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New housing began construction on 60th near Kalamazoo. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/construction-starts-on-274-unit-townhomes-project-south-of-grand-rapids/

https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/grand-rapids-set-to-issue-80-5m-in-bonds-for-acrisure-amphitheater-and-relocation/ "The Grand Rapids City Commission will consider issuing $80.5 million in capital improvement bonds at tonight’s meeting for the Acrisure Amphitheater project. Part of the bond, in the amount of $60 million, will go toward construction, renovation and remediation costs at 1500 Scribner Ave. NW, the former Kent County Road Commission property where the city is moving various services to clear the way for the amphitheater at 201 Market Ave. SW. The other $20.5 million of the bond will go toward constructing the $184 million amphitheater."

DDA has approved the upcoming work to the plaza https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/grand-rapids-downtown-board-oks-design-work-for-calder-plaza/ "Before the full plaza redesign takes place, the whole concrete deck needs to be removed, waterproofed and replaced — a city project that will begin in 2025. In the meantime, the first phase of design work will include stakeholder meetings, concept design, renderings, cost estimates and selecting a construction manager, which is set to be done in about 12-14 weeks. "

GRPM has posted some pictures from the excavation of the turbines that powered Voigt Mill on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/GRMuseum/posts/pfbid02GuGkvPLDdZ4qUrd9qYBH8HRaq1MvQ8X4QoDPAHHVnjRALhhwP3ofQJN7syUHFWw1l https://www.facebook.com/GRMuseum/posts/pfbid02znS3D6G9WteDbsSpkRYTbrziL9bX3npZ5yj6YSPZ97Ag8VZ4GmLt5et19n7Q9YM9l https://www.facebook.com/GRMuseum/posts/pfbid02QBv2wUWvagUu3s9yoGXXFnfrUcDzjogBwibE9diJqbWBd7QHxkf62e43UNhP9Xf3l

Just adding Crain's updated article on this project. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/partners-plan-shelter-social-services-facility-at-former-fulton-manor-site/ "When completed, the rehabilitated building will house the Nexus Initiative, a housing and social service facility run by Community Rebuilders that will be able to house 42 individuals at a time who are emerging from homelessness, Heule said. The project also has received an undisclosed amount of funding support from the DeVos family for ongoing operating costs."

New Holland Brewing is expanding to Grand Haven. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/restaurants-1/new-holland-brewing-plans-new-spirits-tasting-room-in-downtown-grand-haven/

Fantastic news for our city. This should be great for not only the people but the wildlife in the river. I was not hopeful after last year's announcement of no whitewater. Personally, I'd love to see whitewater in the rapids, but just bringing back the "rapids" in general is a good thing.

MLive has a subscriber only story about the Post Office https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/03/taking-up-a-prime-riverfront-site-why-hasnt-the-grand-rapids-post-office-been-redeveloped.html Typically, these articles aren't written with just speculation, because it's not news. But there is a tidbit in here early, about trying to push toward getting USPS out of that property and somewhere else. "Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) has proposed placing the post office property within the Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) tax-collection district. The move, part of a larger proposed adjustment to the DDA’s tax-collection district, would enable the DDA to provide financial support if the Postal Service were to sell the property and a developer were to propose a project there."

I've visited Louisville's stadium, not for a game, but for a half marathon and we finished into that plaza on the right side of the photo. I can't speak for soccer game days but the amount of space we had for the end of the race gives me hope for GR's stadium to have a plaza similar that can host events.

Scary stuff. Here's a piece from Fox17. https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/smoke-and-flames-visible-as-fire-breaks-out-on-top-of-gr-brewing-company-building Just looking at the picture in the piece, it was in the vent in the rear of the building and traveled up through that to the roof.

Mertens Prime is up for sale https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/restaurants-1/owner-lists-downtown-restaurant-mertens-prime-for-450000-and-liabilities/

I'm quite surprised to see no parking garages being built for the stadium. I'm also quite pleased to see no more land committed to parking and instead taking parking away for something beneficial to our community. Looking forward to seeing the updated renderings.

This was unlikely to happen with GVSU upgrading Lubbers Stadium very recently. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a conversation there but I would guess Lubbers renovation was planned well ahead of this soccer stadium.

An update from Crain's on the funding. With this final donation, the amphitheater hit the budget and then some. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/economic-development/downtown-development-authority-to-kick-in-20-5m-for-acrisure-amphitheater/

Haven't touched this thread in a year but WZZM has a Phase 1 story update for us on the ballpark renovation. https://www.wzzm13.com/article/sports/mlb/whitecaps/whitecaps-phase-1-lmcu-ballpark-updates/69-a9991735-53a6-409a-9415-a9bbc1ae06a5

This is so necessary in Rockford. They're spot on with the reason why, as well. There's no hotels in the city whatsoever and it's a growing area. I imagine we'll see more hotels popping up near US 131 in the coming years.

Over in Holland, the The Shops at Westshore are back for the first time since 2021. It's scaled down a bit, according to the piece in the Holland Sentinel. https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/business/real-estate/2024/02/09/westshore-legacy-project-back-before-holland-charter-townships-planning-commission/72499624007/

And Crain's with the story. I live down the street from this location and I'm quite excited to see another business filling into a vacant building on Leonard. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/sports-recreation/indoor-pickleball-golf-simulator-venue-planned-for-grand-rapids-west-side/

Interesting to hear both sides about Kent County's move out of the downtown core. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/just-how-bad-is-kent-countys-exodus-from-downtown-grand-rapids/

The Sovengard set to reopen in April. A lot of great detail in here from Crain's. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/restaurants-1/scandinavian-inspired-restaurant-prepares-to-reopen-after-3m-relocation/

Throwing this here, maybe 82 Ionia becomes affordable housing or just market rate housing. Either way, this would help a ton in the downtown core. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/82-ionia-may-be-poised-for-a-rare-office-to-housing-conversion/

City of GR Parks and Rec posted some images of a reimagined Canal Park. In the comments, they note the trail from Leonard to Ann expects to be kicked off within the next year or so. Check it out. https://www.facebook.com/GRParksandRec/posts/pfbid02Ym1xqnonrv5ypocojanvTGdP3Fr7yhpAob1H446SckSutpQAxtyHreuNV4GdCxyhl

The building and the property, including the building next door is owned by an LLC tied back to a construction company in the city. I do wonder what will happen next with this property. I used to live right next door. I really hope the new owner keeps the L&B building, such a cool piece of architectural history.

A new brunch place coming to Forest Hills. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/restaurants-1/muskegon-area-restaurant-operator-brings-brunch-concept-to-grand-rapids/

I think this might be the best thread for this article. Kent County is moving out of downtown and onto Fuller and 196. Lots of information in the article. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/kent-county-to-move-180-workers-out-of-downtown-under-relocation-plan/ I thought this stood out the most: "Once the new administration building is constructed, the county plans to remodel the 300 Monroe building so the prosecutor’s office can move in and continue to stay in close proximity to the circuit courthouse at 180 Ottawa Ave. NW. The prosecutor team currently works from another county-owned downtown office at 82 Ionia Ave. Once the staff moves to 300 Monroe, the 82 Ionia building would be vacant, and the county intends to sell the building."