The demolition of Grand Valley Apartments provided several items for lower-income homeowners in the area. The university’s commitment to go green and recycle made for a great opportunity to help those in need.
“There was little left for the wrecking ball or the landfill,” said Karen Ingle, project manager for Facilities Planning. “We were careful to make use of as much materials as possible.”
Items like kitchen cabinets, hot water heaters, tables, chairs and beds were donated to a number of area organizations; concrete and brick were recycled. Other items, like door knobs, bike racks, and electrical and plumbing items will be used at Grand Valley.
The six housing units demolished — Kent, Lake, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa, and Wayne — will make room for a $52.4 million housing project that will add three new buildings. The apartment-style units on 42nd Street, south of Pierce, will house 608 students. The project will increase the number of beds in on-campus housing from 5,464 to 5,924.
