Public weighs in on reimbursement for 10 Ionia project

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Commissioners heard from the public about a proposed 13-story hotel development in downtown Grand Rapids.

The public hearing Wednesday focused on the brownfield application for the $36 million redevelopment project at 10 Ionia Avenue NW.

The Portage-based Hinman Company is asking for $2.2 million credit for the costs of demolition and improvements at the site near Van Andel Arena.

Developers are concerned the site may have been contaminated by materials left behind by a former gas station at the location.

Future tax increment financing bonds could be used to cover a portion of the cleanup costs, but community members say developers should foot the whole bill.

“I don’t care if there was a gas station there before. If he wants to buy the property, that is what is on the property. Then he can fund it because all of the profit is his and none of it will go to the city,” said Martha Cooper at Wednesday’s meeting.

Developers plan to transform the space into a 13-story building with a hotel and ground-floor retail.

It was once planned to be 42 stories but developers scaled down the proposed building in June. 

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