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Ground-Level Opportunity

Defying conventional wisdom pays off for a Michigan builder.

When Covenant Developments' construction manager went to get copies of the blueprints for its new condo community, The Villas at River-town, in the Grand Rapids, Mich., suburb of Wyoming, company president Peter Engles says the printer looked at the plans and said, “Can I give you some advice? I've been in this market for 30 years. Put a basement under [your units] or you won't sell a thing.”

 

Basement

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