Tag Archives: Wyoming [re]Imagined

City of Wyoming revitalization projects are underway, show visible progress

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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:

Still time to add your input on the vision for the City of Wyoming

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Wyoming Mayor Pro Tem Sam Bolt talks to City Planner Nicole Hofert during master plan workshop in May. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

There is still time for you to add your thoughts and ideas on the vision of the City of Wyoming.

The city leaders and staff will be hosting another Wyoming [Re]Imagined meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Godwin Heights High School, 50 35th St. SW, Wyoming.

“We are really looking for community input on this,” said Mayor Jack Poll during a recent City Council meeting. “This is a big deal that will set agendas, look at properties, look at where we want the city to go in the next number of years.

“We have staff here that does a wonderful job. We try to do our best to give out input but when we have 75,000 people in the City of Wyoming, so there are a lot more opinions then you see in this room and we want those to be a part of the plan in a community where you live and work and do business.”

For the past several months, the City of Wyoming has hosted community workshops, student/youth workshops, focus groups, surveys, and pop-up meetings at various locations.


A key component to the various programs have been an interactive mapping exercise to help identify future desired land uses throughout the community. The exercise is an opportunity for residents to help identify where they would like to see such items as future housing, commercial centers, and employment centers.

According to staff, the mapping exercise will provide residents an opportunity to talk about specific areas within the city such as Site 36, Divison Avenue, and 28 West Place/Downtown area. At Thursday’s meeting there will be a Spanish version of the mapping exercise available with a translator provided.

Those unable to attend the workshop can utilize the mapping exercise at the website wyomingreinagined.com or click here for a direct link to the map.

Also available on the website are ongoing surveys which are offered in both English and Spanish.

Residents offer insights into how Wyoming should ‘reimagined’ itself in next master plan

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City of Wyoming residents ponder the question “Wyoming would be better if…” at the May 2 master plan workshop.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Affordable housing. Connectability. Site 36. Sustainability. Green Space. Speed limits. West 28th Street. Division Avenue. Rogers Plaza.

These were just some of the many topics that Wyoming residents discussed during the first public workshop for the City of Wyoming’s master plan process, called Wyoming [re]Imagined. The workshop took place May 2 at the community room of the KDL Wyoming branch.

“I am really pleased with the turnout,” said Nicole Hofert, principal planner for the City of Wyoming. “I am really pleased that we pulled residents from all over the city.”

Share your thoughts about what areas in the City of Wyoming you would like to see preserved or improved at wyomingreimaged.com.


The purpose of the workshop, according to Brandon Nolin, of Houseal Lavigne Associates, the consulting firm that is working with the city on the master plan, was to gather information about how residents see their community. What are the things residents want to preserve and what are the items they would like to see change?, Nolin said.

The full room included residents, business owners, and community leaders. Those who attended the workshop were asked four questions.

Wyoming Mayor Pro Tem Sam Bolt talks to City Planner Nicole Hofert during the May 2 master plan workshop.

What do you like about Wyoming?

Residents indicated they enjoyed a number of city amenities such as the senior center, library, and parks. They liked that the city is close to everything such as Grand Rapids and offers convenient transportation options. They also liked that businesses were friendly and that the government offices were approachable and did a good job, and that overall, the city was open to diversity. Also top on the list was affordable housing.

Wyoming would be better if….

As to what Wyoming could improve on was affordable housing, connecting neighbors and neighborhoods with bike paths and wider sidewalks. It could have a viable downtown area, more public spaces and needs engaging activities that are not necessarily retail-related but are more social. Also trails and bike routes that allow for alternative transportation to stores and other businesses.

The single biggest issue facing Wyoming is…

Affordable housing also topped this list along with employment and lack of good paying jobs. Site 36, a friendly downtown area, sustainable/green space, speed limits/traffic congestion, walkable communities, bike trails, and the increase in crime were discussed as well.

