Beckett Industries Plans to Demolish Historic Church
A 150-year-old Grand Rapids church would be razed for a $55 million, 240-unit mixed-use development.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Catholicism
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Beckett Industries has announced plans to demolish St. James Catholic Church on Bridge Street in Grand Rapids. The church, which held its last Mass in June 2022, would make way for a $55 million, 240-unit mixed-use development.
Why it matters
The proposal affects a 150-year-old building on Grand Rapids' West Side and the future of its Catholic congregation's former home. Developers say other options, including a food hall or wedding venue, were not financially viable.
The proposed development is valued at $55 million and would contain 240 units, with early plans showing 179 parking spots or fewer. The final scope remains unsettled as Beckett Industries refines its application with city planners.
The players
Beckett Industries
Beckett Industries is a local developer leading the proposed mixed-use project on the Bridge Street site.
Diocese of Grand Rapids
The Diocese of Grand Rapids is the Catholic governing body that owned the St. James property and negotiated its sale.
The details
Developers spent two years working with the Diocese of Grand Rapids to purchase the Bridge Street property. Developers plan to preserve some of the church's stained glass and bricks, and neighbors were briefed at a meeting at Jackson Street Hall.
Timeline
June 2022: St. James Catholic Church held its last Mass.
Past two years: Beckett Industries worked with the Diocese of Grand Rapids to purchase the property and plan the project.
November 12, 2026: Neighbors met at Jackson Street Hall to learn about the project and ask questions.
Season Trajectory
Demolition proposals like this one add to a wave of closed urban churches in Rust Belt cities such as Grand Rapids being converted to housing, though this plan chooses full demolition over reuse. The outcome will indicate whether similar parishes in the region pursue preservation or redevelopment.
Grand Rapids residents on the West Side could see a 240-unit mixed-use development replace the Bridge Street church site, bringing new housing and parking changes to the neighborhood. Residents who want a say in the project can follow its progress as the city reviews the final application.
The takeaway
Historic buildings can be lost even after years of negotiation when preservation options prove financially unworkable. Readers interested in local development can track city planning filings as they reach public review.
Further reading
Explore more on Catholicism and how parish properties are reshaping Grand Rapids neighborhoods.
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