GR city planners to review new mixed-use development plans from ORES, Concept Design

After officially submitting a project proposal to the city of Grand Rapids last week, developers at Orion Real Estate Solutions are planning one last neighborhood meeting July 23, open to the public and aimed at giving community members another opportunity for discussion about its proposed 47-unit apartment complex at 1 Carlton Ave SE.

“Orion Real Estate Solutions has been evolving and improving the proposed Fulton/Carlton development for more than a year now and based on valuable feedback we’ve received from the neighborhood associations and the city zoning department we feel we’ve hit the mark with a project that improves the neighborhood on many levels,” says Orion Spokesman Jason Wheeler. 

The redevelopment includes the construction of two new buildings — the first a four-story mixed-used building with 3,200 square feet allocated for ground floor retail space and 3,500 square feet for a ground floor restaurant. The second new building will be a three-story, solely residential building slated for new apartment units. 

ORES is working alongside Concept Design to redevelop the new space, and Wheeler says though it is too early to suggest any concrete timeline for construction, ORES hopes to begin this fall pending rezoning approval by the city. 

“If all goes well, this will be the second time we’ve taken vacant land and transformed it into a place to live, work and experience the culture of Eastown,” Wheeler says. “We love what we do as developers and creating a concept that the community embraces is our goal. ORES hopes to deliver a project that acknowledges the community’s input and respects the cares and concerns of the neighborhood.”

For more information, visit www.orionbuilt.com. 

Written by Anya Zentmeyer, Development News Editor
Images courtesy of ORES/Concept Design