EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A controversial project that would transform Gaslight Village has narrowly passed the first round of approvals from East Grand Rapids city officials.
The East Grand Rapids City Commission approved the concept plan for the Gaslight Village project in a 4-3 vote on Monday, Oct. 6, in a three-hour meeting. The commission heard extensive public comment from residents both opposing and supporting the development, citing concerns over density, traffic, parking and more.
A protest petition was submitted to the city on Monday seeking to raise the required vote for the project from a simple majority (requiring four affirmative votes) to a two-thirds majority (requiring five votes).
City Attorney John Huff advised the commission that the petition was not valid, and the commission ultimately proceeded with a vote, which passed 4-3.
The project will add six new buildings to Gaslight Village, the quaint shopping district located in the heart of East Grand Rapids. The new buildings will include commercial and residential spaces, as well as a new parking garage to replace the one that was demolished last year.
The project has gone through multiple iterations based on public feedback. The current version of the plan would add six new buildings to Gaslight Village, featuring 147 residential units and 32,000 square feet of new commercial space. It also includes a proposed open social hub and a “multipurpose commercial incubator.”
The city commission has been discussing the Gaslight Village project at length for months. At the heart of that discussion is the question of whether the size and scale of the proposed development matches the city’s beloved small-town charm.
Most of the community agrees that the 8.6-acre site at 2255 Wealthy St. and 515 Lakeside Drive SE should be developed. However, many residents have argued that the size of the proposed new buildings in the project and the lack of green space clash with the community character of East Grand Rapids.
The concept plan approved Monday is the first development plan reviewed by the city, serving as a general layout showing each building’s general location, size and function.
Its approval allows the developer to move onto the final plan phase, when more detailed drawings and plans will be submitted to the city for approval.
The project is being proposed by Gaslight Investors, the company formerly known as Jade Pig Ventures, which helped spark Gaslight Village’s development two decades ago. Jade Pig developed two commercial buildings and Bagley Plaza in Gaslight Village in 2006 to 2007, which brought in retailers, restaurants and other businesses to the now-bustling area.
As part of that same project, the company had planned to develop more housing and commercial buildings in Gaslight Village. However, those plans were twice derailed – first in the mid-2000s amid the Great Recession, and then in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This summer, the company revived those plans, incorporating changes to address modern needs, such as enhancing the walkability of East Grand Rapids, and adding more residential and commercial space.
If it passes through the final round of approvals, the project will be built out in three phases that could span over a decade.
The developer can now move forward with creating a more detailed plan for the project, including finalizing the type of commercial space, the number of bedrooms in each residential unit, and parking configurations.
The developer will present a final plan to the city for approval, which will go through both the planning commission and the city commission.
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