A developer has scaled back plans for housing on a wooded property on Grand Rapids’ far west side from 43 townhome units to 32 attached, single-family homes following intense criticism from surrounding residents.
The housing project is proposed on a rectangular, wooded property that fronts Seventh Street and is adjacent to the north of Shawmut Hills School, as well as backyards of existing single-family homes. Adam Rogalski, an East Grand Rapids resident and senior advocacy manager for Walton Enterprises LLC, the family office for the Walmart founding family, purchased the 4.9-acre property at 2450 Seventh St. NW for $355,000 on Sept. 30.
Rogalski, along with city of Grand Rapids Planning Department representatives, presented updated development plans for the Seventh Street property on Wednesday night to a crowd of approximately 300 community members packed into the gymnasium of Shawmut Hills School. Rogalski and city officials initially presented the project to neighbors in December, drawing similarly strong pushback…