West Michigan Commercial Development

Where difficult
deals get done.

Forged Development specializes in the projects others walk away from — adaptive reuse, Brownfield redevelopment, and complex capital stack deals that require deep regulatory knowledge and real construction experience.

60+ Years Combined Experience
$4B+ Projects Directed

Built on experience.
Proven on results.

Forged Development brings together over 60 years of combined experience in commercial development, construction management, and complex capital structure. Our team has directed projects totaling well over $4 billion — from ground-up construction to intricate adaptive reuse and Brownfield deals.

We specialize in the projects that require more than a developer — they require someone who understands the construction side, knows how to engineer a capital stack, and has the regulatory relationships to move deals through Michigan's incentive programs.

We are rooted in West Michigan and focused on projects that strengthen the communities we work in.

Combined Experience
60+ Years
Across development, construction management, and owner's representation
Projects Directed
$4B+
Total project value across commercial, mixed-use, and redevelopment
Focus
West Michigan
Deep regional relationships with municipalities, lenders, and state agencies
Incentive Programs
Act 381 · TIF · LIHTC
NMTCs, Historic Tax Credits, OPRA, and Brownfield Grants

Specialized development expertise

We handle the complex work — projects requiring sophisticated financing structures, regulatory depth, and construction knowledge that most developers don't have in-house.

01
Adaptive Reuse
Transforming historic and underutilized buildings into productive commercial space while preserving architectural character and unlocking historic tax credit value.
02
Brownfield Redevelopment
Expert navigation of Michigan Act 381, environmental remediation coordination, and state grant funding to unlock contaminated site potential others won't touch.
03
Mixed-Use Development
Creating vibrant, multi-use spaces that revitalize neighborhoods, attract tenants, and generate long-term community value.
04
Tax Credit Financing
Structuring deals with LIHTC, New Markets Tax Credits, OPRA, Historic Tax Credits, and TIF Districts to make complex projects financially viable.
05
Owner's Rep & Development Management
Representing ownership interests through design, permitting, construction, and closeout — with real construction knowledge on our side of the table.
06
Act 381 & TIF Structuring
Deep experience with Michigan's Brownfield TIF capture mechanisms — from BRA approval through MEDC review, eligible activity documentation, and reimbursement tracking.

Current projects

In Development
Muskegon, Michigan

1185 3rd Street

A nearly century-old downtown Muskegon building is being reborn as a $6 million global engineering hub for the Fortna Group — one of four international locations. The 20,000 sq ft adaptive reuse project preserves the building's historic character while delivering 5,000 sq ft of R&D space, 15,000 sq ft of office space, and approximately 80 engineering jobs. Universal accessibility improvements to the surrounding streetscape are included. Target opening: September 2025.

Adaptive Reuse Historic Preservation Mixed-Use Brownfield
Project Value
$6M
Square Footage
20,000 SF
Jobs Created
~80

Let's build something together.

If you have a complex development project — a site with environmental issues, a historic building that needs a second life, a deal that needs creative financing — we want to hear about it. Difficult is where we start.

Location
West Michigan
Focus Area
Michigan Brownfield, Adaptive Reuse & Complex Commercial
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