History

Midland developer plans $13M apartment project for historic Grand Rapids buildings

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October 7, 2010

If developer Karl Chew of Midland-based Brookstone Capital achieves his vision, three buildings in the heart of Grand Rapids' Heartside historic district will become 45 apartments, some with live/work options. Two attached buildings at 209 and 217 S. Division Ave. and another around the corner at 17 Williams St. SE were once warehouses for automotive supplies and have been vacant for several years, says Brookstone's Financial Manager Mai Dong. Water damage is extensive, she says, adding that Brookstone purchased the buildings and has no plans to sell them after the renovations. "We have a long-term, vested interest in the properties," Dong says. "When we finished 101 S. Division in June 2009, we received a lot of inquiries to occupy it even though it was already full. I think this [new project] will help to fulfill the housing needs in the area."The two S. Division buildings will offer 30 living spaces priced for entry-level incomes. Options include one- and two-bedroom loft apartments, three-bedroom townhouses and a few main level live/work units in what are now the buildings' retail spaces. The building at 17 Williams will become 15 loft apartments. Off-street parking on vacant property at 18 Williams will serve all three buildings. Dong says the project received state designation as a brownfield site, financial support from the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority and will probably qualify for historic tax credits. Brookstone hopes to achieve LEED Gold status.In the last five years, Brookstone renovated 101 S. Division and Metropolitan Park Apartments at 350 Ionia Ave. SW into apartments. Source: Mai Dong, Brookstone CapitalWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

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Paranormal investigations top the list at new Grand Rapids walking tour company

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Arts & Culture

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September 16, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodGhost hunters get ready! Some of Grand Rapids' most noted shops and nightspots could be haunted and soon you'll have the chance to find out if it's real. Cityscape Adventures, a fun and friendly way to discover Grand Rapids with walking tours, will launch on October 1 with Paranormal Investigations – a tour that taps into the city's nightlife while visiting some of the city's top paranormal sites. Cityscape teamed up with the West Michigan Ghost Hunters Society to film videos of paranormal activity in local establishments and to procure magnetic field indicators and other equipment tour-goers can use.Cityscape's nearly two dozen tours will give locals and visitors the inside scoop on Grand Rapids. Tours include Urban Bites, a weekly (Saturdays) tasting trek of seven downtown restaurants; Napa Valley in River Valley, a discovery of the area's wine destinations; Hometown Heritage, a trip through time with Grand Rapids' people, architecture and history; and River's Rage, looking back on the history of development along our riverbanks.Group tours, called City Slickers Conquest, are customized tours that can include scavenger hunts, trivia contests and interaction with a variety of businesses downtown."I didn't want to bring just another tour company to Grand Rapids because when I look around I see innovation," says Brenda Dyer, owner and founder. "I had a lot of collaboration with the history department at the library, Grand Rapids Historical Commission and members of the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council. We don't have to go to Chicago for fun anymore."Tours range from 90 minutes to five hours and $15 to $27 per adult, depending on the tour. Children aged 10 to 16, $3; children under 10 tour free. Source: Brenda Dyer, Cityscape AdventuresDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Dwelling Place to transform old Holland middle school into $5.9M affordable housing community

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September 9, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Rapids-based Dwelling Place broke ground this week in downtown Holland to renovate the abandoned E.E. Fell Junior High School into a hip, urban housing community for people aged 55 and up. The community, Midtown Village, is the last piece of the revitalization of an entire city block by Jubilee Ministries into a mixed-use complex that includes Midtown Center, a hub of businesses and nonprofits.The residential component, 372 S. River St., breathes life into the historic former school with the construction of 30 affordable apartments, a second-story roof deck and a new landscaped walkway that creates a shortcut through the property between 15th and 16th streets."It's a senior project, but we're looking at the younger seniors, at people who want to live downtown and don't want to have to have a car," says Jarrett DeWyse, Dwelling Place director of housing development. "This is the largest piece of land to be developed in Holland recently. Jubilee bought the block from Holland Public Schools with the intent of doing a development that correlated with the city of Holland's Center of Centers study which called for green space, housing and commercial development."The apartments include three one-bedroom and 27 two-bedroom living spaces with rent that ranges from $580 to $605 a month. The project includes Hooker DeJong Architects & Engineers and GDK Construction Company, with financing through The Bank of Holland and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Construction should wrap up in the fall of 2011.Source: Jarrett DeWyse, Dwelling PlaceDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Grand Rapids Fulton Street Farmers Market fertile soil for $3M all-seasons market; plans unveiled

