New Mixed-Income Housing Project Under Construction in Southeast Neighborhood

A new 45-unit mixed-income apartment building under construction in Grand Rapids' Boston Square neighborhood has received a $1.3 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The building at 1480 Kalamazoo Ave. SE is being developed by Amplify GR, a community development group focused on neighborhood revitalization.

Project Details and Timeline

The building is currently under construction with work that began in January and is expected to be completed by July 2027. The development includes one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with 10,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space planned for a neighborhood food hall.

The project's total cost is estimated at $25 million. The $1.3 million grant comes from the MEDC's Revitalization and Placemaking program, which provides gap financing for place-based infrastructure development and real estate rehabilitation.

Affordable Housing Component

The project will offer a mix of affordable and market-rate housing. Thirty-six units will be reserved for households earning up to 60% of the area median income. For a two-person household in Kent County, that threshold is $51,120 annually. The remaining nine units will be offered at market rate.

The food hall is envisioned as both a neighborhood gathering space and an incubator for local food businesses. Early plans include room for six food vendors with shared seating and potentially a bar. The interior construction of the food hall is expected to require an additional $3 million to $5 million, which Amplify will need to raise separately.

Part of Larger Boston Square Revitalization

This building is part of the Boston Square Together Project, a neighbor-informed, comprehensive redevelopment of 10 acres in the neighborhood. The project aims to increase housing, commercial space for entrepreneurs, and community amenities throughout the area.

Amplify GR has already developed several other projects in Boston Square along Kalamazoo Ave. SE. Kabo Flats, a $30 million, 57-unit mixed-income apartment building, is expected to open in June. The developer has also created a $27 million community center and a $600,000 commercial kitchen for food entrepreneurs.

State and City Support

The project will be supported by a $1.3 million Revitalization and Placemaking grant from the MEDC to assist with costs associated with construction costs and site conditions. This brings a total anticipated capital investment of $25.5 million for the project.

The City of Grand Rapids is supporting this phase of the development with a $400,000 HOME grant. The development entity is BSQ Together I LDHA, LLC, which is part of Brinshore Development, LLC.

About Brinshore and Amplify GR

Brinshore Development, LLC is a private firm specializing in the development of affordable and mixed-income housing, founded in 1994. The company is one of the nation's largest and most successful housing development firms in the affordable housing market.

Amplify GR was founded in 2018 and invests in securing economic pathways for residents of designated neighborhoods in Grand Rapids. The organization utilizes a holistic approach to community partnership and revitalization modeled after Purpose Built Communities, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Community Impact

Jon Ippel, Amplify GR's executive director, said the grant will help meet the goal of providing the neighborhood with more housing and business ownership opportunities. The food hall is intended to serve as a neighborhood gathering space while also incubating local food businesses.

The development represents continued investment in Boston Square, a neighborhood on Grand Rapids' southeast side. The project adds critical housing units and commercial amenities to an area that has been part of a broader revitalization effort.

Project Location

The 45-unit building is located at 1480 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, south of Hall Street SE in the Boston Square neighborhood. The development will complement existing housing and commercial projects already under way in the area.

"The project reflects the kind of catalytic development that brings housing, business opportunities, and community amenities to neighborhoods that need them most," Ippel told MLive.

The project is part of the state's Make It in Michigan economic development strategy, which aims to build on Michigan's progress as a top state for opportunity and business. The MEDC's Senior Vice President of Community Planning and Development Readiness, Michele Wildman, noted that these projects contribute to the vibrancy and economic activity in their communities.