Kent County renegotiating DeVos Place vaccine clinic lease following public backlash
Updated Feb 11, 2021;
Posted Feb 11, 2021
The COVID-19 vaccination clinic at DeVos Place in shown in this file photo from Jan. 25. (MLive file photo)Cory Morse | MLive.com
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GRAND RAPIDS, MI Following public backlash, Kent County is renegotiating its $12,000 a day lease for DeVos Place convention center, the site of a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinic the county’s hosting with Spectrum Health and Mercy Health Saint Mary’s.
“Those numbers are going to come down,” said Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt, referencing the $12,000 daily fee which drew criticism from some members of the Kent County Board of Commissioners.
Grand Rapids moves forward with amphitheater planned along Grand River
Commissioners passed an option agreement allowing for the sale of city property to the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority. Author: Emma Nicolas Updated: 11:56 PM EST February 9, 2021
City-owned property along the Grand River could be sold and become the site of a 14-thousand seat amphitheater under an agreement passed unanimously by Grand Rapids commissioners Tuesday.
The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA), the board that oversees Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place, will spend the months ahead looking into the development at 201 Market Avenue SW further before officially closing on the estimated $24.5 million sale.
2021 Grand Rapids shows postponed amid continued COVID-19 concerns
On Thursday, ShowSpan, Inc., Michigan s premier producer of consumer shows, announced the postponement of the rest of its 2021 “Show Season”.
The Grand Rapids Camper, Travel and RV Show at DeVos Place in 2017. Author: 13 ON YOUR SIDE Staff Published: 11:26 AM CST February 4, 2021 Updated: 11:26 AM CST February 4, 2021
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan On Thursday, ShowSpan, Inc., Michigan s premier producer of consumer shows, announced the postponement of the rest of its 2021 “Show Season” in Grand Rapids to a similar schedule in the First Quarter of 2022. A decision on ShowSpan’s remaining schedule of 2021 consumer shows in Novi and Lansing, Michigan has not yet been made.
How Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place are using $2M in COVID relief funds
Updated Dec 11, 2020;
Posted Dec 11, 2020
FILE PHOTO - A view of the DeVos Place Convention Center in downtown Grand Rapids on Sunday, November 3, 2013. (Andrew Kuhn | MLive.com)
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But the board that manages the venues isn’t sitting idle.
Thanks to a roughly $2 million federal coronavirus relief grant, the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) is making a series of health and safety improvements to the three venues, including new air purification systems, sanitation equipment, touchless drinking fountains and personal protective equipment.
“In my view, the CARE funding is incredibly important, because it allows us to come out of the gate fully prepared to meet the public in a very safe and protected way,” said Steve Heacock, who chairs the CAA.