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September 2, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Rapids' Midtown Neighborhood Association believes its Fulton Street Farmers Market is fertile ground for growing the 90-year-old open-air market into a $3 million all-season marketplace. The group unveiled its proposed plans for a LEED-certified market this week at a public event.The proposed transformation of the market, 1147 E. Fulton St., maintains the rustic charm and warm-weather appeal with an open-air market with a permanent roof, a 2,000-square-foot building for year-round vendors, an expanded plaza, A.D.A.-compliant restrooms at both ends of the market and improved traffic flow."Rebuilding the plaza area where the Salvation Army sells hotdogs is tricky for foot and car traffic," says Christine Helms Maletic, an independent consultant leading the project. Maletic's involvement includes her service as Midtown board president and as project director of Midtown's Brikyaat Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. "We're going to have an area to sit and eat, and we're hoping to get vendors to sell prepared foods," she says, adding that the new plaza area and the year-round building provide enough space for 10 to 12 more vendors than the market can accommodate now. The new market will have about 250 parking spaces for customers and vendors – the same as the current market – but a new traffic pattern will allow cars access to either side of the market without having to exit the property. "Right now, when you pull in, you're committed," Maletic says. "You have to go all the way down the market and out on the opposite street, then re-enter."Sustainable aspects of the new plan include permeable paving, retaining 100 percent of the stormwater on-site and use of renewable energy sources such as rooftop wind turbines.Maletic hopes to break ground in late 2011 provided the capital campaign is successful. A philanthropic feasibility study completed by Hopkins Fundraising Consulting in July indicates there is enough community support to finance the project. Lott3Metz designed the proposed market. Source: Christine Helms Maletic, Fulton Street Farmers Market; City of Grand Rapids press releaseRelated ArticlesProposed $2.8M upgrades to Grand Rapids farmers market include new layout, year-round shopping Plan for historic Brikyaat district adopted into GR Master PlanDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

New tenant for Grand Rapids’ Flat Iron building will take all three upper floors

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August 26, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodThe new tenant for the soon-to-be rehabilitated Flat Iron Building in downtown Grand Rapids will lease all available space above the main level, opting for all 25,000 square feet for its interior LEED renovation. Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge announced this week that the firm will move into the building, whose new address will be 100 Monroe Center NE, next summer, following an extensive interior renovation.In 2009, Locus Development purchased the historic four-story Flat Iron, Herkner and Groskopfs buildings that make up the property, and plan to connect the three buildings' interiors on the second through fourth floors and restore the exteriors for LEED certification. The project will run about $4.5 million. "We have been looking for space alternatives for a year and considered staying in the Calder Plaza Building where we've been for the past 25 years," says Bill Scarbrough, Smith Haughey COO. "Our group coalesced around an adaptive reuse project in an older building and zeroed in on the Flat Iron as a major alternative to where we are."The interior renovation will preserve as much of the original brick and wood as possible, and will incorporate a mix of open floor plans and private offices. An extensive use of interior glass will allow daylight into the office spaces. "This is a significant renovation and a great thing for Grand Rapids, and we're happy to have Smith Haughey as our tenants," says John Green, a partner with Andy Winkel in Locus Development. "The only remaining space is 2,400 square feet in the old Blake's Turkey space. We have received a number of inquiries but we're waiting for the right tenant. We would love to see a bank or a retail shop there."In July, the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority awarded Locus Development three $75,000 Building Reuse and Incentive Program grants to help with the renovation.Design Plus will create the LEED interior design. Wolverine Construction Management will handle interior construction. Cornerstone Architects and Orion Construction will do the core and shell work.Source: Bill Scarbrough, Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge; John Green, Locus DevelopmentRelated ArticlesRGTV: Grand Rapids' Flat Iron development to generate 27,000 square feet of downtown office space Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Grand Rapids outdoor concert venue gets $559K facelift in time for Celebration, ArtPrize

