[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6098475,"mediaKeyId","2823624-2c183ac375ae27028e237e9f0301a276","parentId",2823624,"title","Local brownfield authority approves multiple project agreements and grants aimed at housing and redevelopment","audioSeconds",427,"startMs",588000,"endMs",1015000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2823624-2c183ac375ae27028e237e9f0301a276&start=588&end=1015","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2823624-2c183ac375ae27028e237e9f0301a276/thumbnail_588000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6098475/Grand-Rapids-City/Kent-County/Michigan/Local-brownfield-authority-approves-multiple-project-agreements-and-grants-aimed-at-housing-and-redevelopment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098475-93bf1a29c8287d3d230bd6d0f44edb90/orig.mp4?Expires=1775605152&Signature=fd6-a9IAeArAGUeR6wjVdWsY-c3mm8bHIkwPwCB-CM2gq2fpIneN15VOT9D3DkuOJ9nUQAPNEnq8Jlb-bTDz9B4aXUS0QwiT9LNeB~KjbEmbtNdY9TJivEtcyQCc72cAOnHDACozhhNAMnS1aK~0TvMB~CP~ep7ZpvN9KDW2JhYM74QxxVDpY1bpYOFphLXChOzZ7wmyohgzcH7YOc~IxwlKWFJIhRPBHtKivyXWcprYlHz7bKrq8AnCaJECvisvX2122Q~DoMS0xnA16GgC0hFRFvJFbWYOxpahxSBbqBlN0FDAbUFYjpJGdoenXjm6pE740YvlehQOjnND3Ie7PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","The City of Grand Rapids","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Grand Rapids brownfield authority approved a series of project agreements and grant changes at its March meeting, voting to finalize a development and reimbursement agreement for the Adobe Fulton LLC project and to award or increase multiple brownfield and emerging‑developer grants to advance housing and redevelopment in the city.

The actions Tuesday included final approval of the Adobe Fulton work plan and a local development and reimbursement agreement for a four‑story mixed‑use building at 617 Fulton Street West and 17 Seward Avenue NW, an amended environmental site assessment (ESA) grant that raised funding for 443 Sheldon Avenue SE from $18,800 to $20,000 to cover supplemental vapor testing, a $50,000 local brownfield revolving fund (LBRF) grant to Habitat for Humanity Kent County for an infill home at 48 Home Street SW, an emerging‑developer predevelopment grant request for a mixed‑use project at 1356 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, and approval of invoices documenting eligible brownfield activities for W and S Development Partners LLC at 415 Sheldon Avenue SE.

Why it matters: the items advance multiple small and mid‑sized housing projects while using brownfield financing tools that can pair environmental assessment and cleanup with development incentives. Several presenters said the approvals are intended to speed construction and preserve affordability for buyers or tenants while addressing site conditions where required.

Most important actions

- Adobe Fulton LLC: The authority approved the final Act 381 work plan and authorized execution of a development and reimbursement agreement for a new four‑story mixed‑use building that the presentation lists as a $25,000,000 total project with $3,009,576 in eligible reimbursable activities. Staff said the developer anticipates starting construction in spring 2025 pending state approval and completing the project in spring or summer 2026. Mackenzie, the staff presenter, described the item as “really the final step for this project” and said the package will be forwarded to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for state review.

- 443 Sheldon Avenue SE ESA grant increase: Staff recommended increasing an existing ESA grant from $18,800 to $20,000 to cover additional vapor‑mitigation testing and costs caused by frozen ground in February. The board approved the increase. The staff presenter explained the supplemental work was a response to required vapor investigation materials and timing that raised costs about $1,200.

- Habitat for Humanity Kent County (48 Home Street SW): The authority approved a $50,000 LBRF grant to support construction of a single‑family infill home to be sold to a buyer at or below 80% of area median income for Kent County. Habitat representatives described the request as a capacity‑building use of LBRF funds for a small single‑home project where a full Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan would not be practical.

