“Our vision is really to take what we have the most of and convert it to what is most in demand.”
Sam Cummings is Managing Partner with CWD Real Estate. It’s spearheading the downtown Grand Rapids office space conversion inside 111 Lyon Street Northwest, also known as the Fifth Third Bank building, into 140 residential apartments.
“Everybody knows that we have a housing and affordable housing shortage and that people’s work habits have changed and city’s have changed over the past five or six years, so how do we kind of combine all those factors and take what we have the most of and convert it to what’s most in demand, which actually helps everything.”
The redevelopment includes 105 one-bedroom units and 35 two-bedroom units, with 28 units designated as income-qualified.
Mayor David LaGrand says this is just the beginning of a much-needed downtown Grand Rapids housing boom.
“I think we’re going to see the housing market in Grand Rapids, in terms of how many units are available, it’s sort of a snowball rolling down a hill and it’s just going to get bigger and bigger, so lots on the horizon.”
The building’s lower-level sports and recreation amenities have been named The University Club. It’s a nod to the century old social club that occupied the top floor before closing in 2023.
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