GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The City of Grand Rapids is looking for development partners to build a multi-purpose structure on the northwest corner of Ionia Avenue and Fulton Street, known as the Wedge Lot.
Their plan is to build a development that will add downtown parking spaces and minority and women-owned businesses.
Tuesday, the City Commission gave its approval for the Economic Development to seek proposals to buy a portion of the city-owned land at that corner.
The city's proposed plan for the building at 22 Ottawa Ave. NW includes:
- Ground-floor retail along Fulton Street East across from Van Andel Arena.
- 200 parking spaces that can be built by the city or a partner.
- Additional commercial or residential development on top of the parking ramp.
- Construction that allows conversion of the parking structure to residential or office space in the future, if required.
- Option to include conversion of the ground floor of the existing parking ramp that fronts Ottawa.
The city's acting director of economic development services, Jono Klooster said the preliminary design aligns with the city's priority of economic prosperity and affordability.
He also said the plan fulfilled three other key objectives:
- Provide additional strategically located monthly and visitor parking options near downtown attractions, including Van Andel Arena, 20 Monroe Live, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Monroe Center and the Residence Inn hotel under construction at 10 Ionia Ave. NW.
- Activate previously underutilized land by having ground-floor retail space on Fulton Street.
- Create a facility that has future use beyond parking in a way that makes reuse as an office or residential space easily achievable when the need for parking lessens over time.
Klooster said those submitting proposals must be willing to work with their general contractor and the city to advance its commitment to increase the dollars spent on micro-local, minority-owned and women-owned businesses in connection with projects receiving city incentives.
Those interested in the property should compile and submit the following information:
- Letter of Interest that describes the proposed project and details elements from the evaluation criteria listed above
- Qualifications that describe how the project will be completed
- Names and resumes of the team members that would be involved in the project
- Anticipated timeline for development, including key milestones
- Plan and means to acquire and finance the project
- Any specific experience or achievements relevant to achieving the City’s goal as described in the addendum
One electronic and eight printed copies of the proposal are due to the City of Grand Rapids Economic Development Officer by 5 p.m. on Dec. 9.
The City Commission will consider the approval of the proposal in January of 2020.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.