Affordable Housing Project Transforms Former Adobe Mexican Kitchen Site

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — More than 100 new apartments are coming to the west side of Grand Rapids thanks to funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund Board. The board recently approved a performance-based loan up to $4.75 million for Abode Fulton, LLC to build 109 apartments on West Fulton, not far from the Acrisure Amphitheater and Grand Valley's downtown campus.

The project will include market-rate studio and one-bedroom apartments along with three commercial suites. The development, known as Abode West Fulton, is being led by Construction Simplified, a family-owned West Michigan development firm that has been making significant investments in the region over the past decade.

Project Details and Financing

The Michigan Strategic Fund approved a request for a Michigan Community Revitalization Program loan of up to $4.7 million to support the project, along with an Act 381 state tax capture worth up to $1.8 million.

The city of Grand Rapids is expected to support the project with a total of $3.6 million in incentives, according to a memo from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. These incentives include the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone and Brownfield TIF funding.

The project comes from Abode Fulton, LLC, which is being led by Construction Simplified President Brent Gibson. Construction Simplified's headquarters are located right across the street from the proposed site at 617 Fulton West, at the intersection of Seward and Fulton Street, just west of Grand Valley State University's Pew Campus.

The spot is the former site of Adobe Mexican Kitchen, which has now moved over to a new location on Bridge Street. Demolition of the restaurant is eyed for May after the state backs the apartment project.

The four-story development would include a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments, with monthly rents ranging from about $1,142 to $1,735. The building would also feature three ground-floor commercial spaces.

Strategic Location and Community Impact

The project is positioned to strengthen the West Fulton corridor, according to city planning documents. The site will serve as an anchor tenant, enhancing the overall vibrancy of the neighborhood while supporting the active Fulton Street Business Association.

The development is located close to Grand Valley State University's downtown campus and is a short walk away from both the Acrisure Amphitheater and the Amway Stadium. The project represents another significant investment in the west side of Grand Rapids, which has seen substantial development with the soccer stadium and Bridge Street improvements over the years.

"We're grateful for the support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, MEDC, and the City of Grand Rapids to help move this vision forward," said Brent Gibson, president of Construction Simplified. "Abode West Fulton is about adding energy, housing, and walkable retail that contributes to the long-term vitality of a growing and evolving Westside."

City Officials Celebrate Partnership

The City of Grand Rapids celebrates the partnership with the MEDC and Construction Simplified to activate an underutilized site through Community Revitalization Program dollars, according to Grand Rapids Economic Development Director Sarah Rainero.

"These state resources are critical to advancing brownfield redevelopment projects and will complement the momentum already underway to bring new amenities to the West Fulton business district," Rainero said. "Redeveloping this site will strengthen the City's overall economic vitality, including adding vibrancy to a walkable mixed-use district, where new residents, businesses, and visitors can enjoy this great city."

The City of Grand Rapids is expecting to contribute $3.6 million in incentives including the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone and Brownfield TIF.

Developer's Vision for the West Side

Construction Simplified has been making deliberate investments in the Westside corridor, according to Gibson. The family-owned developer is one of the leaders of the region's growth and has made continued investments in the area they call home.

"As a West Michigan business, Construction Simplified, the developer leading Abode West Fulton, has made a deliberate and continued investment in the Westside corridor we call home, something we believed in long before its current excitement and momentum," Gibson said. "We're grateful for the support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, MEDC, and the City of Grand Rapids to help move this vision forward. Abode West Fulton is about adding energy, housing, and walkable retail that contributes to the long-term vitality of a growing and evolving Westside."

Amenities and Features

The project will include amenities such as a dog washing station, fitness studio, concierge laundry service, upper outdoor deck spaces with communal outdoor areas, and a community club room. One of the commercial spots is already leased to a business.

The building will feature 6,550 square feet of commercial space alongside the residential units. The studio apartments will cost around $1,442 a month, while the one-bedroom apartments will cost around $1,735 a month, according to the MEDC memo.

Brownfield Redevelopment

The project represents another example of brownfield redevelopment in Grand Rapids, transforming a former restaurant site into mixed-use housing and commercial space. The Michigan Strategic Fund's Community Revitalization Program is designed to support such projects that revitalize underutilized sites and contribute to neighborhood development.

The approval comes as Grand Rapids continues to address housing needs and improve the quality of life for residents throughout the city. The west side has become an increasingly popular area for new development, with several projects moving forward in recent months.

Construction Timeline

No exact construction dates were shared with this update. The project will require demolition of the existing Adobe Mexican Kitchen building before construction can begin on the new apartment complex. The Michigan Strategic Fund's approval marks an important milestone in getting the project off the ground.