Good morning, Grand Rapids. I’m LeQwane and this is Calder News — and we’ve made it to Friday, people.

Before we get into today’s issue, I just want to say i’ve finally figured it out.

The “Extended Events Calendar” is now available and will be included in each newsletter. It’ll primarily cover the recurring events we can’t always mention here.

With that being said, if you know of a neat recurring event (like trivia, bingo, music, etc) please submit it here so we can feature it on the calendar.

Now, to dive into today’s issue. Heads up, it’s a bit different as we’ve done our first interview. Be sure to let me know what you think!

~LeQwane L.

Together with: Uptown Cheapskate

Looking for Y2K-inspired vintage street wear?

This Saturday, Uptown Cheapskate is dropping tons of amazing Vintage Graphic Tees, Denim, Boots, and so much more

They carry brands like Harley Davidson, Stussy, Hollister, Abercrombie, and the list goes on.

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Planning Q1 2026 marketing for your business? We can help you reach 14,000+ locals. Email me @ [email protected] for partnership opportunities.

An even faster brief of local news that matters

Housing

A project that’ll transform the empty field on 52nd St. near Wing Ave. into a community for 216 single-family homes and 69 townhomes has been approved.

After receiving approval, Pinnacle Construction Group and Sun Title Agency have held their groundbreaking on a 171-unit workforce housing project coming to 301 and 385 Leonard St. NE

Health

Yesterday, officials confirmed a rabid bat was found in Kent County. The health department has issued an advisory for residents.

An interview with developer Gabriel Grant

A couple of weeks ago, we covered The Heights on Burton,  a fully accessible, mixed-use building with more than 20 apartments above commercial space.

The developer behind the project, Gabriel Grant, is a friend of the newsletter, so I got the chance to chat with him and get some behind-the-scenes information about the project for you.

The vision is simple: every inch of the building will be accessible. While most developments in GR only include a few accessible units, The Heights on Burton is designed so that anyone, from a young professional to a grandparent using a wheelchair.

Why now?

For Grant, the motivation is personal. At 18, he was injured in a car accident that left him with a spinal cord injury. That experience revealed just how few local opportunities existed for people with disabilities in housing. He went on to launch a home healthcare company called Care Granted and a consulting firm (Access Granted) focused on accessibility and inclusion. Real estate was the next logical step.

“When I walked into the building for the first time, it was rough,” Grant recalled. “But it lit a fire in me. I knew I could do something with it.”

What does this mean for locals?

The Heights on Burton could be the first community-centered, fully accessible development in town. Most existing developments are designed specifically for seniors or individuals with disabilities. This space is open to everyone to help break down the barriers that often leave people with “special abilities” isolated.

To bring the project to life, Grant has partnered with Fishbeck, Collective Ventures, and Quantum Construction. Though still in early stages, the plan is in full swing.

“Whatever affects the majority devastates the minority,” Grant said. “If there’s already a housing crisis for most, imagine what that means for people with disabilities. This project is about changing that story.”

While I didn’t record our full conversation, you can check out our video following the chat here.

📍 Location: 800 Burton Street SE (Alger Heights)
🏗️ What’s Coming: 20+ fully accessible apartments + commercial space
⏳ Status: Early redevelopment

🎮 Game Design Mentorship Program

A local video game dev. and publishing firm called Finji is launching a 1 on 1 mentorship program for emerging game designers. The mentorship will be held at Lotus Brew Coffee - you can email them for info on how to participate.

Business Openings:

💎 Rebel Nell - A Detroit-based retailer that creates jewelry from repurposed murals and landmarks is opening on Monroe.

🍧 Pump House - The popular frozen yogurt shop is expanding to Standale (at the former T-Mobile) this Fall after opening multiple stores in GR and GH over the past few years.

Submit a message, announcement, shout-out, etc, for your business.

Preview: Events —> Live Music

Oktoberfest

View Extended Events Calendar

*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.

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📧 Get your business in an upcoming issue of Calder News. Let’s talk about how we can put your business in front of thousands of GR locals.

Made with ❤ in Grand Rapids