A major revision to the Italianate garden planned for the front lawn of the former D.A Blodgett Home for Children prompted some changes to the Fairmount Square development project. The new plan includes modifications to the proposed townhouses, and the vacation of Raymond Place, an alleyway that runs through a portion of the property.
On October 12, the City Planning Commission gave developers Fairmount Square Investors and Inner City Christian Federation approval for the modified plan.
“The garden has to be a reflection of the symmetry of the building. That’s a fundamental component of classic Italianate architecture,” said Jonathon Bradford, CEO of ICCF and a driving force behind the formation of the garden. “[The alley] threw the symmetry off, and it made the tranquility and attractiveness of the garden very much compromised because of the passage of cars.”
After sitting vacant for 20 years, the 31,000-square-foot main structure at 920 Cherry Street SE is undergoing a complete restoration to become the new home of ICCF. The garden will complement the structure and be open to the public.
To make room for the garden and a new property access from Hollister Avenue, developers modified the townhomes along Hollister from two- and three-unit buildings to four-unit buildings. The townhouses planned along Blodgett Street required a similar change. Prices are expected to range from about $160,000 to $200,000. A groundbreaking date has not been set.
“The current plan has 37 townhouses, each about 1,000 to 1,200 square feet,” said Ken Van Dyke, project manager for Bazzani Associates, a partner with Second Story Properties in Fairmount Square Investors.
“The City of Grand Rapids intends to rebuild Cherry Street, and has applied for funding through MDOT,” Van Dyke added. “Construction could start mid-April and would be a three to four month process. We have to think about how all of that is going to impact the rest of the construction. We’re hoping for next spring to break ground, but we’re riding it out.”
Plans include a retail space and a restaurant with a patio overlooking the garden.
Source: Jonathon Bradford, Inner City Christian Federation; Ken Van Dyke, Bazzani Associates
www.iccf.org
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