By Luke Ferris, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County
On Feb. 20, the Grand Rapids City Commission unanimously approved the site plan for the 5.5-acre Plaza Roosevelt development located in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood in southwest Grand Rapids.
“One step closer,” said Mayor Rosalynn Bliss after the commission commenced a roll call vote to adopt the ordinance that will rezone several properties along Grandville Avenue, Graham Street and Rumsey Street SW.
The plan was unanimously approved by the City Planning Commission in January and reviewed by the Community Development Committee on February 6th. The project is scheduled to break ground in fall of 2018 with Habitat Kent’s affordable housing and a new Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) high school.
“Congratulations, this is an amazing process where a really deep dive was done with the community and I’m really pleased to move this forward tonight,” said Second Ward Commissioner Ruth Kelly prior to the vote.
Plaza Roosevelt is a neighborhood-driven mixed-use development which will enhance health, education, and economic opportunities for the Roosevelt Park neighborhood. Guided by resident leadership throughout the process, the development plan is the result of community-based organizations representing health, education, housing, and the arts coming together to bring neighbors’ vision for Roosevelt Park to life.
“We are pleased to be a partner in something that is going to bring such a good development project that is benefitting our neighbors and driven by our neighbors,” said Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association Director Amy Brower. “This is a step toward a bright and strong future for an already vibrant neighborhood.”
The site is situated in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood on two blocks on the east side of Grandville Avenue between Graham Street on the north and Franklin Street on the south. Named Plaza Roosevelt by neighbors, the development will provide future affordable homeownership and rental opportunities, expansion of Mercy Health St. Mary’s Clinica Santa Maria, the new dual-immersion GRPS high school, arts and cultural programming, community gathering space, after-school programming and other services and amenities to the area.
“Because of neighborhood leadership and guidance throughout the process, the development plan is the result of people coming together to bring the neighbors’ vision for Roosevelt Park to life” said Habitat Kent Executive Director BriAnne McKee. “I’d like to thank the Planning Commission, Community Development Committee, City Commission, and Mayor Bliss for approving the site plan and understanding the vision for the neighborhood.”
Partners in Plaza Roosevelt include the Neighborhood Partner Committee—comprised of neighborhood residents—and Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, Ferris State University, Dwelling Place, Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Clinica Santa Maria, and the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association.
For more information on the Plaza Roosevelt development, visit plazaroosevelt.org.
