The groundbreaking ceremony for Southtown Lofts, a new affordable housing and community services project, was recently held in Grand Rapids. Located at 640 Eastern Ave. SE, the four-story building will cover over 16,000 square feet and is the largest minority-owned housing project in the city’s Third Ward.
FOX 17
reports that Southtown Lofts will include space for NexGen Media GR, an educational organization that teaches media skills to students. Dione Boles, executive director at Larlen Communications Inc., said, “It’s going to give us the ability to double our capacity. We’ll be serving over 100 students per year.” The project will also house Power 91.9 FM, an urban inspirational radio station.
U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten and other community leaders attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Southtown Lofts, supporting the mixed-use development’s potential to address housing issues in West Michigan. “We all know that access to housing is reaching a breaking point here in West Michigan. Utilizing mixed use developments is one of the ways that we can combat this problem and make sure that all individuals have a dignified, affordable place to live. That’s why, when Southtown Lofts’ leadership, reached out for help this summer in closing a funding gap, I said, let’s get to work,” Scholten said, as reported by
WOODTV
.
The funding for Southtown Lofts includes contributions from several sources, such as the City of Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Fund, Participatory Budgeting Grand Rapids, and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Pinnacle Construction Group has been selected to carry out the construction, with Speed Architect developing the plans. “Every step of the way, people are going to be beside this company. Because this is a good thing for the community,” Marian Barrera-Young, Baxter Neighborhood Association executive director, stated in an interview with
FOX17
.
With an estimated completion date of late 2025, Southtown Lofts is poised not just to provide housing but to also offer a platform for learning and inspiration. “I looking forward to being a beacon of hope and inspiration, but I’m really looking to revitalize the MLK Eastern business corridor,” expressed Boles in a statement acquired by
WZZM13
.
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