Historic downtown building begins office-to-residential conversion

Construction

Aug 17

Written By Staff

Photo courtesy of CWD Real Estate Investment

CWD Real Estate Investment has begun transforming the historic Ledyard Block at the corner of Ottawa Avenue and Pearl Street into 40 residential apartments, marking the firm's latest office-to-residential redevelopment project following the successful completion of The Residences at 111 Lyon.

"Stewardship of downtown Grand Rapids is in our blood," said Sam Cummings, Managing Partner, CWD Real Estate Investment. "The Ledyard Block is one of the city's great historic buildings, and we're honored to restore residential living to a place that was originally designed to be part of a vibrant mixed-use downtown.”

The $12.3 million project at 125 Ottawa Ave. NW will convert the building's upper floors into 40 one- and two-bedroom apartments while preserving the historic character that has defined the landmark for 152 years.

The redevelopment is supported by the City of Grand Rapids and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, whose participation helped make the complex historic conversion possible. MSHDA supported the project through grant funding and tax increment financing, while the City supported the redevelopment through tax increment financing and a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone designation.

The project brings together a team of West Michigan and national partners, with Orion Construction serving as construction manager, Ghafari Associates leading architecture and design, and E3M Solutions providing project management throughout the project.

"The Ledyard Block is another opportunity to honor Grand Rapids' past while building for its future," said Roger Rehkopf, CEO, Orion Construction. "Our team takes tremendous pride in restoring historic buildings that have helped define this city for generations. Partnering with CWD once again allows us to preserve an important piece of downtown's history while creating much-needed housing that will keep more people living, working and investing in our urban core."

The four-story Ledyard Block is the second-oldest commercial building still in operation in downtown Grand Rapids. Constructed of yellow brick and Ionia sandstone, the building has stood at the heart of the city since 1874, serving generations of businesses, residents and visitors. In 1983, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Designed by architect William G. Robinson for banker William B. Ledyard, the building functioned as a true mixed-use destination similar to what is seen today in downtown Grand Rapids. It combined retail, office and residential space under one roof. Through this redevelopment, CWD is restoring one of the building's original purposes by once again making it a place people can call home.

The Ledyard Block follows CWD's recent redevelopment of The Residences at 111 Lyon, another historic downtown property transformed from office space into residential housing.

"The success of The Residences at 111 Lyon reinforced what we've believed for a long time: office buildings can have a vibrant second life,” Cummings said. “As the way people use downtown continues to evolve, thoughtfully converting these landmark buildings into housing helps preserve our city's character while creating the active, walkable neighborhood that keeps downtown thriving."

Leasing information and additional project details will be announced at a later date. Individuals interested in receiving leasing updates can sign up for more information at www.cwdrealestate.com.

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Historic downtown building begins office-to-residential conversion

Construction

August 17, 2026

Historic downtown building begins office-to-residential conversion

Construction

August 17, 2026

The $12.3 million project will convert the building's upper floors into 40 one- and two-bedroom apartments while preserving the historic character that has defined the landmark for 152 years.

Construction

August 17, 2026