Dwelling Place – Proposed Development at “Pine Academy”

Dwelling Place, in cooperation with the Kent County Land Bank, will be teaming up to redirect usage of the old “Pine Academy”, a school building, which first opened its doors in 1948.

This real property belongs to the Grand Rapids Public Schools and has been unused since 2010.  The 20,590-square foot school is located on approximately two acres of land and is located at 1138 Pine Street, NW.  Director, Chris Bennett, of the Dwelling Place is working on obtaining Federal Tax Credits, which will be submitted this October 2017.  Pine is slated to be a 5-million project calling for 23 two & three-bedroom apartments, targeting lower income households with rents of $600 to $700 per month.  The Grand Rapids School Board is expected to extend a purchase option for this property until next year to allow for time for Dwelling Place to secure Federal Tax Credits.
In addition to Pine Academy, the old Park School, located at 1150 Adams Street, SE, will also be recreated into affordable housing.  Funding for this initiative has been secured and work is scheduled to begin in April 2018.  There will be 45 two and three-bedroom units providing new housing at this site.