470-Unit Apartment Tower Approved for Ottawa Avenue — Tallest Residential Building in GR History
The 32-story tower at Ottawa and Fulton will break ground in Q1 2026 and include 94 units reserved for households earning 80 percent of area median income.
The Grand Rapids Planning Commission approved a 32-story, 470-unit apartment tower at Ottawa Avenue NW and Fulton Street on Thursday, clearing the way for what will be the tallest residential building in the city's history. Developer Rockford Construction estimates a 2026 groundbreaking and 2028 completion. Ninety-four units will be reserved at 80 percent AMI.
Grand Rapids' downtown skyline is about to change. The city's Planning Commission approved a 32-story, 470-unit apartment tower at Ottawa Avenue NW and Fulton Street Thursday night, a 5–2 vote that clears the way for the tallest residential building in city history.
Developer Rockford Construction plans a groundbreaking in Q1 2026 following state environmental review, with occupancy projected for late 2028. The 388-foot tower will include a mix of studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms, along with 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, a rooftop terrace, and a 200-space underground parking structure accessible from Louis Street.
Advertisement
The affordability component — 94 of the 470 units reserved at 80 percent of area median income, or roughly $1,150/month for a one-bedroom — was a key point of negotiation during the approval process. Commissioner Tricia Schultz, who voted yes, called the inclusion of below-market units "the bare minimum acceptable" and said she would push for a higher percentage in future downtown high-rises.
Two commissioners voted no, citing concerns about the tower's shadow impact on the adjacent Rosa Parks Circle, which their analysis suggests will lose direct sunlight from late October through February between 10 a.m. and noon. Rockford's team disputes the shadow modeling and says it used the same methodology required by the city's ordinance.
