The Planning Commission’s consideration dates to earlier this year when two developers proposed a 10-story mixed-use building including residential units on properties at 260 and 288 Leonard Street. Ryan Schmidt is a partner at Indigo Design + Development.
“What is wonderful about this particular rezoning is that it allows for that activated and lively riverfront activation, but it also allows us to add density while preserving nearby neighborhoods.”
The twenty-two properties considered for rezoning are isolated from the westside neighborhoods, wedged between the Grand River to the east and US-131 to the west. To the north Leonard Street and Sixth Street to the south.
Currently the height limit for building construction in this area is five stories. Under the proposed rezoning, it would increase to 20 stories.
Mobile GR has surveyed traffic determining infrastructure can handle added density.
Kristin Turkelson is Grand Rapids Planning Director, she addressed parking citing 2018 when the city did away with parking requirements in the City Center zone.
“[N]ot a single development has gone in without providing parking. And so, I really look at this as, as more of the city taking the hands-off approach and putting it on the business owners or the market to determine what’s necessary or what’s appropriate."
The Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning for city commissioner’s consideration.