GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — With almost 500 units of residential housing coming to this former factory In Grand Rapids' Roosevelt Park Neighborhood, it'll help bring some relief to the housing issue that one of Michigan's fastest growing counties is facing.
Construction of "Factory Yards" will start off of Godfrey Ave. across the street from Roberto Clemente Park on Grand Rapids' southwest side.
Jono Klooster is the Acting Economic Development Director for the City of Grand Rapids.
"The target is to get some of the resident residential units online as soon as fall or winter of 2025," said Klooster. "This property is unproductive right now. As we've already discussed, we need more housing. So it's addressing that need. I think we'll see a lot more commercial activity over here, obviously, with all of the retail and office space that's going to be developed as part of this project."
Housing Next is an organization working to bring new homes to the area. Executive Director Brooke Oosterman said a recent housing needs assessment shows that Kent County 35,000 new housing units over the next five years.
While only around 90 units of the Factory Yards development project will be considered affordable housing, the other more than 350 units will be market-rate, a mix that Oosterman said is essential.
"We need those affordable units," said Oosterman. "But we also need market rate units, so that individuals who can afford to be in those units move out of our more affordable housing options. And that way, we have mobility in the market and opportunity for those who are impacted most."
Located not too far from the river, and with more businesses wanting to expand, the housing project is something everyone hopes to see more of.
"We also see population growth projections over the next five years," said Oosterman. "And so what that means is that we have a community that people want to live in want to work in."
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