Tag Archives: development

City of Wyoming revitalization projects are underway, show visible progress

3-bottom, architecture, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Culture, design, Development, Going Local, Kent County, Local Business, Our Cities, West Michigan, , , , , , , , ,
The City of Wyoming has spent two decades [re]Imagining its future, and is making steady progress in making those dreams a reality (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


The City of Wyoming has spent two decades [re]Imagining its future, and is making steady progress in making those dreams a reality.

The Wyoming City Center plans include many facets geared toward creating a central gathering place accessible by walking.

“What’s happened in recent years has been a calling for a return to the traditional development patterns of downtown,” said Wyoming Deputy City Manager Patrick Waterman. “Main streets where people can get out and walk, and shop, and come together as a community.”

28th Street Pedestrian Bridge

Those driving down 28th Street can now see the installation of a new 12-foot wide elevated pedestrian bridge.

The ADA accessible bridge will accommodate two-way pedestrian and bicycle traffic across 28th Street and is part of 4.6 miles of new non-motorized pathways providing access to various key destinations in the City.

  • 28th Street elevated pedestrian bridge (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • 28th Street elevated pedestrian bridge (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • 28th Street elevated pedestrian bridge (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • 28th Street elevated pedestrian bridge (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“We’re trying to put the spokes into the hub to get people,” said Waterman. “Those [trails] will connect north to Grand Rapids and south to Byron Center.”

The City Center’s proximity to the highway and Silver Line bus route will also provide easy access to the downtown area. Construction of the pedestrian bridge will finish in June 2025.

Godwin Mercado Marketplace

Also making steady progress is the forthcoming local Godwin Mercado marketplace at Site 36 Industrial Park.

An 80-acre parcel of land with 75 acres on the south side of 36th Street, Site 36 includes an additional five acres on the north side dedicated to the marketplace.

  • Godwin Mercado marketplace site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • Godwin Mercado marketplace site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • Godwin Mercado marketplace site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • Godwin Mercado marketplace site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • Godwin Mercado marketplace site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

City Manager John Shay says Godwin Mercado answers residents’ call for a community space to gather and hold events.

The 6,000-square-foot market space will provide year-round usage opportunities to support local vendors, seasonal farm and artisan markets, food trucks, community events and private events.

The name Godwin Mercado comes from extensive community input that included residents, community members and business leaders. Godwin Mercado not only serves as a gathering space and point of pride for the greater Wyoming community, it honors the rich heritage and thriving modern culture of the neighborhood where it sits.

“We landed on a name that really connects us to this unique neighborhood and celebrates the community here in Wyoming,” said Krashawn Martin, Wyoming Director of Parks and Recreation, at the groundbreaking ceremony in November 2024.

36th Street Industrial Park

Construction on the 75-acre parcel on the south side of 36th Street is also well underway. The former GM plant was sold to commercial real estate investment company Franklin and Partners in 2022 and now boasts cleared land and structure assembly.

Benteler Automotive‘s new battery components assembly plant will focus on production of a battery tray, tray cover and charging modules weld vent for the V801 Ford Transit Van. The project includes a 299,845-square-foot facility and an additional 17,120-square-foot single-story office area.

“It’s a huge investment in the community,” said Nicole Hofert, Director of Community and Economic Development for Wyoming.

City officials estimate the Benteler plant will generate 150-170 new jobs.

Construction on Site 36 includes development of three land parcels for industrial use (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

In March 2024, the Wyoming City Council approved Corewell Health’s proposal for a 296,515-square-foot consolidated service center. The project will provide space for Corewell Health’s supply chain offices, document and mail services, a 36,000-square-foot shell space and a dedicated parking area for lab courier fleet vehicles.

All medical supplies for the region’s Corewell hospitals will be distributed from this centralized location and will generate an estimated 240 new jobs.

Franklin Partners retains ownership of the third and final Site 36 parcel, which has garnered notice by other businesses.

“It’s about the people.”

“The genuine excitement that Wyoming has about this project, it’s carried us through it,” said Martin. “People are just thrilled to see something happening after there being nothing here for so long.

“Feeling their excitement feeds our excitement and gets us where we need to go to make it happen. That’s what it’s all about – it’s about the people.”

Over the next decade, Shay would like to achieve the City’s vision of crowded sidewalks, shops and restaurants, and special events that will bring people together and strengthen that sense of community.

Wyoming City Center plaza rendering (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

Wyoming [re]Imagined: Learn More!

