Historic Return for Century-Old Advertising Company

GRAND RAPIDS — Outfront Media, the nation's leading digital signage and out-of-home advertising company, is making its first major expansion in Grand Rapids in nearly 60 years by breaking ground this month on a new 22,200-square-foot office at 565 Godfrey Avenue.

The build-to-suit facility will serve as Outfront's headquarters in the city, consolidating its front office and operational teams into a single location within the Factory Yards mixed-use development.

"When we realized our current space could no longer support our growing team in one place, we knew our next location needed to be downtown," said Brad Eldridge, Vice President for Grand Rapids at Outfront Media.

Eldridge added that the company and its predecessors have been "intertwined with Grand Rapids, its community and businesses, for more than a century."

A Century of Connection

Outfront has maintained a presence in Grand Rapids since 1885 through predecessor companies. The company has operated from its current location south of downtown since the 1960s, making this new office a significant milestone for the organization's long relationship with the city.

The new facility represents a strategic move closer to the city's downtown business district and the growing development corridor along Godfrey Avenue. The office will house both the company's front office staff and operational teams.

Factory Yards Development

The 22,200-square-foot office is being developed by Heritage Development Partners and will be part of Factory Yards, a 15-acre mixed-use redevelopment project on the city's southwest side near downtown.

Factory Yards will include:

• Residential apartments
• Retail space
• Restaurants
• Community gathering areas
• Event spaces

The development spans approximately 500,000 square feet across 11 sections, including seven buildings that repurpose historic factory structures. The project features a food hall, fitness center, self-storage area, and urban parks.

"The project will consolidate the company's front office and operational teams into a single location closer to the city's downtown business district and growing development corridor," Eldridge said.

Brownfield Remediation

The Factory Yards site was formerly occupied by the Luce Furniture and McInerney Spring and Wire facilities. The development received $102 million in state brownfield "transformational" remediation funding, making it the first such project in the city to receive this type of financial incentive.

The funding will be reimbursed over 20 years and was essential to making the project feasible, according to developers. The remediation addresses asbestos, lead paint, and other industrial contaminants from the century-old factory sites.

Construction Timeline

Construction on the Outfront Media office and the broader Factory Yards development is scheduled to begin this month. The project represents one of the largest and most expensive mixed-use developments in western Michigan.

The developers are collaborating with the City of Grand Rapids Economic Development Department to provide housing at various price points, with approximately 95 units designated for below-market rents.

Impact on Grand Rapids Development

Factory Yards is positioned to benefit from Grand Rapids' ongoing revitalization, which includes an $116 million Grand River revitalization project featuring a 12,000-seat amphitheater nearby. The developers hope to foster connectivity with the scenic river and downtown area.

The project's location at 565 Godfrey Avenue places it in a growing corridor that has seen significant investment from both private and public sources in recent years.

Outfront's return to the city represents another major business expansion for Grand Rapids, continuing a trend of large companies choosing to establish or expand their Michigan presence.