GRAND RAPIDS ? The long discussed year-around indoor market is finally moving forward. Demolition is expected to begin in January for the $27 million Urban Market at Ionia Ave between Wealthy and Logan streets.
Initial site work including installing a safety fence, removing salvage materials, site evaluations and assessments has been completed. The seven buildings on the property will be razed during the demolition process. The project is expected to be completed in 2013, the Grand Rapids Press reports.
The Downtown Development Authority is awaiting approval of a $1 million grant from the Department of Environmental Quality to help pay the cost of the demolition and the market’s construction. Grand Action, the private group that led efforts to build the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place, is working with the Downtown Development Authority to raise more money.
The project has already received a $5.4 million grant from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority. On Wednesday, the DDA approved a request authorizing Grand Action to proceed with bidding out the demolition project. That process will be overseen by Pioneer Construction which is serving as project manager.
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