Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association (HDNA)
Neighborhood association · Grand Rapids, Michigan
Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association (HDNA) is the neighborhood association for the Oldtown-Heartside area of Grand Rapids. This page covers the organisation — what it runs, the area it serves, and how to reach it. For prices, schools and walk times, see the Oldtown-Heartside neighborhood page.
Contact
- www.intheheartofgr.org
- Info.hdna@gmail.com
- Grand Rapids, MI
Nonprofit status
Federal tax-exempt status automatically revoked in 2024.
The IRS revokes tax-exempt status automatically when an organisation does not file the required returns for three consecutive years. It is a statement about federal tax status only — the association may well still be active. Donations made while status is revoked are not tax-deductible. Check with the association before relying on this.
- Registered as
- HEARTSIDE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
- EIN
- 36-4983429
- Status revoked
- May 15, 2024
Source: IRS Exempt Organizations data, checked August 5, 2026.
Historic districts and design review
2 of the City of Grand Rapids’ six local historic districts lie within this association’s boundary: Ledyard Block Historic District and Heartside Historic District.
Ledyard Block Historic District
- Designated a City of Grand Rapids local historic district in 1974.
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 8, 1983 (reference 83000878).
- Ord. 74-72, adopted 10 September 1974 (Code of Ordinances ch. 68, sec. 5.422, as the Ledyard Building Historic Landmark)
Heartside Historic District
- Designated a City of Grand Rapids local historic district in 1979.
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 2, 1982 (reference 82002844).
- Ord. 79-86, adopted 4 December 1979 (Code of Ordinances ch. 68, sec. 5.449); expanded 1984, 1999, 2003 and 2017
What this means if you own a building here
In a Grand Rapids local historic district, a Certificate of Appropriateness must be obtained from the Historic Preservation Commission or its staff before any exterior alteration, repair, rehabilitation, restoration, relocation, new construction or demolition, and before any interior work that changes the exterior. That applies whether or not a building is a contributing historic resource, and the certificate must be issued before the city will issue a building permit.
Applications go to the Planning Department. Minor classes of work — in-kind repairs, storm doors and windows, fencing, reroofing — can be approved by preservation staff, typically within a day or two. More complex projects such as new construction, demolition and alterations go to the Commission, which meets monthly. A certificate is valid for twelve months once issued.
Summarised from the City of Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Guidelines. Confirm the current requirements with the Historic Preservation Commission before starting work.
About
Residential association for the Heartside / downtown district.
About the area it serves
What catches most people off guard is how much art and music pulse through this downtown stretch—galleries line Division Avenue (locals call it the Avenue for the Arts), The Intersection ranks among America's top 50 music venues, and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts anchors the creative energy. The neighborhood sits in the heart of [Grand Rapids](/neighborhoods/grand-rapids-city), bordered by Lafayette to the east and Wealthy to the south, and it's genuinely dense with things to do: restaurants, shops, and nightlife cluster here, plus major medical facilities like Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital anchor the eastern edge. The area's known as the most diverse stretch of downtown, and you'll find vintage stores, clubs, and galleries mixed throughout. Historic buildings—from converted loft condos in places like the Fitzgerald and Peck Building to the older brick architecture that earned it National Register status back in 1982—give the neighborhood real character. Heartside Park, built on what used to be railroad tracks, now has a splash pad, courts, and murals by local artists, a reminder that this spot got its name as a railroad hub over a century ago.
Official links
Frequently asked about Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association (HDNA)
- What area does Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association (HDNA) cover?
- Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association (HDNA) is the neighborhood association for the Oldtown-Heartside area of Grand Rapids.
- How do I contact Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association (HDNA)?
- You can reach Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association (HDNA) via its website at www.intheheartofgr.org and email at Info.hdna@gmail.com. Its mailing address is Grand Rapids, MI.
- Is Heartside a historic district?
- The following City of Grand Rapids local historic districts lie within this association's boundary: Ledyard Block Historic District and Heartside Historic District. Owners of property in a local historic district need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before exterior alterations, new construction or demolition.
- Is Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association (HDNA) a registered nonprofit?
- Not currently. IRS records show its federal tax-exempt status was automatically revoked in 2024 and has not been reinstated. Automatic revocation follows three consecutive years of unfiled returns; the association may still be operating. Donations made while status is revoked are not tax-deductible.
Buying or selling in this area? See the Oldtown-Heartside neighborhood page for current listings and market data.