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Brownfield board approves Pleasant Hills phase 3 with housing affordability commitments
Summary
The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved a plan amendment and local Brownfield revolving loan fund (LBRF) grant for phase 3 of the Pleasant Hills project in Roosevelt Park, advancing 27 for-sale units including 16 income-restricted homes and a $250,000 LBRF request for down-payment assistance.
The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority on a voice vote approved an amendment to the Brownfield plan and a conditional Local Brownfield Revolving Fund grant for the Pleasant Hills phase 3 project at 539 New Avenue Southwest.
The amendment, presented by Mackenzie (BRA staff), covers demolition of an existing storage building and construction of a new five-story, 27-unit for-sale building in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood. Mackenzie said 16 of the 27 units will be priced for households at or below 80% of Kent County area median income (AMI) and 11 units for households at or below 120% of AMI. The total project cost is about $10.5 million, with approximately $8.9 million in hard construction costs, and a requested Brownfield housing TIF that would support roughly $2.6 million in eligible activity costs.
Mackenzie said the development team seeks a $250,000 LBRF grant to assist with down-payment support for buyers at or below 80% AMI. She also described inclusion goals for subcontracting: 5% M/WBE, 2% WBE, and 23% MBE participation on construction dollars, and about $1.1 million in professional services planned to be procured from MBEs.
Andrew Clarity of Habitat for Humanity and Jessica Solis of SME joined the presentation. Clarity said Habitat places deed restrictions on units it sells to maintain affordability for up to 90 years and described the project as an "innovative" for-sale affordable product for Grand Rapids. He described the building layout: three units facing Oakland and six units per floor on floors two through five, with a mix of two- and three-bedroom units.
Construction is anticipated to start March 2026 with completion in June 2027, according to the presentation. Board members asked about condominium association assessments and neighborhood outreach; the applicant said associations will handle long-term maintenance and that ongoing communication with the Roosevelt Park neighborhood association and local schools has been steady.
The motion to approve was made and seconded; the board approved the resolution by voice vote.
