The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is a funding tool Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) administers to help catalyze public and private investment in Grand Rapids' urban core. The DDA Board of Directors met March 14, 2018 and considered the following matters:

138 Fulton Street East Alley Repair

The Board today approved financial support not to exceed $25,000 for necessary improvements to correct a failing retaining wall along the alley behind 138 East Fulton Street. The existing stone wall partially collapsed in October 2017 closing the alley to thru traffic and blocking a portion of a parking lot. The DDA's share of the project cost will assist in the overall project cost for restoring ingress/egress to all properties along the alley for deliveries and access to parking lots. The City Commission authorized funding support for the project on March 6, 2018. The total project cost is estimated at $50,000.

Parking Operations and Service Agreement Extension

The Board today approved an extension until June 30, 2018 of the existing Parking Operation and Maintenance Agreement between the DDA and the City of Grand Rapids Mobile GR and Parking Services Department. No changes to the agreement were approved.

The City of Grand Rapids and the DDA have a long-standing partnership that goes back to 1994, under which the DDA has acquired several land parcels and financed improvements for their use as surface lots. The lots are operated and maintained by the City's Mobile GR and Parking Services Department. The City and the DDA will consider a new agreement during preparation of their respective Fiscal Year 2019 budgets.