GRAND RAPIDS | Development Thread

[DetroitMan]

See details of GVSU’s $166M project to build Blue Dot technology hub

A four-story, 58,247-square-foot building addition at a cost of $64.6 million. An “immersive reality lab” with 360-degree video displays, allowing for group virtual reality experiences. A main floor cafe, inviting the community in to learn more about Grand Valley State University’s downtown technology hub.

And a $139 million bond to pay for it all. On Friday, Feb. 6, the GVSU Board of Trustees approved two project plans totaling $166 million to build a new Blue Dot technology hub in downtown Grand Rapids. To cover the cost, the university approved issuing bonds not to exceed $139 million. The decision was applauded by GVSU leaders and decried by some faculty members who attended the meeting.

The bonds will cover the $101.4 million renovation of the 10-story L.V. Eberhard Center in downtown Grand Rapids, along with a new, $64.6 million building addition that will become the Blue Dot Lab.

The new bonds will bring GVSU close to its “high-water mark” for total bond debt, which was just over $260 million in 2020.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/...ct-to-build-blue-dot-technology-hub.html

[DetroitMan]

45 apartments, community food hall under construction in Grand Rapids neighborhood

Construction is underway on a 45‑unit Boston Square apartment building with affordable and market‑rate rentals and a food hall, a project Amplify GR says will help meet demand for housing and community space in the neighborhood.

The development is the latest step in Amplify’s multi‑year Boston Square Together plan, adopted in 2019. The plan has already produced a new community hub and commercial kitchen in the Southeast Side neighborhood.
Another 57‑unit, mixed‑income apartment building is also under construction and expected to open in June.

Jon Ippel, executive director of Amplify GR, said construction of the 45‑unit building, 1480 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, reflects progress toward what residents have long envisioned for the area.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/...uction-in-grand-rapids-neighborhood.html

[airforceguy]

Envisioned DeVos Place hotel estimated at $354.9M — nearly $592,000 per room

The vision for expanding DeVos Place has grown more ambitious, with a new study calling for a 600-room hotel — up from 478 rooms — and estimating the project would require at least $41 million in public funding.

The study was completed by CSL International for the Grand Rapids–Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA). The CAA oversees the publicly owned convention center and has been exploring an expansion of the venue for nearly a decade to attract more events and visitors to Grand Rapids.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/...ted-at-3549m-nearly-592000-per-room.html

[DetroitMan]

Demolition of Grand Rapids restaurant eyed for May after state backs apartment project

A state board approved a $4.75 million loan for a project that will demolish the Adobe Mexican Kitchen restaurant on Grand Rapids’ West Side and replace it with a 109‑unit apartment building.

The Michigan Strategic Fund also approved a tax-capture request from the project’s developer, Grand Rapids‑based Construction Simplified. That allows the developer to capture up to $1.8 million in future state tax revenue generated by the redevelopment at 617 W. Fulton St. to help finance construction. The four‑story development, known as Abode West Fulton, would include a mix of studio and one‑bedroom apartments, with monthly rents ranging from about $1,142 to $1,735. The building would also feature three ground-floor commercial spaces.

The project, estimated to cost $24.5 million, is located near Grand Valley State University’s downtown campus and is within walking distance of Acrisure Amphitheatre and Amway Stadium.

Brent Gibson, president of Construction Simplified, said demolition on the Adobe restaurant is expected to begin in late May. Adobe is moving to a new location at 527 Bridge St. NW being built by Construction Simplified.

In addition to Adobe Mexican Kitchen, another building at 17 Seward Ave. NW will be demolished to make room for the new apartment building. Gibson said demolition on that structure could begin next month.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/...after-state-backs-apartment-project.html

[DetroitMan]

Million-dollar condos, sky-high rent: Report questions market for DeVos, Van Andel project

A July 2025 analysis by SB Friedman Development Advisors found “limited evidence” the Fulton & Market team can sell its 76 owner‑occupied condos at the projected pace of 19 units a year at an average price of $1.1 million.