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August 26, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodThe stage area in Ah-Nab-Awen Park directly in front of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is too small for many of the performances it hosts, and performers have to bring their own generator to have enough electricity for lighting and equipment. Not anymore. The Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority will invest $559,000 to improve the park, including work to enlarge the stage and supply it with an electrical power panel – all in time for Celebration on the Grand and ArtPrize, both happening in September. The stage is adjacent to the downtown Riverwalk, a multi-mile pedestrian walkway on the banks of the Grand River, and these are just a few of the improvements now underway with the guidance of Nagel Construction, says DDA Executive Director Jay Fowler. "A stretch of the Riverwalk from Bridge Street south to the Gillette Bridge is being replaced with concrete and new lighting," Fowler says. "A retaining wall and some terraces next to the river suffered ice damage several years ago and have been redesigned with handicap access to the river's edge."The design includes a seating wall and platform on the river's edge where anglers can fish or walkers can take a load off and view the city skyline across the river, Fowler says. A walkway around the back of the stage will give people a way to bypass the stage during performances. "This reinvigorates the park as a great venue for downtown events," Fowler says. "A lot of the larger events are too big for Rosa Parks Circle and we wanted to accommodate large events downtown. There's a beautiful view of the city and skyline, and we don't have to close off streets to accommodate crowds in the heart of downtown."Source: Jay Fowler, Grand Rapids Downtown Development AuthorityDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Historic Grand Rapids home revived as one-of-a-kind bed and breakfast inn

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June 17, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodLegend has it that in the 1900s wealthy businessman Harry C. Leonard gave his daughter Dorothy a gift – a massive home complete with servant's quarters and a third-floor ballroom. That home at Logan and Morris streets in Grand Rapids is now open as the Leonard at Logan House Bed & Breakfast, following an extensive renovation to bring it back to its former glory by owners Ann and John Finkler, Paul and Charles DeVos and Mark Zimmer. A wide, open staircase leads from the foyer to the five guest rooms on the second floor. Each guest room, tastefully appointed with period-style furniture, has a private bath. On the main floor, visitors will find a relaxing sitting room with a fireplace, a dining room and a modern gourmet kitchen. The house has oak floors throughout, except for the ballroom, which has maple – a hardwood not easily marred by dancers' shoes. The ballroom is now the owner's quarters. Modern amenities include free Wi-Fi, keyless entry and 32-inch flat screen TVs in each guest room. "We started with the roof because it was leaking, and leaks mean cracked plaster, which was throughout the house," Zimmer says. He and Ann Finkler are part of Team Restoration, the group that handled the restoration. "We added half a dozen chandeliers throughout the house to make it more elegant," Zimmer says.Outside, the owners removed two overgrown pine trees that blocked the view of the house from the street. They're currently adding an outdoor patio for guest use. Zimmer says an existing lawn area accommodates canopies for outdoor weddings and parties. Breakfast is designed to fit the needs of guests – an extensive weekday continental breakfast allows business guests to eat on the go; weekend guests experience a more leisurely meal. "During the week we attract quite a number of business travelers, and overseas contract designers who work for Steelcase," Zimmer says. "We're more laid back than a hotel, so a lot of times they'll stay here."Source: Mark Zimmer, Leonard at Logan House Bed & BreakfastDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Kendall College in Grand Rapids plans $29M expansion into Old Federal Building

