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Rezoning allows for construction of up to 20-story buildings on Grand Rapids northwest end of town

Proposed northwest Grand Rapids rezoning.
Patrick Center
/
WGVU Public Media
Proposed northwest Grand Rapids rezoning.

Grand Rapids City Commissioners this week approved the rezoning of 30 acres of riverfront property.

In December, the Grand Rapids Planning Commission recommended the rezoning of twenty-two properties wedged between Leonard Street to the North and Sixth Street to the south. The Grand River to the east and US-131 to the west.

The proposed rezoning taken into consideration in early 2023 after two developers proposed a 10-story mixed-use building including residential units on properties at 260 and 288 Leonard Street.

“This is just borne out of our need for housing and just continued need for our business community.”

Drew Robbins is First Ward Commissioner.

“I’m personally excited about this. I think it will hopefully incentives some much needed housing in this area. And it proximity to downtown makes it a very suitable location for some greater density.”

The rezoning increases the new construction height limit up to 20 stories. Previously, the maximum was five stories.

With the potential for increased area activity, Mobile GR surveyed traffic flows determining infrastructure can handle added density.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.