GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Project planners are giving the public a closer look at the plans that would transform the Grand Rapids skyline, adding three new towers along the Grand River downtown.
On Wednesday, the city's Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will see the plans to build the three new towers along the River, which would add apartments and condos to the city.
"So it's really exciting that they can finally say, hey, here's here's what's being proposed, and people can start to picture it," said Joshua Lunger, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Grand Rapids Chamber.
The massive redevelopment effort backed by the DeVos and Van Andel families could transform the Grand Rapids skyline as soon as the fall of 2028.
"The proposed project is aiming to redevelop seven acres of vacant surface parking lots into about 1.2 million square feet of very dense, vibrant and exciting new development in the downtown," said Joe Agostinelli, managing director of Michigan Growth Advisors.
The towers would be built just north of 131 at the old site of Charley's Crab restaurant.
One tower would be an office building, another a residential tower, and the third would be hotels and condos.
"It really is almost going to be like a whole different level of public experience in our city, not to mention the opportunity to create more better paying jobs there," said Lunger.
Agostinelli is from Michigan Growth Advisors-- helping to plan the project. He said the towers will help boost the economy in the city.
"This project's really aiming to revitalize a site that is really lacking in what it could be. So the site, the vision moving forward is again to maximize the opportunity on that site, adding much needed housing to the community along with lots of retail and restaurant opportunities," Agostinelli.
If the project is approved by the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority in October, it will go before the city in November. If all goes according to plan, Agostinelli said we could see groundbreaking on the project in the Fall of 2025 with the towers completed by the earliest at the end of 2028.
"We see this as really a growing sports and entertainment district where people will be able to live, work, play, enjoy the riverfront, and we're very excited to see it starting to move forward," said Agostinelli.