Oct. 24–GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Construction on a 13-story hotel — a Marriott Residence Inn with first floor retail space — could start in late December or early January, the project developer told the Grand Rapids City Commission Tuesday night.
"We think that hotel and that brand and flag will do a number of things," said Rich MacDonald, chief operating officer at Hinman Company. "Obviously it will help support the arena and the convention center, increase critical mass with visitors closer to the mall, which will help support and sustain retail."
Commissioners on Tuesday approved a Brownfield reimbursement request for the $36 million project. It will enable the developer — through future tax revenue generated by the project — to recoup $2.2 million in costs associated with environmental site assessment activities, site preparation, demolition, as well as public and private infrastructure improvements.
The developer, based in Portage, will recoup those costs over a 15-year period. The project has also received $1.4 million in support from the city's downtown development authority.
The hotel will have 146 rooms, and the developer estimates the project will create 51 full-time equivalent jobs, with hourly wages that range from $10 to $31.25. Construction is expected to be complete by mid- to-late 2020.
In addition, the building — which boasts a unique, flatiron-shape to fit the triangular shaped lot it's being built upon — will feature 5,555-square-feet of ground floor retail space. MacDonald said no retail tenants have signed onto the project yet.
Hinman turned heads in 2016 when it submitted plans for a 418-foot-tall tower — which would have become the tallest building in the city — featuring a hotel and apartments. Earlier this year, though, the developer announced it was scaling-back the project, citing numerous apartments that have recently been built or are planned for the city.
Also planned for the project is an overhead walkway from a nearby parking ramp at 30 Ionia Ave. NW — also owned by Hinman — to the second floor of the hotel, where the lobby will be located.
There are 156 parking spaces in the Ionia ramp, MacDonald said. That garage also services 77 Monroe Center, a building also owned by Hinman.
The lot where the hotel is being built currently serves as a surface parking lot.
