In case you haven’t heard, exciting things are happening in Grand Rapids and Northville, Michigan. Just on Tuesday, some big decisions were made that will lead to awesome developments in these two cities. Plenty of folks will benefit, from sports fans in Grand Rapids to park-goers in Northville.
The Michigan Strategic Fund board – basically a group of folks who make important decisions on how to fund statewide projects – gave the thumbs up to several projects, which are set to bring about some pretty big changes.
In Grand Rapids, they’re doling out a whopping $252.3 million to back things up for the new Acrisure Amphitheater, a proposed soccer stadium, and other related developments. They’re being brought to life by Grand Action 2.0 and the Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, with total plans reaching over $700 million in investment for the city. It’s a huge deal folks!
Among these projects is a new amphitheater, which will take up a 10.6-acre site along the Grand River. It’s expected to seat over 12,000 folks and overall it’s an enormous endeavor – think 296,109 square feet! In addition to that, they’re also planning a six-story apartment building with 475 units and its own parking garage.
As far as soccer fans are concerned, a new stadium is heading their way too! With room for 8,500 fans, the stadium will be part of a larger development called The Stadium District Tower. This project will include an apartment building, office space, retail or restaurant space, and a 350-space parking garage. Pretty cool, huh?
Mayor of Grand Rapids, Rosalynn Bliss, is pumped up about these projects. She thinks they’re going to generate loads of business, spark other new developments, and breathe life into some underutilized waterfront property.
Meanwhile, over in Northville, things are getting greener. They’d asked for a $2.08 million state tax capture to help redevelop a 7.85-acre site that once housed Northville Downs. The good news is, they got it!
The funding will be spent on public amenities and infrastructure improvements, specifically towards restoring the Rouge River closer to its natural state, and creating a public park. That’s a win for nature-lovers and local residents!
This development, coupled with The Downs, a new community featuring houses, townhouses, apartments, condos, and small businesses, will mean great things for Northville. The green project alone is expected to bring new housing, retail space, parks, and improved connectivity for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers.
One last thing, another company got some pretty decent funding too. Northland Corp., a refrigeration company, will be investing more than $21 million in new equipment and will be expanding its factory after receiving a $1.2 million grant. The expansion will not only make it the company’s largest manufacturing facility, but also create up to 200 jobs while retaining another 116 jobs. Good news all around!
