Another apartment complex is in the works in Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS — A new 63-unit apartment building is proposed on city land in downtown Grand Rapids.

Herzog Property Management is based in Alexandria and operates rentals across the state. Through an LLC, the company entered into a preliminary development agreement with the Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority. This means it becomes the sole developer of the site for six months with the intent to purchase the property.

The $10 million project is proposed for two blocks on Second Street, north of the Grand Rapids Public Library and KAXE studios.

During the Thursday, April 25, Economic Development Authority meeting, Commissioner Al Hodnik said getting ahead on housing in Grand Rapids is a focus in the city right now.

"I think this is a good overall development, plus it stimulates the downtown development plan, which I don’t think we can advertise or broadcast or promote enough," Hodnik said.

The four-story building would include underground parking and a top-floor patio.

Director of Economic Development Rob Mattei said the preliminary design reflects the area.

"The project is intended to have nicer features to it to kind of match the location," he said.

According to information shared at the meeting, the developer would like to close on the property in late summer and begin construction in the fall.

This is the second potential apartment building planned in Grand Rapids to be discussed by officials in recent weeks. The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board approved grant funding in late March for a 132-unit building planned to be built near West Rapids Elementary School.

In an earlier phone interview with KAXE, Mattei said workforce housing is a major focus as employers expand and new employers move into the city.

"We've got a lot of things in the hopper that we're working on," Mattei said in March. "Not all of these jobs are going to be created in the first year — they'll be over probably a three- to five-year period.

"So we're hoping that that demand is going to continue to drive interest in the development of housing, and we're going to do what we can to make it feasible for that to happen."