Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) - October 28, 2026

The City of Grand Rapids Economic Development Corporation and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) meeting on October 28, 2026, included several funding and redevelopment decisions. The EDC approved submitting an $800,000 grant application for the Grand Rapids Vision Senior Housing Project at 1201 South Division, planned for 51 affordable senior apartments. The BRA approved a Brownfield plan amendment recommendation for the former school site at 2286 Ball: a proposed $15.6 million redevelopment with 72 apartments, 15 income-restricted units, and a $5.7 million request for eligible expenses. It also approved work plans and development/reimbursement agreements for Seeds of Promise’s 14 for-sale homes across 13 parcels; Profile Films’ approximately $55 million industrial expansion, expected to create 55 jobs; and the $6 million Indiana Avenue project, planned for 29 homes and commercial space. The Indiana Avenue approval passed after discussion of rent and household-income limits, with a board member stating that approval should not be treated as precedent and that staff should clarify the guidelines.

The BRA also reviewed two environmental site assessment grant requests—$20,850 and $17,400—and discussed having just over $156,000 remaining in the program for the fiscal year. Financial statements showed about $2.3 million in tax-increment revenue payable to developers, nearly $3 million reserved for approved revolving-fund projects, and about $1.6 million available for future projects, including roughly $420,000 set aside for emerging developers. The board approved a professional legal-services agreement following an RFQ process; the selected firm was not identifiable in the transcript. It also approved 2027 meeting dates and bylaws formalizing an executive committee. Staff identified follow-up work to clarify brownfield affordability guidelines, improve project and timeline communications, and address delays in developer payments.