Renovations on tap for Morton House

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Two prominent vacant structures in downtown Grand Rapids may be getting major renovations.

Among the buildings slated for new use is the Morton House. Originally a hotel, the building at the intersection of Monroe Center and Ionia Avenue was a low-income housing complex for 40 years. It was vacated in August 2011.

Rockford Construction is in the design stage to repurpose the Morton House, 55 Ionia Ave. NW. The company plans a mix-use building with retail on the ground floor, some office space above that, and market-rate housing on the upper levels.

The former Junior Achievement building at the intersection Fulton Street and Division Avenue may also finally be put back into use.

The Junior Achievement building was built in 1949 for Davenport University. Junior Achievement left the building in 1998 and the structure has been vacant since then -- except for a brief stint when it hosted Site:Lab during ArtPrize 2011.

City officials say Locus Development is shopping for a restaurant to go on the ground floor of the building, while office space will take up the upper level.