The report also said a site‑specific market study hasn’t been conducted to evaluate demand for the project’s 595 apartments at their proposed rental rates. Those rents are projected to run 36% to 92% higher than today’s most expensive downtown units. “The pace of condo sales anticipated by the development team is significantly more aggressive than what has been observed in the market recently,” according to the report, obtained by MLive/The Grand Rapids Press through a Freedom of Information Act request.The Fulton & Market project is led by Fulmar Development Partners, a joint venture between members of the DeVos and Van Andel families and Chicago‑based Magellan Development Group. One of the biggest projects in the city’s history, it would replace a nearly 7‑acre parking lot next to Acrisure Amphitheater with luxury housing, a boutique hotel, retail, restaurants and an office tower.

SB Friedman’s analysis was required by the Michigan Strategic Fund for its review of the project’s request for public incentives under Michigan’s Transformational Brownfield program. The MSF approved the request in December 2025, allowing developers to use $560.9 million in future tax revenue generated by the project to help cover construction costs.

J.R. Berger, president of Magellan Development, declined an interview request but expressed confidence in the project in a prepared statement.

“This project envisions product that does not currently exist in the market, and we are confident that the project will outperform historical market trends,” he said. “Our confidence is bolstered by the positive impact of exciting projects including Acrisure Amphitheater, Amway Stadium, and the Grand River Greenway that will make downtown Grand Rapids an even more attractive place to live, visit, and do business.”

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/...-market-for-devos-van-andel-project.html

[airforceguy]

Construction to start on $147M Factory Yards project after 3 years

Construction on the $147 million Factory Yards redevelopment of former industrial property in Grand Rapids is set to begin on April 20, marking a key milestone for the project pitched more than three years ago.

https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/real-e...y-yards-outfront-media-offices-20260331/

[DetroitMan]

‘Tokyo’ meetings: Grand Rapids leaders quietly pushed for downtown aquarium site

Grand Rapids leaders quietly met last summer under the codename “Tokyo” to craft a strategy promoting downtown as the site for John Ball Zoo’s proposed aquarium over a competing location in Walker, records show.

Mayor David LaGrand’s office convened at least two meetings in July and September to discuss site selection, funding, outreach and political strategy, according to documents obtained by MLive through the Freedom of Information Act. “How do we get Peter (zoo) off the site in Walker?” a July 31 meeting document asks, referring to zoo CEO Peter D’Arienzo and the former Fenske Landfill in Walker, a potential site for the aquarium.

The records detail behind-the-scenes efforts by city leaders to land a project with an estimated price tag of nearly $400 million and a projected $2.9 billion economic impact over 10 years, according to zoo estimates. The zoo envisions a “world-class” aquarium that would attract visitors nationwide and rival top-tier aquariums across the U.S.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/...y-pushed-for-downtown-aquarium-site.html

[Dale]

^ Aquarium on the site in the foreground?

[DetroitMan]

Originally Posted by Dale

^ Aquarium on the site in the foreground?

Yes, this is the site the city is pitching for the Aquarium.

[DetroitMan]

Grand Rapids board OKs $1.39M tax incentive for Indiana Avenue apartment project

A Grand Rapids board has approved a $1.39 million tax incentive for a proposed four‑story, 29‑unit apartment building along Indiana Avenue NW, sending the request to the city commission for final approval.

The Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority on April 22 signed off on the developer’s request for brownfield tax‑increment financing to support the $6 million project planned for 335 and 343 Indiana Ave. NW, near the Bridge Street corridor. Developers Ross Bacon and Adam Rogalski hope to begin construction this summer, with an estimated completion date of late 2027. Bacon said he did not know when the commission is scheduled to consider the tax incentive request.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/...or-indiana-avenue-apartment-project.html

[Velvet_Highground]

Be pretty sweet to see a aquarium on that riverfront site.

[airforceguy]

High-density downtown Grand Rapids apartments near full capacity as housing demand surges

A 2025 study released by Housing Next highlighted the need for more than 13,000 housing units in the city by 2029, including a mix of rentals and home ownership. KMG Prestige handles apartment leasing for major properties in Grand Rapids, managing a total of eight properties. "We’ve got the Lofts of GR properties, which is a portfolio of smaller unit makeup properties, as well as Studio Park Lofts and Studio Park Tower," Dustin Nichols said.