- Emerging developer grant (1356 Kalamazoo Ave SE): The board approved support for a proposed four‑story, all‑electric mixed‑use building with ground‑floor commercial space and 27 apartments. Staff said the total project cost is about $7.9 million with roughly $6.2 million in hard construction and an inclusion plan that targets more than 50% MLBE participation (presenters cited about 58%). Developer representatives said the funds will be used for schematic design, environmental and geotechnical work, surveys, site plans and preconstruction consulting; they aim to begin construction in July–August 2025 and complete within about a year.

- W and S Development Partners LLC (415 Sheldon Ave SE): The authority voted to approve invoices documenting eligible brownfield activities on this redevelopment, including environmental work, demolition, site preparation and infrastructure improvements. Staff said the project created two new buildings and roughly 43,000 square feet of apartments; a presenter noted lease‑up is progressing slowly through winter and is about 30% occupied on the residential side as of the meeting.

Board discussion and administrative items

Board members also discussed delegating limited administrative authority to staff for small post‑award adjustments (for example, modest increases to ESA grants). A member suggested setting a monetary threshold to allow staff to approve minor contract amendments and then report those changes to the authority, rather than routing every small amendment back to the board. Staff described the mechanics: a formal board resolution would be required to delegate authority and would include parameters such as a dollar threshold.

Quotes from presenters

“We are in a good cash position even this far into the year, holding just over $17,000,000 in cash,” Trisha, the finance presenter, said during the interim financial statements review. Mackenzie, the project presenter for Adobe Fulton, described the approval as “the final step for this project” locally before state review. Andrew Clarity from Habitat for Humanity said the single‑home pilot is “a capacity opportunity” that allows the organization to build without the administrative burden of a TIF plan for one unit. Developer Ben Koei said of the Kalamazoo project: “It is our goal to have this building named after an African American woman leader in the Third Ward or in the city of Grand Rapids.”

What the board approved: Each motion on the consent and action agenda passed (minutes, interim financial statements, the Adobe Fulton work plan and contract authorization, the Sheldon ESA grant increase, the Habitat LBRF grant, the emerging developer grant for Kalamazoo Ave and approval of W and S Development Partners invoices). The meeting record shows votes taken by voice with motions carrying; the transcript does not list a roll‑call vote for these items.

Next steps: Staff said the Adobe Fulton package will be sent to the MEDC for state approval. For grant amendments and smaller project adjustments, staff and the board discussed drafting language for a future delegation resolution specifying thresholds and reporting requirements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) - March 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Grand Rapids brownfield authority approved a series of project agreements and grant changes at its March meeting, including a $3,009,576 reimbursement request for a $25 million mixed‑use project, an increased site‑assessment grant, and several brownfield and emerging‑developer awards to support housing and cleanup.","taxTitle","Grand Rapids City, Kent County, Michigan","taxId",3704,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6098470,"Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority adopts disposition policy with amendments, greenlights property platform and first sale",772,3698000,4470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2823624-2c183ac375ae27028e237e9f0301a276&start=3698&end=4470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2823624-2c183ac375ae27028e237e9f0301a276/thumbnail_3698000.jpg","/articles/6098470/Grand-Rapids-City/Kent-County/Michigan/Grand-Rapids-Land-Bank-Authority-adopts-disposition-policy-with-amendments-greenlights-property-platform-and-first-sale","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098470-48a912c601c31a3fb03231355aef54d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775605153&Signature=ErS8KrTCJa5oR56tK3JITjOT-n8MLFEZHRxRKJ4rXFGA3-VcDihQXFdBHrHd37bykFVzyywmItFqMNT9RG4XmTVhfzAW5sibq9Z4sN-IfFrS05O7EONz7BWl4JOvLZ~Av7z41DB5mpBFPo5B24RbifmbsheStBEPyHrBMiY~yq-AKHsaSMHspjQ2GUXPo~4AoJrzghcJuorPwlQadGSBGa6n5p3z~BqCX2yeqo-NKMuFlCumT-QBRH-o9oRAXDDlQvj2M6HGTgeV6BDD2CGP2yW257hS~Smtx16UXb5WUk8BymWMUBSVSEhsejccxlaatptpN8fWZz8B~3uh~N-jnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority on Tuesday adopted a disposition policy (with an amendment and subject to attorney review), approved contracting for a property‑listing platform, and cleared the sale of a land‑bank lot to a West Side housing nonprofit for construction of a single‑family home.