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June 10, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodPlans are far from complete, but officials at Kendall College of Art and Design say they're working to get approvals by summer's end for a $27.9 million reconfiguration of the Old Federal Building into a creative space where the college, the public and the arts intersect."Kendall is growing and like any flourishing college involved with the arts, creative space is so important," says John Willey, Ferris State University's vice president for university advancement and marketing. Kendall is Ferris State's creative arts and design college."For about seven years we've been thinking about how we could expand in a meaningful way," he says. "Because of the federal building's proximity to Kendall (17 Fountain St. NW) and to our other building at 25 Lyon, we're thinking it would help connect several pieces that we're trying to do with Kendall College in downtown Grand Rapids."Preliminary plans include a studio for ceramics and sculpture, another for metal sculpture, classrooms and lecture spaces, and "significant public areas where the public can come in and engage art and be part of a vivacious creative enterprise," says Willey. Those public areas may include a restaurant or café. "We hope to have a major space dedicated to sustainable design," Willey adds. Ferris recently added a sustainable design degree to its list of course offerings. A component of the coursework takes place at Kendall, which Willey says will move the college's expertise in forward-thinking furniture design to the larger built environment."Higher education is one of our core anchors of downtown and having creative young people occupying that building is a great extension on Kendall's and Ferris' presence here," says Jay Fowler, executive director of Grand Rapids' Downtown Development Authority. The federal government transferred ownership of the building to the city of Grand Rapids when the Grand Rapids Art Museum planned to move into the space in the early '80s, says Fowler. GRAM relocated to 101 Monroe Center in 2007, leaving the building vacant,Kendall is jumping some complicated financial hurdles to purchase the building. However, because of the building's historical significance, the federal government will have the final say on changes to the structure.Source: John Willey, Ferris State University; Jay Fowler, Grand Rapids Downtown Development AuthorityDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Grand Rapids’ Goodrich Apartments breaks ground on $3.1 million makeover

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May 20, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodSeventeen years ago Grand Rapids-based Dwelling Place, Inc. purchased and renovated The Goodrich Apartments – 14 affordable apartments on S. Division Ave. just south of the Avenue for the Arts. A $3.1 million project to update the units and buildings broke ground this week. The apartments are in two circa 1890 structures constructed side by side at 333 and 339 South Division Ave. – the DelaMater Building and the Schuchardt Building, respectively. "This is not a gut rehab, but the apartments will have new appliances, new cupboards and hardwood floors throughout," says Jarrett DeWyse, director of housing development for Dwelling Place. "The buildings are long and narrow and some of the apartments are kind of dark. We're reconfiguring those apartments to have lower interior walls so natural light from the windows can travel deeper into those apartments." The apartments will get complete overhauls, including new bathrooms and some skylights. The shared spaces, such as hallways and stairwells, will be repainted and carpeted. The residents in the five occupied apartments at 339 S. Division agreed to a temporary "apartment swap" to the building next door. Once their apartments are renovated, the residents will move back in and work will begin on 333 S. Division. Dwelling Place waited for months for approval of historic preservation tax credits from the state of Michigan and the federal government. DeWyse says the approvals came through recently for nearly $2 million in tax credits. Dwelling Place has to prove that it fulfilled its promise to keep certain renovations historically accurate once the project is completed at the end of the year. "We can't remove the wood staircases, we have to replace windows with windows of similar construction, and we'll restore all the exterior cornices and window ledges," DeWyse says. The project also received $700,000 from the city of Grand Rapids, which Dwelling Place will repay after a 15-year compliance period, provided there is enough cash flow. Source: Jarrett DeWyse, Dwelling Place, Inc.Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Michigan sponsors photo contest in celebration of historic preservation month of May

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May 20, 2010

Professional and amateur photographers in metro Grand Rapids have until June 1 to submit photos that showcase Michigan's architectural heritage in a new photo contest called "Old is the New Green." Eight regional winners will be awarded several things, including a getaway to an historical Michigan destination.