By: Deborah Johnson Wood
They expected to lease 85 of the 148 beds in the first year. Instead, Grand Rapids' hottest new residential development for students has leased 100 of those beds, with another 15 reserved for next semester.
The $9 million Hopson Flats, 212-216 Grandville, used to be two vacant warehouses. Now there are 42 student-housing apartments, a game lounge with ping-pong, billiards, shuffleboard, and a 110-inch TV with an audio system, and a study lounge, onsite laundry, fitness center, bike storage, and wireless Internet.
Last weeks' open house attracted some 250 visitors.
"Several people had been through the building when it was still raw space," says John Green, co-developer with Doug Gulker, "and they were floored at the transformation."
The student residents hail from GVSU, GRCC, Cooley Law School, and Kendall College of Art and Design.
"One student told me he never expected to be able to live in this type of environment in college—he expected it to happen after he graduated and moved to a bigger city," says Green.
Leases are per bed, in shared two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments with full sized kitchens, an eating area, and a living area hardwired for online gaming.
Only graduate students occupy the second floor, two to an apartment. Each has a private bedroom, private bath, and private study room in addition to the common living areas.
Lease rates range from $450 per month to $1,150 a month.
John Green, Elevation Group and Doug Gulker, Gulker Group, are the developers. URS Architects designed the building, and Gulker Group handled construction.
Source: John Green, Elevation Group
Photo by Brian Kelly
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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