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Commission holds hearing on Brownfield plan for 125 Ottawa office‑to‑residential conversion; developers propose 36 units and $4.6M in eligible Brownfield costs
Summary
Developers and city staff presented a Brownfield plan and related incentives to convert the north side of the Ledyard Building at 125 Ottawa into 36 apartments, with total project costs of about $11.4 million, 20% of units targeting 60% AMI, a 90% DDA TIF pass‑through and roughly $4.6 million in Brownfield‑eligible activities.
The Grand Rapids City Commission held a public hearing Oct. 21 on a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority plan for 125 Ottawa — part of a proposed conversion of the historic Ledyard Building that would turn office floors into residential units.
Sarah Reneiro, city staff, introduced the request and said the proposal would convert floors 2 through 4 at 125 Ottawa into 36 apartments and that the development team is seeking Brownfield reimbursement primarily for demolition and potential rent loss, with roughly $4.6 million listed as eligible activity costs. The city packet lists total project costs at about $11.4 million.
Developer Sam Cummings said the conversion is part of a broader downtown strategy to adapt surplus office space into housing. “We like to refer to it as 1 plus 1 equals 4,” Cummings told the commission, saying the project would both create residential units and support downtown activation. Cummings said the north side conversion would yield 36 units consisting of 31 one‑bedroom units and six two‑bedroom units and that the design surrounds an existing atrium.
Jared Belka of the development team said the project expects to target about 20% of units at roughly 60% area median income (AMI), with the remainder at or below 120% AMI. He also said the project is seeking additional gap funding and that the Downtown Development Authority agreed to a 90% TIF pass‑through for Brownfield capture so that most incremental tax increment revenue from the site would flow to the project.
Reneiro noted the Development Downtown Authority (DDA) reviewed the matter at its committee meeting and that a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) tax abatement is also being pursued in a related, upcoming action.
The hearing closed with no immediate formal vote on the Brownfield plan; staff said the item will return for further committee and commission consideration. The community development committee had reviewed the request earlier the same day.
Supporters and commissioners praised the adaptive reuse of a historic building and the inclusion goals the developer listed: a target of 30% overall participation for micro, local, women‑ and minority‑owned businesses (about $1.85 million of construction dollars) was reported in the developer’s participation plan.
No final action was taken during the hearing. Staff and the development team are expected to return with final plan language and any NEZ abatement details at a future commission meeting.
