Council establishes obsolete-property district for 224 Washington and approves brownfield plan with timing, façade and capture limits

Grand Haven City Council on Sept. 15 approved two related redevelopment steps for the vacant Grand Haven Jewelry Building at 224 Washington Ave.: the council established an OPRA district for the parcel and adopted a brownfield plan with conditions, including a cap on tax capture and a timeline for construction.

City staff described the property as vacant for roughly seven years and said the owner now proposes a mixed-use redevelopment with ground-floor commercial space and seven upper-story residential units, some of which were described by the applicant as "attainable." City staff and the Economic Development/Brownfield Redevelopment Authority recommended approval.

What council approved - OPRA district: Council voted unanimously to establish the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District for parcel 70-03-20-46-011, the property known locally as the Grand Haven Jewelry Building. Motion: moved by Fritz and seconded by McLaughlin; outcome: adopted (unanimous). That action allows the property owner to later apply for an…