[deja vu]

Here's a smattering of some recent development-related news for the area:

Grand Rapids housing market is nation's 3rd healthiest, survey says
By Jim Harger, MLive
April 18, 2017

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A national survey of housing markets has ranked Grand Rapids as the third healthiest "big city" housing market in the United States. The study by SmartAsset.com, a financial services company, measures housing market health by the average number of years residents spend in homes, home values, ease of sale, and the costs associated with ownership. Grand Rapids won its ranking mainly because of its low scores for "the "average days on the market" and the region's relative low cost of housing compared to household income...

Orion Construction completes Fulton Square development in Grand Rapids
By Nick Manes, MiBiz
April 18, 2017

GRAND RAPIDS — Orion Construction Company Inc. today announced the formal completion of its most recent mixed-use residential project.
The Grand Rapids-based construction and development firm held a ceremonial ribbon cutting at its $9.6 million Fulton Square development located at the northwest corner of Fulton Street and Carlton Avenue in the city’s Eastown neighborhood...

NAI Wisinski Helps Bring 3,446 SF ‘Escape Room’ to Downtown Grand Rapids
By Kristen Hiller, REbusiness Online
April 17, 2017

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — NAI Wisinski of West Michigan has assisted The Ruse Escape Rooms in securing a 3,446 square-feet retail location in downtown Grand Rapids. Escape rooms are a form of interactive entertainment with engaging puzzles and challenges that promote creative thinking, teamwork and communication. The venue will occupy space on the first floor at 25 S. Division Ave...

Grand Rapids leaders consider new path to redeveloping public assets
By Nick Manes, MiBiz
April 16, 2017

GRAND RAPIDS — As the city of Grand Rapids considers selling publicly-owned land, it hopes to use a new method of engaging would-be developers looking to redevelop the parcels. Mayor Rosalynn Bliss suggested it’s time for the city to evaluate its overall needs and goals as it begins exploring options for increasingly desirable properties it owns along the Grand River, both north and south of downtown...

...In early April, the city released new information pertaining to the five responders to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) that seeks to examine would-be developers’ overall experience and financial capabilities. The city will use that information to assist in moving the municipal functions off the site as well as meet its goals for the 201 Market property, which includes mixed-income housing, equitable job opportunities and public greenspace...

...The RFQ responders included Indianapolis-based Flaherty & Collins Properties, Southfield-based REDICO LLC, Grand Rapids-based Rockford Construction Co. Inc., West Bloomfield Township-based The Velmeir Companies, and Wilmington, N.C.-based Zimmer Development Co.