The board voted to approve a written disposition policy intended to guide how the authority prioritizes and transfers vacant or non‑productive parcels, but members added a clarifying amendment on the side‑lot program and asked staff to submit the final policy to legal counsel before the document is treated as fully effective. The authority also approved a contract with e‑properties, a software platform tailored to land‑bank asset management and public property listings, and voted to sell 1125 Alpine Avenue NW to West Town Jubilee Housing Incorporated for a developer‑attached sale and expected construction of an affordable home.

Why it matters: the disposition policy frames how the land bank will prioritize transfers (including side‑lot absorption, nonprofit projects, emerging developers and homeownership), attach deed restrictions or developer agreements to preserve affordability and manage inclusion goals, and streamline administrative approvals. Approving a public property platform and authorizing the first sale establish the operational steps necessary to put lots back into productive use.

Policy, platform and sale — what the board approved

- Disposition policy (amended): Staff presented a detailed disposition policy that lays out priorities for property use, covenants and deed restrictions, side‑lot procedures, pricing guidance and an administrative framework. The board approved the policy as amended on the meeting floor, and asked staff to (a) incorporate language shown on a briefing slide into section 3.1 regarding side‑lot goals and (b) return a final version after Bloom Sluggett (city counsel) review. Board members stressed that adoption is conditioned on legal review and that the executive director will have authority to develop administrative procedures consistent with the policy.

- e‑properties contract: The authority approved a one‑time onboarding purchase of the e‑properties platform with a stated upfront cost of $16,100 and recurring subscription fees, with a target “go‑live” date of April 15. Staff said the platform will serve as the public clearinghouse to list, market and track land bank lots, and it will allow maintenance contractors to upload before‑and‑after photos and show real‑time status updates.

- Sale of 1125 Alpine Avenue NW to West Town Jubilee Housing Inc.: The authority approved disposition of a parcel to West Town Jubilee for an infill single‑family build that staff said will be sold to a buyer at or below 80% of area median income. Staff said the expected total project investment is roughly $200,000 and that a developer agreement will be attached to the sale to enforce affordability and project commitments.

Board discussion and community priorities

Members discussed how to balance competing priorities: maximizing affordable homeownership opportunities for individuals, supporting nonprofit developers that can deliver projects quickly, and using the authority to create pathways for smaller emerging developers. Staff emphasized the policy’s prioritization is guidance (prioritization, not exclusion), and members asked staff to return a rubric or matrix to help applicants understand how projects will be scored.

Several members urged patience as staff and the board build operational processes and community outreach; the executive director said staff are preparing administrative templates (deed restrictions, developer agreements, application packets, quiet‑title templates) and a community engagement plan. The authority also discussed the need to track inclusion goals and MLBE/WBE participation and asked staff to report outcomes for completed projects.

Quotes from the meeting

“This disposition policy will provide clear guidance to the land bank authority regardless of who sits on this board,” Doug, the staff presenter, said in a policy overview. Jeff, executive director of West Town Jubilee, described his organization’s experience: “We use a lot of volunteer help, and we partner with churches and other organizations to help keep the cost affordable.”

Next steps

Staff will send the amended disposition policy to city counsel for review and incorporate the clarified language on side‑lots prior to final posting. The e‑properties contract will proceed with onboarding work to meet the April 15 go‑live target. Staff said they will prepare administrative procedures and templates and will return with a draft rubric or scoring framework for prioritizing transfers. The board also agreed to add an April meeting to accommodate budget discussion and to maintain scheduling so staff can present fiscal materials to the commission as needed.","The Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority approved a disposition policy (amended and subject to legal review), authorized an e‑properties contract to list and manage land‑bank parcels, and approved sale of 1125 Alpine Ave NW to West Town Jubilee for an affordable single‑family home.","actionData","errors"]

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Local brownfield authority approves multiple project agreements and grants aimed at housing and redevelopment

Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority adopts disposition policy with amendments, greenlights property platform and first sale