Grand Valley State University moved one step closer to expanding its health campus into Grand Rapids Belknap neighborhood.
In recent years Grand Valley State University has purchased 18 acres of property in the Belknap neighborhood. Properties located across the highway from its Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences on the north side of I-196.
The developed Belknap properties into a residential area will expand GVSU’s health campus into roughly four neighborhood blocks.
During Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting, memos of understanding were approved focusing on developing properties to fit in with the neighborhood and the needs of residents. GVSU President, Thomas Haas, explained, "These memos of understanding illustrate our desire to help the city with affordable housing and the area residents with employment opportunities.”
With the City of Grand Rapids approval construction planning can now begin. There’s no timetable for groundbreaking.
Trustees also increased room and board rates for students living on campus. Beginning with the fall 2016 semester the rate increases 1.6 percent or an average increase of $32.