Not every commercial building is being used to its full potential. Sometimes the greatest value comes from looking at what a site could become rather than what it is today. This was the case at 3113 Plaza Drive NE in Grand Rapids. Located just north of I-96 near the Plainfield Avenue interchange, the property includes a 5,132 SF commercial building on approximately 1.25 acres. It was originally built in 1984 for Hubba Tubba and later occupied by Hideout Brewing Company.
The former brewery had sat vacant since 2019, and the property’s aging building, private road access, irregular site layout, and existing cell tower made it difficult to attract the right buyer. Rather than continue pursuing the same type of buyer, Chandler Kennell of NAI Wisinski of West Michigan took a different approach by evaluating the property’s redevelopment potential before bringing it to market.
Chandler Kennell focused on what the property could become. He reviewed the property’s zoning, surrounding land uses, and redevelopment potential while working with the City of Grand Rapids to better understand what he could do with the site. The analysis showed that the property’s strongest opportunity wasn’t another commercial occupant. Instead, its location and characteristics made it well suited for multifamily redevelopment. With that in mind, the marketing strategy shifted from targeting traditional commercial buyers to apartment developers and investors seeking redevelopment opportunities in Grand Rapids.
Within the first three months, the property was under contract with a developer who recognized the site’s redevelopment potential and plans to turn it into a three-story, 24-unit apartment community. During due diligence, the buyer completed site planning and demolished the commercial building, paving the way for residential development that better aligns with the surrounding neighborhood. The apartment community will feature:
The property closed in June 2026 for $290,000.
The redevelopment plans were later featured by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business, highlighting the transformation of a long-vacant commercial property into a future residential community. The article detailed the buyer’s plans to pursue rezoning and introduce one of the first new apartment developments along this portion of the corridor, reinforcing the site’s redevelopment potential and the strategy established before the property was brought to market.
By focusing on the property’s future potential rather than its existing use, the transaction created a path forward for both the site and the surrounding neighborhood. What has been a vacant commercial building is now moving toward becoming new housing for the Grand Rapids community.
NAI Wisinski of West Michigan is a full-service commercial real estate firm serving Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and the broader West and Southwest Michigan markets. With more than 50 years of commercial real estate experience in West Michigan, the firm provides brokerage, leasing, property management, investment services, and strategic real estate advisory solutions.
We know West Michigan because it’s our home.
Our team brings generations of experience rooted in West Michigan. With 53 team members and respected industry designations including 8 SIORs, 6 CCIMs, and 4 CPMs, we offer informed guidance shaped by decades of work in this market.
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