Grand Rapids city delays road reconstruction project after businesses and neighbors express concerns over parking removal and bike lanes.

The city of Grand Rapids is delaying a major road construction project on Wealthy Street in Eastown after pushback from the community. The original plans included removing parking and introducing bike lanes for several blocks, but after hearing concerns from business owners and residents, the city is taking another look.

"The City continues to engage with business and community organizations and the City will be gathering additional data and studying the corridor before completing the design between Fuller and Lake Drive," a city spokesperson said in a statement.

"The City committed to additional time for community engagement, data gathering, considerations of adjustments to the design, and review of construction sequencing and timing."

The reconstruction of Wealthy Street is now planned in multiple phases to help manage impacts to the local community. The first phase is expected in 2027 and includes the intersection of Lake Drive and Wealthy Street and extends to the east City limits near Woodmere.

This project will include:

• Water main replacement
• Reconstruction of the brick street
• ADA compliant sidewalks
• Bulb outs to improve visibility of pedestrians and shorten cross walks
• On street bike lanes that connect to existing bike lanes in East Grand Rapids and on Lake Drive

The City anticipates bidding the first phase in the Fall of 2026 for construction in 2027. A final schedule for the work between Fuller and Lake Drive will not be available until the additional design work is completed and shared with the community.

Businesses Banded Together to Push Back

In October, the city proposed removing parking on the north side of Wealthy Street between Carlton Avenue and Lake Drive. About 30 businesses banded together to push back on the road plan late last year.

"We need to not just pause it, but either change the plan and make sure it changes so the area has places to park, or else people aren't gonna have anywhere to go to visit these places," said Fadi Shatara, general manager of Pita House.

Pita House has been in Eastown for three decades and has a parking lot with 20 spots. Shatara said often people park there to go elsewhere, and that is okay.

"We're here to help each other out if something ever happens. We all work together to make this community stronger, and that's what makes Eastown, Eastown," Shatara said.

Parking Already Limited in Eastown

Business owners and customers say parking is already limited and losing more could drive customers away during an already difficult time.

"If you're going to eliminate half the street parking, I feel like it's going to be even worse for everyone in the area," Shatara said.

"Everyone's going to struggle. People tell us if they can't find parking, they're just not going to go there. So if you're going to lose, say, even 20 percent of your business because people can't park, that's going to damage a lot of people in this economy that's already struggling."

Other businesses felt the same way, including The New Yorker Menswear's Albert Koussan, who pointed to existing challenges like delivery trucks blocking traffic.

"That bike lane that they want to create is going to cause a lot of problems more than making it easier for people," Koussan said.

"If there was any substitution for that and they were able to create more parking spots for the people that live in this area and have that bike lane, everybody would be happy."

Community Relief

Many in the community tell FOX 17 they understand the push for more sustainable infrastructure, but worry about how changes could impact access.

"Parking is tricky because the only option you really have to get to some of these walkable shops is the street and it fills up quick," resident Evan-Tarence Lauchie' said.

"How am I going to get my food from Chez Olga if I have to park around a corner and then walk unless they're constructing a parking structure?" Lauchie' asked.

"I think businesses like that will be challenged to accommodate the customers."

Once the iconic Old Kent Bank building, 111 Lyon, prepares for residents.

City Responds

Now, the city says it is gathering more data and continuing community engagement before the next step.

"The reconstruction of Wealthy Street is planned with multiple phases to help manage impacts to the local community," the city spokesperson said.

"The first phase is expected in 2027 and includes the intersection of Lake Drive and Wealthy Street and extends to the east City limits near Woodmere."

"This project will include water main, reconstruction of the brick street, Americans with Disabilities Act compliant sidewalks, bulb outs to improve visibility of pedestrians and shorten cross walks, and on street bike lanes that connect to existing bike lanes in East Grand Rapids and on Lake Drive."

The City anticipates bidding the first phase in the Fall of 2026 for construction in 2027.

For people who frequent the area, it is a relief.

"I'm glad that they were wanting to pause to hear community voices," Lauchie' said.

"I hope they listen and that there's a collaborative solution that we can come up with that won't negatively affect the businesses, especially the restaurants in the already struggling time that they're allowed to have their customers get here."

For the businesses, it is a step in the right direction.

"So far, it's postponed. We're hoping for it to be canceled," Koussan said.

"Hopefully it stays forever on pause," Shatara said.

Grand Rapids backs off on plan to remove some Wealthy Street parking (WOOD) — The city of Grand Rapids is hitting pause on a major construction project after pushback from Eastown businesses. Months ago, business owners along Wealthy Street raised red flags about a planned reconstruction that would narrow the road, adding bike lanes and removing some street parking.

Wealthy Street road construction in Eastown delayed after neighbor pushback (FOX 17) — Neighbor concerns and pushback have delayed a major road construction project on Wealthy Street in Eastown. Grand Rapids recently announced its larger road projects for 2026 at the end of March. I noticed Wealthy Street was absent from that list after the city announced last year that work was supposed to start in 2026 and go through 2028.