New $24.5 Million Development to Replace Restaurant at 617 W. Fulton St.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Construction Simplified has received approval from the Michigan Strategic Fund for a $4.75 million loan to demolish the Adobe Mexican Kitchen restaurant and replace it with a 109-unit apartment building and three commercial spaces at 617 W. Fulton St.

The project, known as Abode West Fulton, is part of a broader development vision for the West Fulton corridor, according to Brent Gibson, president of Construction Simplified. Demolition of the Adobe restaurant is expected to begin in late May, with construction completion scheduled for June 2027.

Project Details

The four-story development will feature approximately 80% studio apartments and the remaining 20% as one-bedroom layouts. Monthly rents are projected to range from about $1,142 to $1,735.

Key amenities planned for the building include:

• A two-story integrated parking deck with 70 spaces
• Rooftop deck
• Courtyard with fire pits, grills, and dog areas
• Outdoor leisure activities space

The building will also house three ground-floor commercial spaces. Gibson said he is currently in negotiations with a local coffee shop for a corner unit and is seeking a restaurant or bar tenant for a larger 2,800-square-foot space. He hopes to attract a fitness tenant for a smaller 1,100-square-foot space integrated into the building lobby.

Financing and Funding

In addition to the MSF loan, Construction Simplified is financing the project with a $13.4 million private loan and more than $5.8 million in equity from the development team, according to an MEDC memo.

The City of Grand Rapids is providing $3.6 million in tax incentives, including the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone and Brownfield TIF. The developer can also capture up to $1.8 million in future state tax revenue generated by the redevelopment at the site.

The MSF loan was deemed necessary due to challenging construction and development market conditions in West Michigan. MEDC officials noted that loans issued through the Community Revitalization Program carry an interest rate of about 1%, compared with roughly 6% to 7% for traditional private-market financing.

Location and Vision

The project is located near Grand Valley State University's downtown campus and is within walking distance of the Acrisure Amphitheater and Amway Stadium. The Adobe Mexican Kitchen has already moved to a new location at 527 Bridge St. NW, which is being built by Construction Simplified.

Gibson said demolition on another building at 17 Seward Ave. NW, which will also make room for the new apartment building, could begin next month.

"My vision is that this becomes a north-south corridor," Gibson said, describing a stretch of the West Side from Leonard Street to Bridge Street to Fulton Street. "This sits at the intersection of traveling west out of downtown and north to the soccer stadium."

The developer noted that the West Side is receiving significant investment, including restaurants, retailers and apartments on Bridge Street NW, as well as Amway Stadium, an 8,500-seat soccer stadium slated to open in 2027 adjacent to the David D. Hunting YMCA on Lake Michigan Drive NW.

"We're really just trying to purpose more urban, city living that we might expect in bigger cities right here in West Michigan," Gibson said.

Previous Projects

Construction Simplified has completed several projects on West Fulton, including The Anthony, an eight-unit apartment building that opened at 851 W. Fulton St. in 2024. The firm also opened its new $4 million office at 625 W. Fulton St. in 2023.

Sources:

• https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/new-25-million-apartment-and-commercial-project-planned-for-grand-rapids-west-side-gets-state-support
• https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2026/03/demolition-of-grand-rapids-restaurant-eyed-for-may-after-state-backs-apartment-project.html