Click the following links to learn more about the City of Wyoming, [re]Imagined:

A turn of the shovel: Acrisure Amphitheater groundbreaking ceremony celebrates new centerpiece of Grand Rapids

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The Acrisure Amphitheater groundbreaking ceremony took place May 21 at the 17-acre construction site (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)



By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Shovels turned on May 21, breaking ground at the site of what will soon be the Grand Rapids Acrisure Amphitheatre.

Buildings have already begun to be dismantled at 201 Market Avenue SW, a 17-acre site located on the east side of the Grand River. Formerly containing Grand Rapids City Buildings, the site will soon see the emergence of a 12,000-seat amphitheater and stage.

“By this time next year, the canopy itself will be standing,” said Tim Schowalter, President and CEO of Pioneer Construction. “We’re going to be ready May 2026 to have the first concerts in the venue.”

Acrisure Amphitheater Rendering (Courtesy Acrisure)

Bringing a vision to life

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss talks about how the amphitheater will bolster local economy for generations (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The Acrisure Amphitheater, developed by Grand Action 2.0, is considered the centerpiece to a vision seeded back in 2007.

The amphitheater is expected to fill a gap in the live entertainment industry in West Michigan, draw visitors to the city, expand public access to the river and catalyze future development in the area.

“Today our headlines talk about transformation,” said Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss.  “The story is one of a collaborative community vision that will shape our Grand Rapids landscape.

“It will connect people together, it will connect people to place, it will enrich our entire quality of life in our city, and it will bolster our local economy for generations to come.”

Think boldly, plan collegially and act with a sense of urgency

In 2016, Grand Action commissioned the Grand Rapids Destination Asset Study. The goal of the study was to better understand needed steps to make Grand Rapids a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Studies have shown that maximizing the riverfront is key to city growth (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“[The] study made clear that investments that maximize our riverfront, opened access to green space and outdoor entertainment, and attracted arts, cultural and sporting events would be key to the plan,” said Dick DeVos, Businessman and Grand Action Co-Chair.

Acrisure Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO Greg Williams said he is honored to be part of the amphitheater project and to give back to the community as the title sponsor.

“The ethos of Acrisure is to do big, bold things,” said Williams. “We want to be impactful, and this project certainly personifies and exemplifies that in every way.

“This is a big, impactful project. It’s going to have a real impact on the city itself and the community at large. We’re all going to be benefactors of this.”

Williams went on to say that the amphitheater “won’t be the last thing that we do in this community. This community has been so good to us; we need to be good to it.”

Unprecedented riverfront development 

Leading the construction effort of Acrisure Amphitheater is Pioneer Construction. 

“At today’s groundbreaking, we kick off two years of construction,” said Tim Schowalter, President and CEO of Pioneer Construction. “We’re very excited and proud to be leading the construction effort of Acrisure Amphitheater.”

Acrisure Amphitheater Rendering (Courtesy Acrisure)

That construction will include 9,720 cubic yards of concrete, 436 tons of reinforcing steel in that concrete, and 150,000 cubic yards of sand – 3,750 truck trains – that will create the sloped lawn seating along the northwest side of the site.

The amphitheater will also incorporate 3,130 tons of structural steel.

“To give you an idea, the Eiffel Tower has something in the neighborhood of 7,000 tons of steel,” said Schowalter. “So we’re not quite as big as the Eiffel Tower, but we are going to be just as iconic.”

Over the course of those two years, 700+ construction workers will be employed on the site for a total on-site labor force impact of $55 million. As part of the construction inclusion plan, $6 million of the construction budget will be invested in local minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses and micro-local business enterprises.

Belief in our community, our people and our future

“I’ve always said that what makes Grand Rapids special is the people,” said Mayor Bliss. “What happens here in Grand Rapids does not happen in other places. It is rare for economic development, business leaders, government leaders, philanthropic leaders and community leaders to come together and coalesce around a single vision for moving our communities together.

The City of Grand Rapids is built on collaborative efforts (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“Grand Rapids, and more broadly Kent County, is a place where that happens. It happens over and over again. And the legacy of our city is built on that.”

Williams agreed. “What’s happening in Grand Rapids doesn’t happen everywhere.”

Acrisure Amphitheatre is a centerpiece of a grand vision to enrich the quality of life for an increasingly diverse community, catalyze significant investments, bring new jobs, inspire entrepreneurial opportunities and drive regional tourism.

“Thank you for sharing the vision that is creating such a wonderful attraction that is bound to inspire people from all walks seeking something remarkable that will give them access to the arts, to a remarkable green space, and our namesake waterfront,” said Carol Van Andel, Philanthropist and Executive Director of the David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation.

For more information about Acrisure Amphitheater, click here.