Developer constructing $14M apartment building in Heritage Hill

Developer constructing $14M apartment building in Heritage Hill

A partial rendering of the four-story, 70,000-square-foot Heritage Place apartment building. Courtesy Orion Construction

A local developer has broken ground on a new $14-million apartment building in Grand Rapids’ Heritage Hill neighborhood.

Grand Rapids-based Orion Construction said it officially started construction today on the four-story, 70,000-square-foot Heritage Place, at 50 College Ave. SE.

Orion was joined at the project’s groundbreaking by the project team, investors, Grand Rapids officials and Heritage Hill neighborhood representatives.

The 86-unit project is expected to be complete in the summer of 2018.

Heritage Place will be built on the former site of the Social Security Administration office building.

Orion Real Estate Solutions, or ORES, a part of Orion Construction, purchased the 2.3-acre site in 2016 and received approval from the city and the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, or HPC, to demolish the building.

“This historic neighborhood is supported by a highly engaged neighborhood association,” said John Wheeler, president, ORES. “In many cases, these are long-time residents of Heritage Hill, and a measure of success with this project will be their response to our site security/safety plan, our noise- and dust-minimization strategies and how effectively we communicate.”

The site is also home to two historic “carriage houses” that will be preserved and updated per HPC specifications.

“We respect the historic and cultural attractiveness of Heritage Hill,” Wheeler said. “Our process and quality reflect that. By building new, we are not distracting from that. We are exposing this neighborhood and lifestyle to a new and diverse group of residents who appreciate the character of Heritage Hill.”

Firms on the project

ORES is the developer and will own the building once it’s completed.

Orion Construction is the general contractor.

Grand Rapids-based Concept Design is serving as the project’s architect.

Project financing is being provided by First National Bank.

Orion Construction

Orion Construction, founded in 2000, and is construction and development firm serving West Michigan.

The firm specializes in mixed-use, industrial, institutional, retail and multi-family construction projects.