201 Market.jpg

A diagram showing the property at 201 Market Avenue that the city of Grand Rapids wants to sell.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The city of Grand Rapids is searching for developers that will deliver a large-scale, mixed-use project on its 15.8-acre property on the east bank of the Grand River at 201 Market Ave.

City officials announced Wednesday, Feb. 1, that it was issuing a request-for-qualifications for development teams that would bring a "vibrant, mixed-use project that highlights connectivity to the riverfront as a key focal point."

The city is working through the commercial real estate firm JLL.

The city's public works property at 201 Market is among five publicly owned parcels near the river that it announced it wanted to sell a year ago. 201 Market is across the street from The Rapid's Regional Transportation Provider Operations Center, and near the expanding Founders Brewing Company.

"This is the most important city-owned redevelopment site on the Grand River," Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said in a statement. "The city looks forward to working with a qualified development team that allows us to achieve GR Forward goals and other important city priorities. We are also committed to having an open and transparent process."

The property is also the site of the rejected "mystery project," proposed a decade ago by Atlanta real estate developer Duane Faust.

The request for qualifications - found online at www.201market.com - are due by March 31, and the city is expected to issue a full request for proposals in mid-2017.

Grand Rapids also wants to sell a 4-acre property to the north at 1101 Monroe Ave. NW and the city's Development Center across the street at 1120 Monroe Ave. NW.

Outside storage yards at Wealthy and Front Street SW, on the west side of the river, and at Monroe and Caledonia Street NW, on the east side of the river, are also up for redevelopment.