Nichols, the regional property manager for KMG Prestige, sent me the occupancy numbers for their properties.

Studio Park/condos - 99% full
Opened in the fall of 2024 with 165 apartments and 25 condos
Studio Park Lofts - 100% full
The Lofts of GR buildings - 95% full
When asked whether he anticipated that kind of demand, Nichols said the leasing speed was unexpected.

https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-n...r-full-capacity-as-housing-demand-surges

[craigs]

I was checking out Grand Rapids on Google Maps and Wikipedia. It is quite impressive for a city so off the national radar. And I love, love, love the mini-Chicago style City Hall complex:

[deja vu]

^ Grand Rapids is a Midwest gem. Worth the visit if you get the chance

Some pics of Amway Stadium construction progress, via Facebook -






Source: Facebook | Amway Stadium

[Velvet_Highground]

I Love GR it’s really coming into its own & has a large enough CSA population 1.3 million to rival long established significant cities. There’s still a lot of room to grow but it’s a well run midsize city with an excellently preserved historic core and a history of economic independence that served it well. Again the Medial Mile really helped super charge economic development during a hard time for the state at that.

I like how downtown is filling in I bet in 5-10 there’s a strong chance of having a much more mature and developed downtown skyline to go along with the great core. The lake coast cities do get a good amount of snow and Grand Rapids gets ~80in of snow about double non lake effect country SE MI at ~40. I think as climate change stresses more areas with water pressure than changes the calculus.

Minneapolis is a nice city and even having the hardest winter of any major city grows as a Midwest magnet and beyond. There’s plenty of areas in SE MI that have been beneficiaries of growth into the lake & hill country in between Oakland County, Metro Flint, Ann Arbor & Lansing. That area among some others seen growth on par with many West MI communities not to talking in terms its growing position in the State.

Even though Grand Rapids isn’t on Lake Michigan it functionally acts as Michigan’s Great Lakes city with the best coast. Holland, Grand Haven & Muskegon all have seen tremendous growth and demonstrated good instincts towards density. The coast there is some of the best on the eastern shore not the most massive dunes but nice lake harbors where downtown sit while the shore tends be local, county or state parks preserving the shore ecosystem & forests.

Not that SE MI doesn’t have great water access certainly at least thousand more lakes in the CSA but Western Erie has its algae problems sometimes not that it’s not the greatest sport centric coast. The warm shallow waters are good for boating with all the bays and estuaries making ample water front home opportunity but the water quality isn’t always an issue. Hard to compare the Detroit River, Lake St Clair, St Clair River and SW corner of Lake Huron to compare with West MI beaches only the Port Huron and environs as well as well as Sarnia - Pt Edward have comparable beaches.

Not to mention that part of Lake Michigan warms up easier and generally higher into the comfortably warm 80’s, Michigan’s largest basin is in the south so it warms especially where the warm surface water gets pushed. Which is the coast up to about White Hall north of Muskegon.

I’m a big fan of Muskegon State park since I first enjoyed my 80+ degree water day not to mention the sites are all well kept with great privacy in mature White Pine forest. I’m taking a trip there with my dad this summer I wanna check out the USS Silversides the either highest or 2nd highest killing sub of WW2 he likes military history too. I’m a bit nervous to see the Platt River area in Sleeping Bear this June there’s been a couple big ice storms that just brushed the area as I understand.

*Not expecting particularly warm water in that part of Lake MI until after a long heatwave early in the summer or late somewhat July reliably. At least according to the NOAA data on the past 5 years I’ve been using for beach forecasting, feels right to me ususally.

[BnaBreaker]

I saw Reggie Watts at The Pyramid Scheme last year and had such an amazing night... and then the next morning, a great time at the indoor market. Downtown Grand Rapids has really blossomed into a bit of a destination, at least compared to the last time I was there. Excited to see what's in store for it next!

