2006 MDB Award Recipients

Holland Area Neighborhood - District Enhancements

The Holland Area Neighborhood District Enhancements program stands above other commercial area improvement programs of this kind by offering businesses and residents the chance to “remember and appreciate the critical role neighborhood commercial districts provide”. The City of Holland, Michigan, and Design Plus teamed up in this exemplary neighborhood commercial district revitalization program aimed at coordinating and implementing the design of 12 aging commercial districts in and around the city. The participants vary greatly from district to district, but the desired effect has been to get business and property owners working together for a consistent, well designed improvement plan for their area. The adopted visions or plans often brought key stakeholders into the discussions during the design open houses and created excitement and a sense of anticipation for improvements in the area.

Clearly this program is helping Holland to promote its existing urbanized areas, promoting the reuse of existing buildings and establishes best community design practices reflected in GVMC Blueprint Principles.

East Hills Center (of the Universe)

Though the East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids is located at the northeast corner of Lake Drive, Diamond and Cherry, it has become known as “the center of the universe”, a distinction not undeserved when considering the “the Big Bang” emanating from this 7,200 square foot infill retail condominium developed by Bazzani Associates. This project has been a widely acknowledged for adhering to a true triple-bottom-line method for sustainability by increasing the vitality of the local economy, respecting the social context of the community, and environmental stewardship. Through the coordination of public interests ranging from East Hills Council of Neighbors to the State of Michigan , this site was transformed from an abandoned gasoline station neglected by owners and in need of environmental remediation, to a showcase development on a highly visible corner of the city of Grand Rapids attracting thousands of visitors and customers. Among its many accomplishments, the East Hills Center has become a showcase and catalyst for our ever-increasing expectations in “green building” in and around the City of Grand Rapids .

Martineau Apartments

Truly reflecting the old saying “home is where the heart is,” Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids has unveiled its most recent success, the Martineau Apartments project. Since 2002, Dwelling Place has been working to coordinate the efforts of 20 state and community partners to fulfill this $10.5 million undertaking. The project focused on the rehabilitation of four buildings on the east side of South Division Avenue and a parking lot located to the south of the 104 building. The artist live/work units at 120 South Division Avenue have a deck off the back entrance of the property, along with off street parking for apartment residents. The project will provide 35,000 square feet of residential space for many new residents who wish to call the Heartside neighborhood “home”. The Martineau project encompasses three unique elements: a focus on the arts as a tool for economic revitalization (features 23 live/work spaces for artists), a dedication to low-to-moderate income residents (restrictions are in place for ensuring low-to-moderate income residents), and the certification as a LEED “green” project. In addition, the project integrates 12,000 square feet of retail use by the renovation of Division Avenue commercial space including studios, galleries and a catering business with a café.

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