If I could do one thing to improve Wyoming, I would …

As to the one thing to improve many residents agreed it was Site 36. The former GM site has left a void in the city, according to several residents, with the 92-acre parcel having been vacant since 2009 when the plant was closed. The void is the lost of job opportunities for residents, said Nolin who summed up the residents feelings. Residents also felt city officials needed to think outside of the box when it comes to the site, considering such possibilities as a convention center.

Other areas that residents felt needed improvement were Rogers Plaza, Division Avenue, and affordable housing.

Get interactive by visiting wyomingreimaged.com and creating your own map of the city. There you can highlight areas you feel need to be featured in the city’s new master plan.


Hofert said the comments that residents made at the May 2 workshop reflected what many have said at various events and one-on-ones the planners and city staff have hosted. Planners and staff will continue to engage and collect input from residents for the next summer months, Hofert said. adding that she has ” a pretty packed schedule for the summer.” City staff plans to be at a number of city events such as the summer concerts series at Lamar Park, Miranda’s Park Party, and Metro Cruise to collect input from residents, she said.

Nolin said the Wyoming [re]Imagined is just in the beginning process where staff and planners are collecting information. This process takes about three months. In the fall, the team will comeback to the city with a snapshot of the community. From there, the team will then begin to draft a master plan that the city and residents will have a chance to vet before any master plan is voted on and approved, Nolin said.

Along with the community meetings, residents, business owners, and community leaders can also share their thoughts and ideas on a website dedicated to the master plan project, wyomingreimagined.com. Click on the “Get Involved” tab for the questionnaires and an interactive map that allows you to mark what you feel is important in the city and areas you would like to see improved.

A look at the interactive map function on the wyomingreimaged.com website.

Wyoming ‘reimagines’ itself as it begins master plan process

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The City of Wyoming is starting the process for a new master place, called Wyoming [re]Imagined.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

There is an undercurrent of excitement building in the City of Wyoming as new developments get underway within the city.

With that in mind, the city has announced that it has formerly launched a new master plan process, called Wyoming [re]Imagined.

“The City of Wyoming is growing and changing at an accelerated rate, and it’s important that we take the time to develop an updated plan,” said City Planner Nicole Hofert. “Wyoming [re]Imagined will provide the city with a new land use plan, updated housing studies, goals for economic development, and a framework to guide strategic investments over the next 20 years.”

And the city is going to start this process next week with a community workshop set for Thursday, May 2, at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. The workshop will be from 6 – 8 p.m. 

The first public workshop on the new master plan will be at the KDL Wyoming Branch on May 2 starting at 6 p.m.

Residents, visitors, business owners, and anyone with an interest in the City of Wyoming may attend the workshop. At the event, participants will learn about the process as well as provide insight on local concerns that the master plan should address. According to Assistant City Manager Megan Sall, community leaders believe that resident feedback is critical as they identify important issues, opportunities and projects for the future. 

The city’s current master plan is about 13 years old and was revised about seven years ago in 2012. Since the revision, the city has implemented the first phase of its 28 West project, which included the redevelopment of the Wyoming Village Mall, now called 28 West Place. This project also has brought in a new apartment development.

City leaders and the council approved a new form-based code for the Division Avenue and 28th Street corridors. There also has been several housing developments underway, including the Granger Group’s The Reserve, which broke ground last fall and development continues at The Metro Health Village.

Sall said the city does have some green space. A vision for the city’s future growth and development will help in planning how that green space is used, she said.

“My fellow council members and I are proud to serve this community, and we are excited for what the future holds,” Mayor Jack Poll said. “The master plan will provide a platform to integrate plans from across the City and region, and it will unite us under a common vision and set of goals. It is my sincere hope that all Wyoming residents will lend their voices to this important work.”

The Wyoming City Council contracted with planning firm House Lavigne Associates who will carry out the work on the master plan with city staff.

In addition to the community workshop on May 2, the public engagement process includes the following:

·       Two additional community workshops

·       Pop-up meetings at locations across Wyoming

·       Student/youth workshops

·       Focus groups

·       Interactive website

·       Surveys, including innovative digital mapping tools


For more information visit www.wyomingreimagined.com.