The LCH36 Scattered Site Project is a complex acquisition and rehabilitation initiative
involving five historic buildings located within the Heartside Historic District of Grand
Rapids. The project revitalized underutilized and aging structures into high-quality,
energy-efficient housing while preserving their historic character and contributing to the
ongoing reinvestment of a nationally recognized historic neighborhood. The scope,
regulatory environment, and historic preservation requirements demanded a high level
of technical rigor and multidisciplinary coordination.

All five buildings are three-story structures and are collectively organized into five
interconnected wings. The rehabilitation resulted in 49 apartment units, one live-work
suite, and one administrative office, supporting a mixed-use residential program tailored
to affordable and workforce households. All units are targeted to serve residents at or
below 60 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), reinforcing the project’s affordability
and community development objectives.

The project utilized Federal Historic Tax Credits and was developed under the Michigan
State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
(LIHTC) program. This layered financing structure required strict adherence to both
MSHDA standards and federal historic preservation requirements, including
coordination with the National Park Service and State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO). The design team was responsible for extensive documentation of existing
conditions, identification of character-defining features, and development of
rehabilitation strategies that met the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for
Rehabilitation while also satisfying modern building codes, accessibility requirements,
and energy performance goals.

The scope of work was comprehensive and included exterior brick restoration,
replacement of windows consistent with historic profiles, exterior canopy repairs and
replacements, deck restoration, building envelope improvements, and full roof
replacement across all five buildings. Interior work included replacement of finishes,
installation of new HVAC equipment, and new appliances to improve comfort, efficiency,
and durability. Site work and landscaping were also completed to enhance accessibility,
safety, and overall site functionality.

One notable component of the project is the rehabilitation of the Peterlien Building,
originally constructed in 1902 as the Peterlien Bicycle Grip Factory. The building
contains approximately 4,992 square feet on a 0.29-acre site. The development plan
included conversion of existing office and garage spaces into six new apartment units,
requiring careful structural evaluation, code analysis, and integration of new building
systems within a historic industrial shell. The site design for the Peterlien Building
included a reconfigured parking lot with integrated outdoor planter beds, bicycle parking, seat walls, and a new dumpster enclosure, improving both functionality and streetscape
presence while remaining sensitive to the historic context.

All five buildings achieved LEED Silver certification, reflecting a strong commitment to
sustainability within the constraints of historic rehabilitation. Energy-efficient HVAC
systems, improved building envelopes, durable materials, and strategies to enhance
indoor environmental quality were integrated while maintaining historic character.
Achieving LEED certification across multiple historic buildings required careful balancing
of preservation requirements with performance-based sustainability goals.

The LCH36 Scattered Site Project exemplifies the technical rigor required for successful
historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse. The project demanded detailed existing
building analysis, preservation-sensitive design, complex code and accessibility
coordination, and close collaboration among architects, engineers, preservation
consultants, contractors, and reviewing agencies. The completed development
preserves significant historic resources, delivers high-quality affordable and workforce
housing, and demonstrates how thoughtful design and technical expertise can
successfully align historic preservation, sustainability, and housing affordability
objectives.