340 West Main

Recognized as the first Hudson's store in Michigan and believed to be the first stand-alone Hudson's store in the Midwest, the significant historic building at 340 W. Main Street in downtown Ionia is undergoing transformation. Built in 1890, the 5,200-square-foot structure with its distinctive sandstone exterior later housed the G.W. French Music Store before falling into disuse. The Ionia City Council has approved both an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Exemption Certificate and a Brownfield Plan for the project, providing a property tax abatement on improvements for up to 12 years and tax increment financing to reimburse the developer up to $104,384 (about 13% of total project costs) over 24 years. The comprehensive renovation includes creating three apartments on the second floor while rehabilitating the ground floor commercial space for lease to a local business. Preservation Forward served as the historic preservation specialist on this redevelopment, providing technical guidance and financial incentive expertise while working closely with owners, local, state, and federal partners, architect, general contractor, and tradespeople. Construction was scheduled to begin November 1, 2021, with completion targeted for October 31, 2022. This project represents a significant investment in downtown Ionia's revitalization efforts, addressing Mayor Dan Balice's call for "buildings that work, buildings that attract people" as part of the community's ongoing downtown redevelopment process.