Good morning! Downtown Grand Rapids is starting to look and feel like spring. The trees are just starting to get their leaves – I can’t wait for West Michigan to become green once again. Speaking of new life – the legislature has breathed new life in the possibility of benefit corporations (“Bcorps”) becoming a viableContinue reading “Michigan is Back Trending Towards Social Entrepreneurship: April 24, 2018 Benefit Corporation Legislation Proposed.”
Category Archives: community development
Real Estate Law Update: Evictions, Affordable Housing, Harassment provide an Opportunity for Investors to Shine Brightly.
I wrote my last post right before leaving for a week on the beautiful, warm beaches of Destin, Florida. We came back to snow. In Spring. Michigan has experienced some awful weather in the last week. I hope today is the turning point. Most of the snow is melting, as you can see from today’sContinue reading “Real Estate Law Update: Evictions, Affordable Housing, Harassment provide an Opportunity for Investors to Shine Brightly.”
Calling the Next Generation of Leaders.
Good morning and Happy Thursday! It is a beautiful morning in downtown Grand Rapids! Yesterday was the annual meeting of the Trustees of Mel Trotter Ministries. It was one year ago that my term ended as Board Chair. Last year I shared my reflections on this experience. One of my great joys during thisContinue reading “Calling the Next Generation of Leaders.”
Lessons from Court: Real Estate Investors combating the Affordable Housing Crisis
I took this photo this morning. Even when its cold outside, there is just something about the morning sun rising over Grand Rapids that gets me excited. Wearing Multiple Hats. Life is complicated when we wear multiple hats. I’ve written about the multiple hats I wear. We all wear multiple hats. For example –Continue reading “Lessons from Court: Real Estate Investors combating the Affordable Housing Crisis”
Because We Aren’t Meant to Do Life Alone. Grand Rapids Business Mentoring Connection
On occasion, I post about how I mentor elementary school-aged boys with difficult family backgrounds. The truth is that kids with hard family backgrounds are not the only ones who need mentors. The quote in the photo from New City Initiative in Portland, Oregon is revealing in a lot of ways. Homelessness may, by and large,Continue reading “Because We Aren’t Meant to Do Life Alone. Grand Rapids Business Mentoring Connection”
Michigan Law Update: The Neighborhood and Commercial Corridor Food Initiative. Community Revitalization Now Includes Downtown Grocery Stores.
Several years ago ago I took my family to New York City. (and took the below photo). Even amidst the chaos of protecting my 4 young children from darting out into oncoming traffic – we absolutely loved the City. We loved the walk-ability of City life – that you could walk down aContinue reading “Michigan Law Update: The Neighborhood and Commercial Corridor Food Initiative. Community Revitalization Now Includes Downtown Grocery Stores.”
Legal Update: Legislation that Real Estate Investors, Landlords and Veterans Should Keep Tabs on in the New Year.
It is a beautiful and cold afternoon in downtown Grand Rapids today. We head into 2018 with some Michigan Bills that affect Real Estate Investors, Landlords and Veterans. Veterans. The Michigan Legislature is pushing hard to protect those who have served our country. Yesterday MLive posted that the Michigan Legislature is taking up some 50 billsContinue reading “Legal Update: Legislation that Real Estate Investors, Landlords and Veterans Should Keep Tabs on in the New Year.”
Legal Update for Real Estate Investors: Fraud, Harassment, and a Bill to Penalize Falsely Representing Need for a Service Animal.
A beautiful end to Tuesday. Here’s a profound truth those in the real estate industry will readily acknowledge: Owning and Managing Real Estate is uniquely challenging. I hear it from my Property Owner/Manager clients. I experience it when I am involved in negotiating in landlord/tenant disputes. If you own or manage investment real estate, youContinue reading “Legal Update for Real Estate Investors: Fraud, Harassment, and a Bill to Penalize Falsely Representing Need for a Service Animal.”
Legal Update for Commercial and Residential Property Managers, Investors: Winter is Here. Are you Prepared?
The snow is coming down in Grand Rapids! I took this photo last week from my office – ice skating has officially started. With the winter months – comes an issue for landlords, property managers, and real estate investors… icy sidewalks and parking lots. These types of conditions are a primary reason why investorsContinue reading “Legal Update for Commercial and Residential Property Managers, Investors: Winter is Here. Are you Prepared?”
Grand Rapids Combats Affordable Housing Crisis – Eviction Prevention Program
Updated: I posted a few years back about Kent County’s Eviction Prevention Program. I just saw this article about Muskegon’s Eviction Prevention Program. Check it out. It is good news to hear that there this program is achieving some success, keeping people out of homelessness. There is definitely more work to be done… You knowContinue reading “Grand Rapids Combats Affordable Housing Crisis – Eviction Prevention Program”
Purpose Driven General Counsel 