Holland receives $11.25M grant to redevelop former James DeYoung coal plant site

HOLLAND — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded an $11.25 million federal grant to the city of Holland, securing a critical piece of funding for a massive waterfront redevelopment project that has been nearly a decade in the making.

The Port Infrastructure Development Program, or PIDP, grant, administered by the Maritime Administration, will fund the Holland Intermodal Port Improvements project.

The initiative aims to upgrade safety, efficiency and reliability for expanded port operations at 64 Pine Ave., which is the former site of the James DeYoung coal-fired power plant.

The federal injection is expected to fast-track a highly anticipated "land swap" agreement with the Verplank Dock Co. Under the envisioned plan, the industrial waterfront operator will relocate to the repurposed JDY site.

This move will free up Verplank's current property at the end of Eighth Street, opening the door for future commercial and recreational developments to connect Holland’s downtown directly to Lake Macatawa.

“We are very excited about the news of this grant, as it provides a way to complete negotiations and advance the final approvals necessary to facilitate the land swap with Verplank Dock Co.,” said City Manager Keith Van Beek.

Van Beek noted that a major benefit of the relocation will be the redirection of industrial truck traffic away from the downtown core, improving local traffic safety and boosting overall port efficiency.

The Holland Intermodal Port Improvements Project is divided into three primary phases:

• Reconstruction of the aging waterfront seawall.
• On-site industrial construction to accommodate Verplank's operations.
• Public road and infrastructure upgrades to handle the shifting traffic patterns.

The environmental mitigation and site preparation at 64 Pine Ave. represent a massive collaborative effort between the city and the Holland Board of Public Works, following the plant's decommissioning and the opening of the Holland Energy Park, a gas-fired power plant near the intersection of Eighth Street and Chicago Drive.

The vision for the area was heavily shaped by Waterfront Holland, a comprehensive community engagement initiative, and a subsequent 2023 public vote authorizing the city to sell the property.

“Transitioning the JDY site to a new use would signal the successful conclusion of the HBPW history on the waterfront,” said HBPW General Manager Dave Koster, adding that it lays the groundwork for the city to finally link its downtown to the lake.

City officials will spend the coming months evaluating the grant’s various federal requirements before the city council votes on a formal agreement.

Construction and improvements at the JDY site are slated to take place between 2027 and 2028. Once this industrial phase is complete, city leaders will pivot to the broader, highly anticipated public development phases at the 8th Street waterfront site.

— Submitted by the City of Holland. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.