The new 57-unit affordable rental housing building at 1470 Kalamazoo Avenue SE in Grand Rapids is officially under construction.
Known as the “F2 Building” within the Boston Square Together Site Plan by non-profit Amplify GR, the structure will also have retail space and is expected to be completed in 2026.
Brad Mathis, Senior Vice President with Rockford Construction says the project is about more than bricks and steel. It’s about the lives that will be impacted for generations to come.
“It’s about creating real opportunity for the neighbors that call Boston Square home. Opportunities that shape futures, open doors and give back in very lasting ways.”
Neighbors like Loretta Crawford who’s lived in the nearby Adams Park Apartments for 26 years. She says developers and stakeholders have built trust in the community and included residents’ input in every area.
“They didn’t just come in and say we’re going to do this and this and you gotta do this. They did not do that. They’re very open about keeping the Boston Square area the Boston Square area.”
Other projects in the plan include a Corewell Health Center, a food hall, spaces for business development and an early childhood education provider.
Miss Loretta is excited to see it come to fruition.
“'Cause I have to go back to my building and let my neighbors know it's on and it’s popping just be patient!”
The design and scope of the F2 project was informed through a community process facilitated in 2019 by Boston Square Together partners and continuing today through monthly engagement from a Neighborhood Advisory Committee.
UrbanWorks was the lead architect, Brinshore Development is the development partner and Rockford Construction is leading construction.
Part of the continued engagement and co-designing process is facilitated through the Community Partnership Agreement organizations which includes Amplify GR, Boston Square Neighborhood Association, Oakdale Neighbors and the City of Grand Rapids.
Learn more about Boston Square Together at https://bostonsquaregr.org/housingoptions
