Tag Archives: Habitat for Humanity of Kent County

Plaza Roosevelt Development Approved By City Commission

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Hard News, Non-Profits, , , , ,

 

By Luke Ferris, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County

 

On Feb. 20, the Grand Rapids City Commission unanimously approved the site plan for the 5.5-acre Plaza Roosevelt development located in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood in southwest Grand Rapids.

 

“One step closer,” said Mayor Rosalynn Bliss after the commission commenced a roll call vote to adopt the ordinance that will rezone several properties along Grandville Avenue, Graham Street and Rumsey Street SW.

 

The plan was unanimously approved by the City Planning Commission in January and reviewed by the Community Development Committee on February 6th. The project is scheduled to break ground in fall of 2018 with Habitat Kent’s affordable housing and a new Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) high school.

 

“Congratulations, this is an amazing process where a really deep dive was done with the community and I’m really pleased to move this forward tonight,” said Second Ward Commissioner Ruth Kelly prior to the vote.

 

Plaza Roosevelt is a neighborhood-driven mixed-use development which will enhance health, education, and economic opportunities for the Roosevelt Park neighborhood. Guided by resident leadership throughout the process, the development plan is the result of community-based organizations representing health, education, housing, and the arts coming together to bring neighbors’ vision for Roosevelt Park to life.

 

“We are pleased to be a partner in something that is going to bring such a good development project that is benefitting our neighbors and driven by our neighbors,” said Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association Director Amy Brower. “This is a step toward a bright and strong future for an already vibrant neighborhood.”

 

The site is situated in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood on two blocks on the east side of Grandville Avenue between Graham Street on the north and Franklin Street on the south. Named Plaza Roosevelt by neighbors, the development will provide future affordable homeownership and rental opportunities, expansion of Mercy Health St. Mary’s Clinica Santa Maria, the new dual-immersion GRPS high school, arts and cultural programming, community gathering space, after-school programming and other services and amenities to the area.

 

“Because of neighborhood leadership and guidance throughout the process, the development plan is the result of people coming together to bring the neighbors’ vision for Roosevelt Park to life” said Habitat Kent Executive Director BriAnne McKee. “I’d like to thank the Planning Commission, Community Development Committee, City Commission, and Mayor Bliss for approving the site plan and understanding the vision for the neighborhood.”

 

Partners in Plaza Roosevelt include the Neighborhood Partner Committee—comprised of neighborhood residents—and Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, Ferris State University, Dwelling Place, Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Clinica Santa Maria, and the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association.

 

For more information on the Plaza Roosevelt development, visit plazaroosevelt.org.

 

Habitat for Humanity and veterans housing on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Non-Profits, Veterans, , , , ,

 

WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

When someone says Habitat for Humanity, people might think of President Jimmy Carter pounding nails in some far away foreign county, or of volunteers working in low-income urban areas of this country. Habitat for Humanity is that, but it is also so much more — including recent efforts to assist local veterans with their housing.

 

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County executive director Bri McKee visits the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus to talk with program host Ken Norris. (WKTV)

On the latest WKTV Journal: In Focus, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County executive director Bri McKee talks with program host Ken Norris about her program’s religious foundations, its worldwide scope, but also its local neighborhood results.

 

Also on this episode, Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce president Bob O’Callaghan, a regular guest to In Focus, talks about the recent grand opening of 28 West Place — a redevelopment on 28th Street that was the result of a focused public-private partnership — but that is just a highpoint in recent and upcoming chamber activities.

 

The episode will debut Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m., and will again air on Thursday, and again next week on the same days and times on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

For the video of Mr. O’Callaghan’s WKTV visit here.

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

Wyoming’s Tree Amigos, KSSN and Wyoming Public School partner on community orchard at West Elementary

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , , ,

The City of Wyoming Tree Commission, also known as The Tree Amigos, is partnering with Wyoming Public Schools and Kent School Services Network to plant the Beverly Bryan Community Orchard on the West Elementary school grounds. To get the project going, Tree Commission Vice President Greg Bryan donated $5,000 for the orchard, named in memory of his late wife. Bryan also donated an additional $5,000 for the commission’s street tree program. Additional funding has been pledged as well.

 

Originally, the partners had agreed to begin planting fruit trees next spring. However, when Habitat for Humanity of Kent County Neighborhood Revitalization Coordinator Ben Johnson  contacted West Elementary KSSN liaison Erika VanDyke with the opportunity to rescue apple trees from a lot to be cleared for housing, the Amigos jumped into action. On Saturday, Aug. 26, the commission members hope to assemble a group of volunteers to dig up 12 trees and replant them at the school.

 

The orchard will provide opportunities for children to learn about where their food comes from through hands-on experience planting, tending and harvesting the orchard. It will also expand academic opportunities in various areas of study through Arbor Day Foundation curricula. As the school has a very high free and reduced lunch rate, the orchard will increase food insecurity by providing fresh fruit and berries for students and families. Students will be able to eat the fruit as snacks and with lunch during the school day and take fruit home to supplement their family diets.

 

“When Erika and I first met to discuss how the tree commission and West Elementary could partner on a project, we decided that an orchard would involve parents and students in a fun, healthy school project,” said Tree Commission Chair Stelle Slootmaker.  “We also plan on sharing the harvest with nearby neighbors as a means of growing community. And of course, these trees will also increase the City of Wyoming’s tree canopy, the commission’s major goal.”

 

If you’d like to help rescue the apple trees and plant the orchard, please email TreeAmigosWyoming@gmail.com.

 

For information on The Tree Amigos, like The Tree Amigos on Facebook or email TreeAmigosWyoming@gmail.com.