Summary
A new development is underway on Market Avenue, just steps from Box Board Lofts. Led by Dwelling Place and P.S. Equities, the proposed project at 447–449 Market Avenue SW will bring around 90 affordable apartments, along with public amenities like an outdoor amphitheater, food truck space, and pedestrian-friendly design. Community feedback has already shaped the plans, shifting away from surface parking to support a more walkable neighborhood. With connections to the Oxford Trail, Grand River, and future Acrisure Amphitheater, this project represents another step toward creating a vibrant, inclusive, and connected district.
Just steps from Box Board Lofts — the market-rate apartment community we completed in 2022 at 470 Market Ave — a new chapter is in motion at 447 and 449 Market Avenue SW. While still in the Planning Commission process, the proposed development represents a collaborative effort between Dwelling Place and P.S. Equities to bring affordable housing and dynamic public space to the neighborhood.
Initial plans envision approximately 90 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments atop a two-story parking structure. But the significance of this project goes beyond housing alone. The proposal includes an outdoor amphitheater, a designated area for food trucks, and pedestrian-focused site design — all working in tandem to support long-term goals like the expansion of the Oxford Trail and improved connections to the Grand River and the future Acrisure Amphitheater.
“We want to activate this space — we think it’s a critical node for the city,” said Jacob Horner, Chief Real Estate Development Officer at Dwelling Place. “If it’s a busy weekend and there’s a lot of events going on, we’ll have the food trucks out, they’ll be able to come by and get a bite to eat.”
In response to feedback from the community and input from Planning Commission staff, the development team made a key shift: removing a previously proposed surface parking lot in favor of a more integrated, pedestrian-oriented design. While this change adds complexity and cost, it aligns more closely with the city’s vision for a walkable, sustainable, and people-centered neighborhood.
At HDJ, we’re honored to have contributed to the momentum along this corridor through our work on Box Board Lofts — and we’re encouraged to see proposals like this that reflect the city’s evolving priorities. Together, these projects are shaping Market Avenue into a more connected, inclusive, and vibrant urban district.
The project is scheduled for review by the Planning Commission on September 11, with potential for construction to begin as early as next fall, pending approvals.
Developer:Dwelling Place and P.S. Equities
Architect of Record: Hooker DeJong (HDJ)
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