Grand Rapids Brownfield Authority approves Bretton Meadows and Robinson Flats plans, OKs grants and reimbursements

The Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority on a unanimous voice vote approved a Brownfield plan amendment for the Bretton Meadows redevelopment; approved a work plan and authorized a development and reimbursement agreement for the Robinson Flats redevelopment; authorized payment of submitted invoices for 40 Fourth Street Properties LLC (EnviroClean); approved two emerging developer grants; and approved the authority's June activity report.

Bretton Meadows: The authority approved a Brownfield plan amendment for the project listed in the motion as the Bretton Meadows redevelopment at 4325 Bretton Avenue Southeast. Staff said the plan would demolish an existing, vacant grocery building and construct seven multifamily buildings totaling 168 residential units (84 one-bedroom units and 84 two-bedroom units). Staff reported total project costs of $36,400,000 and hard construction costs of about $28,000,000. The presentation said 82 of the 168 units are expected to be income-restricted for portions of the project term, with affordability described in staff remarks as targeted at households earning roughly 95%–100% of area median income; the Brownfield plan period is 25 years and staff also said some of the income-qualified units are expected to remain affordable for 20 years. Mackenzie, the staff presenter, also described a project inclusion plan with about 15% participation (stated as approximately $4,200,000 of the $28,000,000 construction budget), a…