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 Brownfield housing TIF in the roughly $14,800,000 range, and potential rent loss valued at about $12,100,000 (roughly $148,000 per unit) over the 25-year plan. Construction was described as anticipated to start in 2025 with anticipated completion "about December" (completion year not specified in the meeting remarks).

Robinson Flats: The authority approved a resolution to adopt a work plan and to authorize execution of a development and reimbursement agreement for Robinson Flats (addresses shown as 1407, 1409 and 1417 Robinson Road). Staff summarized the project as a 32,000-square-foot mixed-use building with 24 apartments, three commercial spaces and 27 surface parking spaces. The Uptown Corridor Improvement Authority will pass through tax increment revenue in the project (staff cited about $400,000 in support). Staff listed total project costs at about $8,200,000 and hard construction costs at about $5,900,000, and said the project is pursuing housing TIF rent-loss reimbursement estimated at about $515,000. Staff said the Brownfield plan had already received city commission approval and the work before the authority packages the project for submittal to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

EnviroClean invoice reimbursement: The authority approved payment of invoices submitted by 40 Fourth Street Properties LLC for the EnviroClean project (address quoted in the packet as "115140 Fourth Street"). Staff said the total investment in the project was about $5,800,000 and the maximum eligible brownfield reimbursement was approximately $809,000. Submitted eligible costs totaled $565,835; staff recapped a negotiated payment schedule of $125,000 per year until the eligible amount is reimbursed (approximately five years). Staff said the project created 306 jobs (192 full-time, 114 part-time).

Emerging-developer grants: The authority approved an emerging-developer grant not to exceed $157,538 for a project at 807 Martin Luther King Jr. Street Southeast. Staff reported total development costs of about $1,150,000 with hard construction of roughly $827,000. The grant was described as covering predevelopment activities including environmental site assessment, architectural and engineering services and preconstruction consulting; the applicant is Vicky Runyon, with partners and contractors referenced in the record. The authority also approved an emerging-developer grant not to exceed $59,000 for a project at 1133 Fulton Street West to add two residential units as a second primary structure; staff listed total development costs just under $300,000 and said eligible grant uses include Phase I/II environmental work, geotechnical work, survey and design. Presenters discussed practical site costs (for example, the Fulton project will require running a second sewer line and a second electrical service).

Activity report and fiscal items: The authority approved the BRA's environmental site assessment and emerging-developer grant activity report for June 2025. Staff highlighted one fiscal-year-25 project at 443 Sheldon requesting an additional $4,100 for due-care planning; staff said fiscal year 2026 environmental site assessment allocation is $274,412 and the remaining FY25 balance was $24,219, which will revert to the local brownfield revolving fund. Staff also provided an emerging-developer grant summary of awards and reimbursements to date.

Votes at a glance: All motions described above were moved, seconded and carried by voice vote (the meeting record shows "aye" and "motion carries" for each action; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript). No member recorded a recorded no vote on these items.

Why it matters: The Brownfield Authority's approvals clear several redevelopment projects that rely on brownfield financing tools and emerging-developer supports intended to unlock projects that staff said would not be feasible without program assistance. The decisions move projects that include market-rate and income-restricted housing forward while also authorizing grant funds and reimbursements tied to environmental and predevelopment work.

What's next: Developers said permitting, additional state packaging and construction scheduling remain. The Robinson Flats package will be forwarded to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority; the Bretton Meadows team said it expects to return to the authority with additional approvals and details as the design and financing progress.