The Grand Rapids Housing Commission announced as 2023 Certified Green Building Award Winner for Multifamily

The U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan (USGBC-WM) announces the Grand Rapids Housing Commission (GRHC) as the Certified Green Building Award Winner for Multifamily for their Antoine Court Apartments project. The Certified Green Building Awards recognize exemplary building projects that received high-performance certifications.

Antoine Court Apartments is a 50-unit affordable housing complex located in Grand Rapids, Michigan on South Division Avenue. The apartment complex began development in 2016 and opened its doors in October 2021. The project was a $13.5 million development that was heavily funded by low-income housing tax credits. The project team included: Grand Rapids Housing Commission Board and Staff; Michigan State Housing Development Authority (Low Income Housing Tax Credit Award);  Isaac V. Norris & Associates, P.C. (Architect); Catalyst Partners (LEED Consultant); Triangle, Inc. (General Contractor); Huntington National Bank (Tax Credit Equity Syndicator).

Energy efficient projects involved in this development are as follows:

• Occupancy sensors for light control in community spaces, offices, and apartments.
• 1.0 cfm lavatory faucets.
• 1.75 cfm shower fixtures.
•  WaterSense labeled toilet fixtures.
•  ENERGY STAR appliances, washer, and dryer.
• Although solar was not included in the original construction, the building was designed and constructed so that solar can be added in the future.

The certified LEED Gold apartment complex was designed specifically for veterans and people with disabilities. With accessibility in mind, the project includes wide hallways and elevator accessibility to the three stories. The 690-foot affordable one-bedrooms all meet accessibility standards and include central air conditioning, washer and dryer units, free internet access, and on-site housing commission resident services. Antoine Court is also located right next to Covenant House School and Campau Court, another of the Grand Rapids Housing Commission’s low-income housing developments.

Not only is accessibility an important factor to the complex’s tenants, but the community plays a big role in the space. Community events at Antoine Court include partnerships with local businesses and organizations and events spearheaded by tenants. Once a week, South East Market drops off fresh fruits and vegetables for residents and is just one example of the numerous growing partnerships happening at Antoine Court, according to residence manager Joyce Williams. Williams works to provide essential-needs programming for residents. Meeting the need for housing is the first, most basic need for people. After that, they focus on financial education and other forms of support. Coffee with Cristie is a tenant-led event where Antoine Court resident, Cristie, helps others obtain and navigate life insurance policies. The importance of these events at Antoine Court is evident, with many tenants expressing that the community they’ve found within the complex is unlike anywhere else.

The addition of the Antoine Court Apartments provides fifty much-needed affordable housing units in the greater Grand Rapids community. More importantly, because this housing development has eighteen of its apartments dedicated to the housing of residents who meet the criteria for Permanent Supportive Housing the GRHC is able to positively impact the persistent problem of unhoused individuals. Antoine Court Apartments is ideally located as it directly abuts a City of Grand Rapids park, is on a major public transportation line, and has many amenities within walking distance of the building location.

The Grand Rapids Housing Commission continues to pursue projects that demonstrate they are “an active partner in the effort to reduce the impact of energy consumption in the fight to combat the continued acceleration of climate change.” At the present time the GRHC is exploring options for the complete redevelopment of the Adams Park apartments. While the GRHC does not currently have any plans to increase its affordable housing portfolio size, it is actively researching opportunities to construct additional units and/or provide rental assistance subsidy in the form of Project-Based Rental Assistance to non-profit partners which operate multifamily and/or elderly housing developments within the Kent and Ottawa County service area.

The USGBC-WM Leadership Awards promote outstanding green building initiatives by recognizing projects, organizations, and people who have made extraordinary contributions to achieving healthy, energy-efficient green buildings in the state of Michigan.

“Michigan is one of the top 5 states for clean energy commitments, number two in the country in drawing down federal funding for climate and clean energy, and number one in the Midwest for clean energy jobs, clean energy growing twice as fast as the overall economy,” said Cheri Holman, Executive Director of USGBC-WM. “These investments by the federal government, concrete action from the state, and the  collaboration inside our community has energized me like never before.”

The Grand Rapids Housing Commission was awarded at our 2023 Annual Party & Leadership Awards Ceremony on December 5, 2023. Hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan, the evening event was held in the Ballroom at the LEED-certified CityFlatsHotel located in downtown Grand Rapids. The program included a keynote address by Dr. Brandy Brown, Chief Innovation Officer of Walker-Miller Energy Services, an Awards Ceremony, and the celebration of this year’s achievements. 

To learn more about the event and to read our 2023 Annual Report visit our Annual Party & Leadership Awards Ceremony page.