Grand Rapids Housing Commission
building under construction
 

Development News
Updated February 19, 2013

GRHC Receives HUD Resident Assistance Demonstration Program Award in Support of Creston Plaza Redevelopment

In late December the Housing Commission learned that our agency has been approved to participate in HUD's new Resident Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program. The RAD award will enable us to convert the 100 housing units at Creston Plaza Apartments from Public Housing to the Section 8 Program; this will help us attract the private and public funding needed to undertake a $20.6 million Creston Plaza redevelopment project.

During mid-February the GRHC also applied for federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) that will be leveraged to attract needed funding. We expect news of any LIHTC award in May.

Created with the assistance of James Childs Architects and the architectural firm Isaac V. Norris and Associates, the Creston Plaza redevelopment plan calls for the demolition of the existing 100 units on the current 12.4-acre site. Ninety-nine units of low- and moderate-income housing and a community center will be constructed on the existing site, and one single-family home will be built nearby. The unit mix includes detached single-family dwellings as well as semi-detached duplex, triplex and townhouse-style units.

Proposed Site Plan

Phase one of the redevelopment project will entail razing the existing buildings at the original site and constructing 50 housing units. A community center is also part of the first phase. The second phase of the project includes 49 on-site housing units and one single-family unit to be located across the street from the development at 223 Barnett Street NE.

With funding in place, the GRHC would begin the resident relocation process in summer 2013. Residents have been informed of the relocation process, which includes Section 8 assistance as well as support ranging from credit repair counseling to security deposit and relocation funds.

We anticipate phase one construction will be completed by October 2014. Phase two construction is scheduled to be completed in June 2015. Isaac V. Norris and Associates will supervise the project, and Pioneer Construction will be the general contractor.

Two New Home Ownership Units Near Completion

Two new home ownership units that broke ground in late August are now nearing completion.

448 Oakdale SE

Located at 448 and 461 Oakdale Street SE, the new homes are 1,280 and 1,440 square feet. Each two-story home includes three bedrooms and 1.5 baths, kitchen, dining room, living room, full basement and energy-efficient appliances. Both are vinyl sided and offer a welcoming front porch.

461 Oakdale SE

The new Oakdale Street units will be made available on a rent-
to-own basis to
low-income families on our Scattered Sites Program waiting list in early spring 2013.

The new homes are being built using $428,000 in Replacement Housing Factor grants from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The architect for both projects is M.C. Smith Associates and Architectural Group. J.D. Fisher Builders is the general contractor.