Commission hears several Brownfield and development proposals, refers projects to Committee of the Whole

The Grand Rapids City Commission on Feb. 24 held public hearings on multiple development proposals that would use Brownfield and other city real-estate tools, and referred each item to the Committee of the Whole for more detailed consideration.

The items heard included a Wealthy Street building activation and tax-exemption request; the M Village project on Eastern Avenue associated with Messiah Baptist; a proposed headquarters building for the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and a Brownfield-plan amendment tied to infrastructure investments on a large industrial site in Walker.

1007 Wealthy Street: Staff described a proposal to reactivate a currently vacant building with first-floor commercial activation and four residential units on the second floor. The project presenter said the building comprises about 1,800 square feet on the first floor, with construction costs presented as $704,735. The applicant highlighted a 10-year exemption and an inclusion plan that set aspirational subcontractor goals of 30% for minority-, women- and micro-local businesses. The hearing record shows no public opposition; the commission referred the item to Committee of the Whole.

M Village (Eastern Avenue): Staff presented the M Village Brownfield plan, describing two phases that eventually would provide 70 residential units (the first phase would include 10 duplexes, or 20 for-sale units). Eligible Brownfield activities were presented at $5,176,149. Staff also noted preliminary discussions with the Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority about capture-sharing; the authority has not made a final determination. Project representatives said the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority had approved an emerging-developer grant of $171,225 at its January meeting. The commission referred the Brownfield plan to Committee of the Whole.

West Michigan Hispanic Chamber headquarters (Godfrey Avenue): Project presenters described a proposed two-story, roughly 12,600-square-foot building to house the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The team presented a total development cost of about $9.3 million, said the project is expected to pursue LEED certification, and discussed Brownfield-eligible activities including demolition, site prep, public infrastructure and asbestos abatement. The inclusion plan lists aspirational subcontractor participation goals of 30% and a $40,000 allocation described for subcontractor professional services. The item was referred to Committee of the Whole.

Walker-area Brownfield amendment: Staff described an amendment to a 2016 Brownfield agreement (amended 2018) that enabled infrastructure investments across a larger, multi-parcel development (more than 200 acres) tied to private industrial development. The amendment presented at the hearing would reimburse an additional $90,400 in infrastructure expenses and extend the Brownfield term so reimbursements can continue through 2042 (a term extension of roughly 27 years in the presented materials). Staff said earlier investments at the site totaled $6.2 million and that the site has attracted substantial private investment and employment; after reimbursements, the land will revert to the city of Walker under the PA 4 25 land-share agreement provisions described on the record. The commission referred the amendment to Committee of the Whole.

Commissioners and staff repeatedly highlighted aspirational subcontractor participation goals (30% at several projects; 35% was noted for M Village), emerging-developer grants and coordination with corridor-improvement authorities as recurring themes. Members of project teams and community partners spoke in support of the projects during public comment periods; no final approvals were taken at the meeting — the items were all referred for additional committee review.

Commissioners said they want continued emphasis on inclusion plans and use of micro-local minority- and women-owned businesses when projects progress through committee and final approvals.