Factory Yards developer to seek up to $103M in ‘transformational brownfield’ funding for Grand Rapids project
GRAND RAPIDS — Developers behind the $150 million Factory Yards redevelopment south of downtown Grand Rapids plan to seek rarely used state tax incentives to offset substantial costs of the project.
Lakewood Construction acquires Royal Glass, aims to grow construction footprint
HOLLAND — Lakewood Construction Co. plans to learn from a recently acquired glazing business to expand its project scope and its footprint into new geographies.
Schuler’s nears opening of boutique hotel above historic restaurant in Marshall
MARSHALL — Rooms above the historic Schuler’s Restaurant in downtown Marshall that served as storage space for the past 50 years have been converted to lodging once again.
Lovingly renovated ‘slow flip’ on the market for $1.55 million in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS — When Jean Stoffer stepped into a beautiful but neglected 1931 Colonial on Woodward Lane in Grand Rapids two years ago, her mouth dropped open and she knew she would buy it — and flip it.
Housing developers find their next big opportunity at golf courses
GRAND RAPIDS — Developers across West Michigan are seizing a prime opportunity to turn the region’s abundance of golf courses into badly needed housing.
Tribally owned Mno-Bmadsen’s acquisition of Indiana real estate firm built on years of collaboration
DOWAGIAC — Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming investment arm of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of an Indiana commercial real estate firm.
Global insurance company Aon downsizes its offices in Grand Rapids, Southfield
GRAND RAPIDS — A global insurance consultancy is following in the footsteps of many other businesses post-pandemic and “right-sizing” its office footprint to reflect the new hybrid reality of work.
Grand Rapids architect going ‘back to my roots’ with purchase of Leonard Street building
GRAND RAPIDS — A Grand Rapids architect plans to relocate his firm to a corridor near his childhood home on the city’s northwest side that he sees as the next bustling district in the city.
Holland residents to determine future of waterfront in May election
HOLLAND — A May ballot initiative in which city voters will determine a potential land swap will make or break decades-long efforts to redevelop industrial waterfront property near downtown Holland.
Where will West Michigan house the tech workers it seeks?
GRAND RAPIDS — As West Michigan tackles an ambitious plan to make itself the leading tech hub in the Midwest, developers question whether they can build enough housing in the booming region to accommodate a potential influx of workers.
Grand Rapids OKs zoning change for 55-unit affordable senior housing project
GRAND RAPIDS — The city of Grand Rapids approved a nonprofit developer’s rezoning request for a retooled affordable housing project at the site of a former funeral home in the West Grand neighborhood.
Grand Rapids advances relocation plan to clear path for downtown amphitheater
GRAND RAPIDS — City officials have approved a $2.2 million contract with the architect designing a new public services facility, which will help to facilitate the development of a downtown amphitheater.
MEDC awards $1.1M to grassroots Kalamazoo housing, daycare project
KALAMAZOO — The Michigan Strategic Fund board has approved gap and brownfield funding for a highly anticipated, years-long effort to redevelop a vacant property near downtown Kalamazoo into housing and a child care facility.
Developers retool housing plan for Gracewil Country Club to address residents’ objections
Developers next month will seek final rezoning approval for a revised plan to convert a nearly 100-year-old golf course north of Grand Rapids into more than 500 units of housing after neighbors expressed near-unanimous opposition to the prior site plan.
‘Unique’ mixed-use housing project pitched for northwest Plainfield Township
PLAINFIELD TWP. — Developers have introduced plans for a mixed-use housing project in northwest Plainfield Township that local officials say is a “different way of thinking, … unique” and aligned with broader goals around growing housing density.
Developer plans $9M spec industrial project in Gaines Township
GAINES TWP. — Robert Grooters Development Co. plans to break ground in April on a nearly 200,000-square-foot speculative industrial facility just south of Kentwood in Gaines Township.
State, local leaders ‘lay the groundwork’ for statewide housing plan
GRAND RAPIDS — State and local housing leaders are beginning to collaborate on ways to accomplish goals established in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Statewide Housing Plan.
Ronald McDonald House West Michigan plans $2M expansion to meet growing needs
GRAND RAPIDS — A West Michigan nonprofit that provides free temporary housing for families of children receiving medical care plans to renovate and expand its Grand Rapids campus after experiencing pandemic-related delays.
DeVries Jewelers plans to redevelop west side Grand Rapids eyesore
GRAND RAPIDS — DeVries Jewelers plans to tear down the abandoned Lannings’ restaurant on Grand Rapids’ west side to make way for a new storefront for the fourth-generation, family-owned jewelry retailer.
Housing developer seeks to replace units at Grand Rapids project with daycare center
GRAND RAPIDS — The developer behind a Grand Rapids workforce housing project that recently broke ground seeks to replace 10 ground-floor apartments with a daycare center to help address the widespread shortage of child care options.
$8.5M Grand Rapids spending plan calls for affordable housing, neighborhood investments
GRAND RAPIDS — City officials have released a plan for spending $8.5 million in federal funding primarily on repairing or building hundreds of affordable housing units and creating homeownership opportunities.
Metro Detroit investor buys Grand Rapids luxury development
GRAND RAPIDS — A metro Detroit investor has acquired a 320-unit luxury apartment community in West Michigan less than a year after it was finished.
Grand Rapids neighborhood rebounds from failed developments with new sense of optimism
GRAND RAPIDS — Less than a decade ago, the Creston Neighborhood was positioned to be “that next hot spot” in the city of Grand Rapids. A developer planned two mixed-use housing projects in the neighborhood’s business district, spurring other businesses to plan for expansion or relocating to the neighborhood.
Grand Rapids amphitheater design progresses, will appeal to ‘younger generation’
GRAND RAPIDS — Developers are making progress on the design and overall vision for a Grand Rapids riverfront amphitheater, which they call “the largest proposed redevelopment of a riverfront in the nation at this point.”
West Michigan firm working to reverse trend of ‘too few minorities in construction’
A portfolio of West Michigan businesses has tapped a longtime statewide policy advocate to help lead its strategy to bring more people of color into construction and related sectors.
MiBiz on WOOD-TV8: DeVos family sells historic Peninsular Club building
The DeVos family last month sold the Peninsular Club building in downtown Grand Rapids after previously making extensive renovations to the nearly 110-year-old building.
Young urban farmers fight for limited land as Grand Rapids grows around them
GRAND RAPIDS — When the Great Recession roiled Michigan in 2008, Takidia Jenkins-Smith started a garden at her home in southeast Grand Rapids to stretch her grocery budget. She was 24 years old at the time with three young sons to feed, so she kept at it, eventually growing food for friends and extended family.
DeVos family sells historic Peninsular Club building in downtown GR for $6.4M; University Club moving in
GRAND RAPIDS — A DeVos-owned building with a “long, storied history” in downtown Grand Rapids recently sold for nearly $6.4 million, and is set to once again house a private social club.
Hope Network to break ground soon on $40M housing project
GRAND RAPIDS — Nonprofit disability service provider Hope Network is set to break ground this spring on a $40 million affordable housing project after overcoming pandemic- and financing-related delays.
DeVos affiliate to rebuild Holland-area staple Ottawa Beach General Store
PARK TWP. — The owners of the Ottawa Beach General Store, a community staple along Lake Macatawa near Holland State Park, plan to rebuild the facility and maintain its vintage design in time for the 2024 season.