Zads

More housing coming on it looks like, pending approval near Leonard and Walker, just off of Bristol. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/developer-proposes-92-units-of-single-family-housing-at-former-gravel-pit/

An East African food truck is creating a brick and mortar takeout location in Creston. I've never heard of this food truck before but I look forward to giving their physical location a visit. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/food-drink/food-truck-operator-street-chef-shaw-plans-bricks-and-mortar-creston-restaurant/

Groundbreaking for the Sullivan "Valley" Field project on the west side. It's really coming along in funding and it's great to see this project breaking ground and starting the renovation process." "The group, Fans of Valley Field, has raised $3.7 million of its $4.2 million goal to preserve and upgrade the aging ballpark..." https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/sports-recreation/local-leaders-former-players-turn-out-for-sullivan-field-groundbreaking/

Just outside of the city in Walker, a Mexican restaurant is taking over the former DeHop Brewing space. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/restaurants-1/mexican-restaurant-operator-plans-new-concept-at-former-dehops-brewing-space-in-walker/

GRR adding another airline to the mix starting next year: Sun Country, based out of Minneapolis. "Sun Country initially will operate a nonstop route from Grand Rapids to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport from June 13 to Sept. 1, 2024. Flights will be available biweekly on Sunday and Thursday afternoons and evenings, and travelers can connect to 98 destinations from Minneapolis. " https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/transportation/low-cost-airline-sun-country-coming-to-grand-rapids-airport-in-2024/

The vote on the parking lot was postponed to the next meeting in November. https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/vote-on-john-ball-zoo-parking-lot-postponed-amid-opposition/

Alright, we're moving closer to the start date, which the article says will be this fall. The City Commission approved $50 million in expansion funds. https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/city-approves-50m-expansion-to-gr-public-museum/

An update on the Amplify GR project in the Boston Square neighborhood. Can you name it? https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/how-you-could-name-the-new-boston-square-community-hub/

Looks like a bill is coming that will help cities with funding projects like this in the future . https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/economic-development/bill-would-allow-cities-to-levy-lodging-taxes-for-convention-entertainment-facilities/

Here's an update on Sullivan "Valley" Field on the west side of the city. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/sports-recreation/4-2m-restoration-starts-soon-on-historic-little-gem-baseball-field-in-grand-rapids/

MLive has the story. Never recovered Post-COVID, is what they say. https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2023/10/slows-bar-b-q-to-close-grand-rapids-location-at-downtown-market.html

We have a Caribbean restaurant now open in the former Malamiah Juice Bar that was in Studio Park. Seems they already had a location in Rivertown Mall and are looking to expand into a fast food drive thru place as well. Prices seem to be pretty fair on their ToastTab order website. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/restaurants-1/the-caribbean-bite-expands-with-new-downtown-grand-rapids-location/

And here's the piece in Crain's. As a former resident of East Hills, I'm glad to see the space filled again and for a coffee shop to fit on Cherry St. I hope they do well. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/restaurants-1/couple-plans-upscale-coffee-wine-bar-concept-in-grand-rapids-east-hills-neighborhood/

Crain's coming through with a rather significant update. Looks like Corewell will tear down some buildings in Monroe North and turn into parking lots for their employees. They do want to build residential as well to supply for "residents/fellows". I don't like the idea of tearing down buildings for parking lots. But I understand the reasoning here as well, as they combine employees into one campus. I would prefer the buildings torn down turn into parking garages with residential on top of them, as parking lots add nothing to the neighborhood. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/corewell-health-master-plan-calls-for-razing-buildings-to-make-way-for-housing-parking/

And here's the reason. Acrisure has ALREADY outgrown its newly built HQ for 800 people. They moved into this location and are looking at building a bigger building than the 800-person HQ because of rapid growth. There's no guarantee the new building they hope to construct is like the one in the rendering here (https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/acrisure-plans-230-new-hires-need-for-second-downtown-gr-building-still-unclear/) but that would be great to fill an empty lot with something like that. I would imagine that's the lot they'll continue to work on because it's next door to HQ. Otherwise, I could see maybe across Oakes St., behind Van Andel as a key empty lot that could turn into a large building. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/acrisure-fills-more-downtown-office-space-as-company-outgrows-new-headquarters/

Scholar is set to open in the former J. Gardella's space on Ionia sometime in October. I'm intrigued by the ambiance of this restaurant. It looks like it has casual vibes but also maybe more upscale dining as well. https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/elevated-cozy-library-restaurant-opening-in-gardellas-building/

Here's the information on the coffee shop going in to the Hillcrest Apartments. Seems to be a small coffee shop, so it could work well in this location. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/restaurants-1/coffee-shop-coming-to-new-creston-development/

If you want a tour of the building, it's tomorrow early evening from 4-6pm https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2023/09/tour-this-old-vacant-grand-rapids-high-school-building-before-it-gets-torn-down.html

Welcome to the Acrisure Amphiteater https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/arts-entertainment/acrisure-secures-grand-rapids-amphitheater-naming-rights-with-30m-donation/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_term=crain's+grand+rapids+business&utm_content=4c5fbdfa-eb0b-4bdb-b3d0-b3d6dc3d76e8

We have another development in Muskegon on the lake that will build on empty, vacant land. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/developer-to-buy-sprawling-paper-mill-site-on-muskegon-lake-for-mixed-use-project/

Tavern 59, the owners of The Win Tavern in Jenison, are moving forward with the project downtown thanks to approval from the Planning Commission. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/restaurant-bar-plan-advances-for-vacant-downtown-grand-rapids-building/

Bagel Kitchen opening up a second location on Leonard just west of 131. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/restaurants-1/bagel-shop-plans-second-location-on-grand-rapids-west-side/

I hope this is satire based on the Elon Musk comment...

Lyon Square construction will begin in October. https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/construction-on-grand-rapids-riverfront-plaza-to-start-next-month/

Very pleased to see not only affordable housing but high density housing coming. Also great to see an empty parking lot being turned into something useful as well.