Grand Rapids Community Development Committee Meeting – September 8, 2026

The Community Development Committee met on September 8, 2026, from 9:18 a.m. to 9:36 a.m. The chair opened with thanks to the labor movement. All 13 agenda items were approved unanimously by voice vote. The committee scheduled multiple September 22, 2026 public hearings, approved a green-space memorandum of understanding, and authorized contract and easement agreements.

Special Assessment Public Hearing

• Approved a resolution setting Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 7 p.m. as the date for the City Commission to convene as Board of Review to hear appeals on Nuisance Roll 8808. The transcript shows the date first stated as 2025, then immediately corrected to 2026.
• Staff reported the roll covers unpaid charges for services and code violations issued between January and June 2026, including housing violations, yard violations, rental certifications, and blight monitoring. Property owner notices were sent August 14, and the roll was open for inspection in the assessor's office.

Obsolete Property Rehabilitation (OPRA) Districts and Exemption Certificates

• 1956 Eastern LLC, 1956 Eastern Avenue SE: Scheduled a September 22, 2026 public hearing for an OPRA district and an 11-year exemption certificate. The project will rehabilitate an 800-square-foot structure into eight one-bedroom apartments, with an estimated $1.5 million investment. Staff said developer Mary Malone is in the paused emerging developer program queue and will be considered when funding is available; a commissioner noted the city has worked with her since 2017.
• 1024 MLK LLC, 1024 Martin Luther King Jr. Street SE: Scheduled a September 22, 2026 public hearing for an OPRA district and a 10-year exemption certificate. The project will rehabilitate a 5,300-square-foot structure into a child care facility plus flexible after-school and community space, with about $1 million investment, a 20% inclusion plan goal, and eight full-time equivalent jobs. Developer Latrice Hampton also applied for a corridor improvement district facade grant.
• North Quarter Development LLC, 2130 Plainfield Avenue NE: Scheduled a September 22, 2026 public hearing for an OPRA district and a 10-year exemption certificate. The project will rehabilitate a 3,000-square-foot structure into four one-bedroom apartments at 100% AMI, create a new 1,600-square-foot commercial white-box building, and share a courtyard. Staff highlighted an 82% inclusion plan goal, described as the highest the office has seen, with a micro-local contractor already identified.

Industrial Facilities Exemption Revocation

• Approved a resolution requesting revocation of an existing industrial facilities exemption certificate under PA 198 for Hudsonville Products LLC. Staff said the recipients sold the property and no longer occupy it, so the certificate is being revoked for cleanup.

Green Space MOU – 863 7th Street NW

• Approved a resolution authorizing an MOU with Commonwealth Development Corporation of America for future conveyance of green space. Parks staff said Commonwealth is acquiring the property from Grand Rapids Public Schools and, after acquisition, will convey about 0.6 acres to the city; the parks department will maintain and develop it as parkland.
• Commissioner Belshack provided context from a West Side CIA presentation: the city will take over the southwest quadrant with existing structures and fences; the front lawn will remain green space and be subject to historic federal funds; and the middle green space between the building and the alley may be developed into housing and parking, requiring future planning commission work. Staff noted the full site is about three acres, making the 0.6-acre conveyance a significant portion.

Gateway Signage, Construction and Easement Agreements

• Approved a contract with J. Rank Electric Inc. for West Side gateway signage at three locations: Leonard Street (blue branding), Bridge Street (green), and Fulton Street (red), in the amount of $1,198,991.50 with a total not to exceed $1,700,000. Staff said heights were set at 16 feet and signs can be removed for oversized loads. Commissioner Belshack said the West Side CIA accepted a bid about 30% higher than estimated to avoid rebidding and keep the timeline; signs could be installed in February, April, or May after winter fabrication.
• Approved a construction agreement and public utilities easement for Lakewood site condominiums, a private Kentwood development near 52nd Street and Wing Avenue, with utilities maintained under the city's utility service contract.
• Approved a construction agreement and sidewalk/utilities easement for JARS Cannabis at 1947 Alpine Avenue, including traffic signal work for driveway access and sidewalk improvements to create a more pedestrian-friendly space.
• Approved a sidewalk and utility easement at 915 Leffingwell Avenue NE for $1 in connection with the Leffingwell and Bradford reconstruction, extending the easement for bridge structural anchoring in an area with questionable soils entering a wetland.

Key Outcomes

• All 13 agenda items passed unanimously by voice vote.
• Public hearings were scheduled for September 22, 2026 for Nuisance Roll 8808 appeals and for OPRA district/exemption applications from 1956 Eastern LLC, 1024 MLK LLC, and North Quarter Development LLC.
• The committee approved the green-space MOU, the gateway signage contract, construction and easement agreements, and the industrial facilities exemption revocation.