GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Friday, ground was broken at the site of a multi-use building on Grand Rapids' southeast side. Located at 640 Eastern Ave. SE, the building is the largest minority-owned housing unit project in the 3rd ward of Grand Rapids.
The building will be home to an educational lab for NexGen Media GR and radio station Power 91.9 FM.
"I looking forward to being a beacon of hope and inspiration, but I'm really looking to revitalize the MLK Eastern business corridor," said Dione Boles, executive director of Larlen Communication Inc.
The building will be 16,200 square feet. It will replace another building on the site.
It will provide affordable housing, 12 units called Southtown Lofts. NexGen Media GR will be using the educational lab to expand work with area middle and high school children interested in radio, television and film.
"Having our radio station on the ground floor of this mixed-use development and allowing the community to come by and see in the window as we're broadcasting and providing encouragement and resources and relevant information is wonderful," said Boles.
The project is funded in part with grants from the City of Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment fund, Participatory Budgeting Grand Rapids, MSHDA and a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution.
Construction is expected to be completed in late 2025. It is being done by Pinnacle Construction Group. Speed Architect developed the plans.
Speaking at a groundbreaking Friday included Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, Lori Mullins of MEDC, state rep Kristian Grant, D-Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids city commissioners Bing Goei and Kelsey Perdue.