My Life at the Grand Castle Apartments: The Beginning Pt. 1

I lived at the Grand Castle Apartments for two years. In this series, I share the beginning, middle and end.

This is part one of a four-part series on life at the Grand Castle Apartments.

In 2015, Grand Rapids residents abandoned their jobs and flocked to the internet.

MLive announced plans for an apartment building just outside the city. An apartment building that also serves as a castle.

The Grand Castle Apartments is the brainchild of the late Roger Lucas. While ‘developer’ has been attached to Lucas’ name in articles, I’m more familiar with his one-time street name: slum lord.

It made sense that a man who exploited at-risk communities for gain would erect a tribute to himself on top of a former trailer park. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. 

As you’d expect, the plans were immediately mocked. The Salon, a private Facebook group to discuss Grand Rapids urbanism, went nuts.