, for sure.

The reimagined Van Andel Public Plaza, completed earlier this year and decked out for the holidays -


Source: Facebook | Van Andel Arena


Source: Instagram | @blfarmer89

The retail portion of the DeVos Family HQ work, along Lyon St. -






Source: Instagram | @downtowngrinc

Here's some recent ground-level views of the new Marriott Residence Inn & adjacent, refurbished parking deck, courtesy of one of the dedicated posters at Urban Planet -








Source: Urban Planet | joeDowntown

[deja vu]

400 Monroe / MSU's Innovation Park -








Source: Instagram | @downtowngrinc

Studio Park Lofts -


Source: Instagram | @studioparkloftsgr

An uncommon view of downtown from a private residence afar -


Source: Instagram | @richardapp

In other news in Monroe North, Spectrum announced it has purchased the Brass Works building, which they intend to renovate and then connect to a new 80,000 - 100,000 SF building. A new parking ramp is also planned -

Spectrum Health to construct new building in GR
Wood TV 8 Staff
January 06, 2021

I don't know what happens to all of the existing tenants that occupy Brass Works once Spectrum moves in.