Public hearing held on 125 Ottawa redevelopment; project seeks 15-year NEZ for 36 apartments

Developers for the 125 Ottawa redevelopment presented plans to the Grand Rapids City Commission to convert the building's second through fourth floors into 36 residential apartments, with a total eligible investment of $11,400,000. The project team requested establishment of a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) that could qualify for a 15-year term because the proposal meets city investment criteria.

Sam Cummings introduced the application and said the project had been before the commission previously as part of a Brownfield plan amendment. He said the NEZ petition is being presented separately this time as a "memory jog" for the commission. City staff noted two features that make the project eligible for the long-term NEZ: an aspirational subcontracting goal to reach 30% participation by micro local women- and minority-owned business subcontractors, and an income-restriction commitment to reserve 20% of units (eight units) at or below 60% of area median income.

Mayor LeGrand and other commissioners praised the project's downtown location and its potential affordability benefits tied to walkability. "Housing that allows for the highest possibility of non car transportation to work, affords a whole layer of affordability that isn't available for housing for which, almost inevitably, you'd have to have a car to get to work," Mayor LeGrand said, noting the project's proximity to jobs and transit.

There were no public objections during the hearing and staff closed the public hearing and referred the NEZ application to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

Next steps: The commission directed referral to the Committee of the Whole; no adoption or tax-exemption approval occurred at the meeting.