The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is a funding tool that Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) administers to help catalyze public and private investment in Grand Rapids’ urban core.
To maintain a high level of openness and transparency, the full recording of the live-streamed DDA Board meeting on September 10, 2025, is available on YouTube (due to some technical difficulties with our livestream, the video starts during the fourth agenda item).
The Board met on this agenda and took the following actions:
Support for Housing Development at 125 Ottawa Avenue
The Board approved a resolution authorizing the assignment of tax increment revenues to the City of Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to support renovations to 125 Ottawa Avenue. This is an agreement to “pass-through” revenue to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to support this office to residential conversion project. The forgone revenue to the DDA will help maximize incentive funding for the project that replaces three floors of underutilized office space with 36 apartments in the Ledyard Building.
Support for Housing Development at 443 Sheldon Avenue
The Board approved a resolution authorizing the assignment of tax increment revenues to the City of Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to support development at 443 Sheldon. This is an agreement to “pass-through” revenue to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to support this residential project that creates 26 apartments on a currently vacant site on Sheldon just south of Wealthy.
Downtown Liquor License
The Board approved a resolution for the issuance of a Development District liquor license for GR GameBar, LLC that will be operating a new establishment at 107 - 111 Division Avenue South.
Downtown Liquor License
The Board approved a resolution for the issuance of a Development District liquor license for Elite District, LLC that will be operating a new establishment at 115 - 117 Division Avenue South.
