Two abandoned warehouses at 212 and 216 Granville Avenue will soon be the city’s new hotspot for student living. Elevation Group begins renovations in January to convert the five-story Hopson Building and its next-door neighbor into the 100,000-square-foot Hopson Flats.
“It’s my belief the student population has been underserved for quite some time,” said John Green, Elevation Group principal. “As Grand Valley continues to expand downtown, as Western and Cooley and Kendall-Ferris and GRCC continue to thrive and expand downtown, it’s my opinion that there has been a pent-up demand for downtown living.”
Green plans to be the first in line to provide the supply for the demand. Elevation Group has designed the 44 two-, three-, and four-bedroom units based on information gathered from a Grand Valley State University student focus group and surveys. The results are expected to a produce a first-of-its-kind apartment and retail complex for the city.
“One thing we learned, for instance, is that the bedrooms need to be large,” Green said. “This is the student’s only place to get away from everybody else. And it’s not just a place to sleep—it’s a place to study and watch TV. So we’ve created very large bedrooms within each apartment.”
Another crucial factor for students is having a wireless environment. Wireless access will be provided free to residents, and will be accessible from almost any location in the building.
Other amenities include a fitness center, a study lounge, on-site laundry facilities, and an “incredible game room/entertainment room with 30-foot ceilings, where students can congregate, play pool, listen to music, watch a big screen TV, hold group meetings, and enjoy a coffee,” Green said.
The focal point of the facade will be the entryway that faces south on Williams Street and overlooks Rapid Central Station. An existing walkway to the bus station and nearby student parking will be retained. A drop-off area, sitting area, piped music, outdoor lighting, landscaping, and architectural elements will be added.
“The timing is great because the city is redoing Grandville Avenue from Cherry Street to Wealthy,” Green said. “That passes in front of our project, so all the brickwork, the pavers along the sidewalks, the [street] lighting, the landscaping—all of that is going to be reworked.”
9,000 square feet of retail space is available on the main floor for student-friendly retail businesses. Developers have begun talks with a pizzeria, a tanning salon, a coffee shop, and a sandwich shop.
Over 150 beds will be available for lease, ranging from about $445 to about $545 per month per bed. Each student will have his or her own lease agreement.
Green expects to complete the project by mid-July 2007.
Source: John Green, Elevation Group
Photograph of John Green by Brian Kelly - All Rights Reserved
Rendering courtesy of Elevation Group
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