8th Street development breathes new life into downtown Holland
By Kelsey Smith
To say that downtown Holland has had a busy couple of years is an understatement. Since 2015, GDK Construction has been developing the west end of Eighth Street, located near Holland Civic Center Place.
“We have had our company offices in downtown Holland since 1999, so we have been invested in the downtown community since that time and over time, we began to understand the downtown community more and more,” said Andrea Genzink, property manager at Geenen DeKock Properties, sister company of GDK Construction. “This block had been neglected for many years and was a hodgepodge of old outdated buildings that didn’t fit with the current culture that’s been created in downtown Holland over the last 20 years.
“The property became available, so it made sense to purchase it and start work on this block, which is also part of a larger dream we call the ‘March to the Waterfront.’ This block is the next step in developing the blocks between downtown Holland and the waterfront and creating that natural connection.”
GDK’s West 8th Development includes:
• Ninth Street parking deck
• Fifty West Residences
• Canterbury Cottage Interiors
• Tulip Time Festival office
• The renovated Holland Sentinel building, which also houses the restaurant, Seventy-Six
• The Lofts at West 8th
• Sperry’s Moviehouse
• HopCat
• Cakabakery on 8th
• Poquito
• Obstacle No. 1
• Hawthorne Collection Boutique
• Bondi Salon
Coming this spring are three more retail tenants: Market Zero, Crepe Craft and OI Asian Bistro.
“We hope (the development) continues to bring more and more people downtown,” Genzink said. “We have such a vibrant downtown with so many things to do, places to eat and shop, and we want people in the community to enjoy it and by growing downtown, it gives more retail and entertainment possibilities.
“We are just happy to be able to play a role in continuing to make downtown a more enjoyable and entertaining community.” n
Downtown Holland
616-355-1050
downtownholland.com
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Urban St.
Urban St. magazine is distributed to residents and visitors of the lakeshore communities of Holland, Zeeland, Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Saugatuck, Douglas, Fennville, Muskegon, Nunica, Port Sheldon and West Olive at numerous pick-up locations including attractions, retailers, restaurants, hotels and salons/spas.
