Sydney Smith
Staff Writer, covers real estate and economic development
Twitter: @BizSyd
Email: [email protected]
Muskegon acquires Shoreline Correctional Facility from state land bank
MUSKEGON — The city of Muskegon has purchased the former West Shoreline Correctional Facility, the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority announced today.
240-unit housing development gets approval from Muskegon
MUSKEGON — A large new housing development in Muskegon has gained support from the city government.
Zoning to blame for vacant storefronts?
GRAND RAPIDS — Moving into a larger ground-floor space in the prominent Harris Building on South Division Avenue gave a boost to business at Little Space Studio LLC.
GR could fund parking expansion in next budget
GRAND RAPIDS — Citing high occupancy in the city’s parking facilities and a long waitlist for monthly parking passes, Grand Rapids is considering plans to build two new parking decks to expand options for downtown workers.
Grand Rapids authority studies next steps for convention center hotel
GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority has hired a consultant to lead the process of weighing concepts for developing a full-service hotel to serve the downtown convention center.
Q&A: Erin Knott, Equality Michigan
After being named executive director of Equality Michigan in May, Erin Knott is focusing in on efforts to expand the state’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect LGBTQ people.
West Michigan projects secure $2.4 million in affordable housing credits
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority announced this week that two West Michigan projects secured funding via the Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) program.
Foundation awarded state funding to add housing to downtown Kalamazoo
KALAMAZOO — The Kalamazoo-based Jim Gilmore Jr. Foundation has been awarded a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to add housing to downtown Kalamazoo.
Michigan Land Bank seeks proposals to redevelop closed Ionia prison facility
The Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority is seeking proposals to redevelop the former state-run Deerfield Correctional Facility in Ionia.
GR population tops 200K; West Michigan continues growth spurt
GRAND RAPIDS — Michigan’s second-largest city crossed the 200,000-person population milestone for the first time last summer, as communities along the western side of the state posted strong growth.