The Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority on the morning of the meeting approved a set of redevelopment and grant requests intended to spur housing and ground-floor commercial reuse across the city.

Staff presented a resolution to support the 125 Ottawa Northwest project, an adaptive reuse of Floors 2–4 of the Ledyard Building to create 36 residential units, including eight units targeted to households earning at or below 60% of Kent County area median income. "If you approve the work plan, before you this morning, then we would be authorized then to work and draft and execute a development and reimbursement agreement prior to sending off to the state of Michigan," city staff member Mackenzie said during the presentation. Commissioners asked about income targeting and funding; Mackenzie said the project is pursuing Michigan State Housing Development Authority missing-middle funding to support the deeper affordability.

The board also approved five emerging-developer grant requests to pay predevelopment expenses such as environmental site assessments, engineering and architectural design, and surveys:

- 824 Lake Michigan Drive: grant not to exceed $98,020 for a mixed-use conversion proposing four two-bedroom apartments above ground-floor commercial space; applicant Caden Dietrich told the board he plans to operate and later manage a commercial gym at the ground floor. The request was approved by voice vote.

- 343 Indiana Avenue NW: grant not to exceed $200,000 for a proposed LEED-certified four-story mixed-use building with 29 market-rate units and 17 covered parking spaces; the project team indicated they expect to return with a Brownfield/TIF request for additional incentives. Ross Bacon, the applicant, described local ties and project intentions; the board approved the grant by voice vote.

- 111 Barnett St NE & 4th St NW (Slick Investments LLC): a combined grant not to exceed $200,000 covering predevelopment on two parcels to create a total of 11 rental townhome-style units (two income-restricted units per development at ≤100% AMI). Applicant Ricky Labra described plans and noted design changes on one parcel; the board approved the combined request.

- Union Suites on Coit (Coit/Fairbanks): staff presented a collaborative proposal to construct 52 family apartments targeted at 30–80% AMI, including 11 units reserved for tribal households. Kara Harrison Gaze, representing development partners, said planning-commission approval is in hand and a July groundbreaking is anticipated. The authority approved the funding request to cover predevelopment work.

- 2130 Plainfield Avenue NE: a request not to exceed $108,000 to support preconstruction due diligence and design for a Creston neighborhood redevelopment that would renovate an existing structure and add a standalone building with commercial space and six housing units; applicant Andy Stubb said he lives adjacent to the site and is invested in the neighborhood; the board approved the grant by voice vote.

Votes on these items were taken by voice and recorded as "motion carries" in the meeting minutes; no roll-call tallies were provided. Staff noted several of the projects may return with Brownfield/TIF requests, and that some applications include letters of neighborhood support or no opposition on file.

The authority also approved a resolution authorizing the executive director limited contracting authority to retain third-party professional services on complicated deals within procurement thresholds, and it approved routine items including the 2026 meeting schedule and Brownfield reimbursements for a recently completed Talbot Quimby project.

Next steps: staff will draft and execute development and reimbursement agreements for approved projects, pursue state-level support (MSHDA) where applicable, and return to the board for any future Brownfield/TIF requests.