Profile: Influential
Restoring the past William DeVries moved his family to Grand Rapids to start a construction business 60 years ago. Today, his sons and grandsons are continuing his work. by Robin Luymes
— Mike DeVries
Photography by Michael Buck
T
he official motto at DeVries Cos. is “Restoring our past — building our future.” The company, which has built a reputation for historic renovations, was founded 60 years ago by William DeVries, a barn builder from Portage who moved his wife and five sons to Grand Rapids to start a construction business, William DeVries and Sons Construction. Among his first projects were schools, churches, industrial buildings — and the first local Meijer Thrifty Acres, built in 1962 on the corner of Kalamazoo Avenue and 28th Street. Ed and Bob DeVries still recall the first jobs they worked on with their father. “We were kids,” said Bob, who runs the construction practice for the company. “I was about 5 years old when my dad stuck a broom in my hand.” All five DeVries sons graduated from Calvin College. Ed went on to Western Michigan University for his MBA and, in 1970, he and Bob joined forces to form DeVries Development. Together, they have developed and managed properties all over West Michigan. The brothers formed DeVries Construction and Ed DeVries Properties, which, along with DeVries Development, became the DeVries Cos. Ed’s son, Mike, has taken on a leadership role, putting his real estate law background to good use when putting together deals, negotiating zoning bylaws and obtaining financing and tax credits. The family’s passion for historical restoration began while renovating homes in Grand Rapids’ Heritage Hill neighborhood. The work involved precise requirements to return the houses to their original splendor. “Our goal is to bring buildings back to where Mike, Ed and Bob DeVries stand on the steps of the building that once housed Grand they were at one time,” said Bob, who was a history Rapids Christian High School. Ed and Bob attended the school, and now the family major in college. “It’s pretty touchy stuff. These company is restoring the property. One of the first jobs they worked on with their buildings were put up 150 years ago.” father, William, was building a new gymnasium for the school in 1957. Among the most recent DeVries projects is the restoration of the Mediterranean Revival-style “We want to lead by example when Water Filtration Plant on Monroe Avenue north of downtown, which placed Grand Rapids on the map as the first community it comes to restoration and sustainability. in the country to add fluoride to its drinking water. Clearwater Place is now being repurposed to house retail and residential You can renovate a building, and you haven’t tenants and has been honored with designation to the National just improved that building but you’ve Registry of Historic Places. improved the whole neighborhood.” Another landmark project was restoration of the Italian Renaissance style Aldrich Place building on the corner of Ottawa 20 Grand Rapids June 2010
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