Former executives at Colliers International’s West Michigan office that left the real estate group in January 2021 to start their own firm breached non-solicitation obligations in the process, according to an arbitration resolution announced this week. 

WALKER — An Illinois developer is seeking final site plan approval for a 250-unit apartment complex at the former Lincoln Country Club that would greenlight the first phase of what’s been a multi-year process stalled by neighborhood concerns and the COVID-19 pandemic.

GRAND RAPIDS — Several hundred protesters gathered in downtown Grand Rapids Wednesday calling for justice for the family of Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old Black man who was recently shot and killed by a Grand Rapids Police officer during a traffic stop. 

GRAND RAPIDS — Sturgeon Bay Partners is seeking an extension involving plans to redevelop the former Sligh Furniture Co. factory in Grand Rapids into a 753-unit apartment project.

GRAND RAPIDS — A West Michigan couple who launched their business through online platform Etsy in 2014 is now preparing to open their second brick-and-mortar retail store in downtown Grand Rapids.

HOLLAND — Nonprofit housing organization Dwelling Place is partnering with First United Methodist Church and Hope Church to develop a 46-unit, affordable apartment development in downtown Holland.

The Fair Housing Center of West Michigan is one of 20 housing organizations across the country preparing to distribute funds from a landmark $53 million settlement that the National Fair Housing Alliance reached with Fannie Mae.

Diversity, equity and inclusion has emerged as an “important pressure point” in the past two years as companies compete for talent and regional economic development organizations seek to attract and retain industries, consultants and business advocates say.

GRAND RAPIDS — The public authority that administers three major downtown Grand Rapids venues could expand its portfolio in the coming years with a new riverfront amphitheater and a popular downtown music venue.

GRAND RAPIDS — Local entertainment and development officials say a planned $116 million outdoor amphitheater is modeled off the success of Van Andel Arena and could serve as an even stronger catalyst for further downtown development.

Michigan economic development officials have approved performance-based grants for two companies planning $34 million in combined investments to create 77 jobs in Battle Creek and Benton Harbor Township.

GRAND RAPIDS — Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. will receive $55 million to connect trails along the Grand River as part of a $4.7 billion infrastructure plan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed today.

GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority has approved plans to purchase Grand River waterfront property to develop an amphitheater and also will further consider leasing and operating GLC Live at 20 Monroe.

GRAND RAPIDS — The public authority that operates Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall could add GLC Live at 20 Monroe to its portfolio of venues.

GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids City Commission is set to vote on selling downtown waterfront property to make way for an outdoor amphitheater.

A Q&A with Attah Obande, director of dream fulfillment with SpringGR

Peter Beukema saw an opportunity during the pandemic to start a new role in the hospitality industry, stepping down as CEO of Suburban Inns late last year. He is still one of the owners of the family-owned business, but he has formed his own third-party hotel management company called 6PM Hospitality Partners LLC. 

Hospitality executives see positive signs of leisure travel activity increasing across West Michigan, though corporate travel still lags pre-pandemic levels.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, none of Davide Uccello’s four West Michigan restaurants offered an online ordering option. Today, at least half of his restaurant’s takeout and delivery orders are placed online.

GRAND RAPIDS — Synia Jordan is unimpressed with a Michigan Department of Transportation online survey that’s gathering public feedback about potentially changing US-131 between 28th Street and Wealthy Street. 

GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Valley State University plans to add a new learning space at its downtown Grand Rapids campus that will serve as an intersection of business and technology education for community members and students.

The Michigan Strategic Fund has approved a brownfield plan totaling $14 million in state tax capture for Spectrum Health’s Center for Transformation and Innovation that is under construction in Grand Rapids.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced $2.6 billion in Continuum of Care funding for roughly 7,000 housing and service programs addressing homelessness across the country. 

GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives plans to relocate to an 18,000-square-foot, three-story space in Grand Rapids’ Heartside neighborhood, which would be a major expansion for the nonprofit organization.

As companies take varied approaches to in-person and remote work, commercial real estate experts generally agree that office square footage needs will likely shrink with the adoption of more hybrid workspaces.

GRAND RAPIDS — Acrisure LLC opened its new $33 million office in downtown Grand Rapids in August 2021, and expects it will need more space by the end of this year as the company grows its workforce.

Commercial real estate experts have struggled to predict the future of the office market since the COVID-19 pandemic started, though they expect demand for high-quality office spaces to remain strong.

State lawmakers recently amended a rarely used tax incentive tool for large-scale redevelopments of contaminated property to make it more accessible to developers.

WYOMING — Franklin Partners LLC purchased the sprawling former General Motors stamping plant in Wyoming known as Site 36 late last month for $5.25 million and plans a new industrial development on the property for multiple manufacturers.

WYOMING — Franklin Partners LLC has purchased the sprawling former General Motors stamping plant in Wyoming known as Site 36 for $5.25 million and plans to build a new industrial development on the property.