[deja vu]

Originally Posted by BnaBreaker

I saw Reggie Watts at The Pyramid Scheme last year and had such an amazing night... and then the next morning, a great time at the indoor market. Downtown Grand Rapids has really blossomed into a bit of a destination, at least compared to the last time I was there. Excited to see what's in store for it next!

That sounds fun! The newly-finished Acrisure Amphitheater, with its 12,000+ seating capacity will be a huge draw (despite parking concerns). That, plus the u/c soccer stadium, the eventual aquarium, more hotels...

Acrisure has mustered a pretty impressive lineup, for its inaugural year, starting with Lionel Richie, tomorrow night. Definitely see a skew towards GenX / elder Millennial crowd -

Lionel Richie, May 15
Acrisure Amphitheater Community Celebration, May 16
Kid Cudi, May 27
Russell Dickerson, May 30
Parker McCollum, June 6
Jelly Roll, June 13
Santana & The Doobie Brothers, June 15
Godsmack, June 16
MGK, June 17
Darius Rucker, June 25
The Guess Who, July 1
Weird Al Yankovic, July 3
Happy Birthday America / Grand Rapids Symphony, July 4
Jack Johnson, July 5
Dave Matthews Band, July 7–8
John Mellencamp, July 10
Sarah McLachlan, July 17
Hank Williams Jr., July 18
The Black Crowes & Whiskey Myers, July 22
Lil Wayne, July 25
Dirty Heads & 311, July 28
5 Seconds of Summer, July 29
Chicago & Styx, July 30
The Coral Reefer Band, July 31
Lynyrd Skynyrd x Foreigner, August 1
Jerry Seinfeld, August 8
Goo Goo Dolls, August 11
Five Finger Death Punch, August 15
Hilary Duff, August 16
Lindsey Stirling, August 21
Thomas Rhett, August 22
Brandi Carlile, August 23
Tedeschi Trucks Band & Alabama Shakes, August 25
Kesha, August 26
Mötley Crüe, August 27
TOTO, August 28
Tim McGraw, August 29
Josh Groban, August 30
Rufus Du Sol, September 1
TLC & Salt-N-Pepa, September 3
Pitbull, September 10
Billy Idol, September 11
John Mulaney, September 12
Mumford & Sons, September 22
Brooks & Dunn, September 25

the flying saucer - as I'm sure it will come to be known as - has landed in GR -


Source: Facebook | Integrated Exteriors




Source: Facebook | Monica Sparks

[DetroitMan]

John Ball Zoo rules out former Walker landfill as aquarium site

John Ball Zoo said Thursday it will not pursue a proposed aquarium on the former Fenske Landfill in Walker after determining the property does not meet the project’s needs.

The zoo announced the decision following about a year of due diligence conducted in partnership with community stakeholders, according to a statement from Mark Janes, who chairs the zoo’s aquarium committee.Officials said multiple locations across Kent County remain under consideration as plans move forward for the aquarium

In a statement, Janes said “the Fenske property in Walker does not satisfy our needs, and we will not be pursuing a purchase of that property.”

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/...er-walker-landfill-as-aquarium-site.html

[deja vu]

I wonder if this news signals plans to build along the riverfront closer to downtown ������

[airforceguy]

Grand Action 2.0 pushes forward on high-rise near amphitheater

Economic development organization Grand Action 2.0 is looking to move forward “as soon as possible” on a 21-story mixed-use development near the newly finished Acrisure Amphitheater in Grand Rapids, a representative has confirmed.

The group has signed a nondisclosure agreement with a developer, though there’s no formal deal yet, Grand Action 2.0 Administrative Coordinator Archie Smith confirmed to News 8 Wednesday. Crain’s Grand Rapids Business was first to report the news.

City documents from early 2024 indicate the $271 million development would be located south of the amphitheater. The 21-story building would include up to 475 residential apartments in addition to a six-floor parking ramp with 917 spaces that would be shared between the apartments and the amphitheater. There would also be retail space on the ground floor, according to the documents.

https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids...-forward-on-high-rise-near-amphitheater/