Fuller Avenue

The Fuller Avenue neighborhood is located in southeast Grand Rapids, within ZIP code 49507, and is one of several neighborhoods that make up the broader Boston Square area. The neighborhood is bounded roughly by Hall Street to the north, the East Grand Rapids city line to the east, Boston Street and Dickinson Street to the south, and Kalamazoo Avenue to the west. Fuller Avenue SE runs through the center of the neighborhood as its primary north-south residential street.

The neighborhood's character is defined by tree-lined residential blocks with early-20th-century homes on compact urban lots. The housing stock consists primarily of Craftsman bungalows and American Foursquares built between the 1890s and 1920s. Most residents own their homes (approximately 64% owner-occupied), and the neighborhood has a mix of long-term residents and newer buyers attracted by the affordability relative to neighboring East Grand Rapids.

The Fuller Avenue area is experiencing a significant period of reinvestment, anchored by the Boston Square Together redevelopment project and the opening of the HUB 07 community center in December 2025. This $82.6 million multi-phase investment is reshaping the commercial corridors and bringing new housing, health care, child care, and retail to the neighborhood.

The Fuller Avenue neighborhood falls within the Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) district. GRPS uses an attendance-area-based assignment system; the specific school serving a Fuller Avenue address can be determined using the GRPS Attendance Area Finder tool.

The Boston Square Early Childhood Center provides early learning services within the neighborhood as part of the Boston Square Together development. GRPS operates several elementary, middle, and high school options accessible to neighborhood residents, including Innovation Central High School.

GRPS participates in Schools of Choice, allowing residents to apply to attend theme schools and Centers of Innovation throughout the district. Private and charter school options nearby include Grand Rapids Christian Schools, Catholic Central High School, and several K-8 academies. The neighborhood's eastern boundary with East Grand Rapids means EGR schools are physically nearby, though attendance requires residing within the EGR district.

The Fuller Avenue neighborhood is located approximately 2 to 3 miles southeast of downtown Grand Rapids, a 7 to 12 minute drive via Hall Street, Wealthy Street, or Kalamazoo Avenue. The East Beltline (M-44) is accessible to the east, providing connections to commercial corridors and expressways.

Public transit is available through The Rapid's bus network. Routes serving the area include connections along Kalamazoo Avenue and Hall Street to Rapid Central Station for transfers to the Silver Line BRT and other routes.

The Walk Score varies by location within the neighborhood, ranging from approximately 72 near Hall Street ("Very Walkable") to lower scores in the more residential southern blocks. The Hall Street and Kalamazoo Avenue commercial corridors are accessible on foot from most of the neighborhood.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport is approximately 10 miles southeast, a 14 to 18 minute drive.

The Fuller Avenue neighborhood presents a compelling investment case built on affordability, ongoing public and private reinvestment, and proximity to high-value East Grand Rapids.

Median home prices around $193,000 to $210,000 offer the lowest entry points among the neighborhoods profiled in this guide. The 64% owner-occupancy rate and tight housing supply support stable rental demand. Homes needing renovation can be found below $175,000, while updated properties sell in the $250,000 to $300,000 range.

The Boston Square Together redevelopment represents over $82 million in investment, including the HUB 07 community center (opened December 2025), 22 affordable townhomes planned with Habitat for Humanity of Kent County (groundbreaking expected 2027), and 270 total mixed-income housing units across multiple phases. This level of coordinated investment typically supports surrounding property appreciation.

The neighborhood is not a designated historic district, so renovation projects proceed without Historic Preservation Commission review, reducing timelines and complexity for value-add strategies.

The price gradient between Fuller Avenue (median ~$210,000) and adjacent East Grand Rapids (median ~$625,000+) is one of the steepest in the metro area, which creates long-term appreciation potential as investment narrows the gap.

Important for short-term rental investors: Grand Rapids requires a Home Occupation Class C License and Special Land Use Permit for short-term rentals, with significant restrictions. Investors should underwrite to long-term rental income only.