About Us
Shawmut Hills has been part of Grand Rapids since the early 1950s. For over 70 years, the neighborhood has maintained a unique character—mid-century, single-family homes just minutes from downtown.
Today, several thousand people call this place home, but against all odds, it’s maintained a small-town vibe. It’s the best of both worlds—city life at a different pace.
Organizing for today, mobilizing for the future
Residents voted to form the Shawmut Hills Neighborhood Association in July 2026, partly in response to development projects that threaten to fundamentally alter the character of our community. We believe in growth—but we believe that growth should be responsible, that it should take into consideration the needs of new and existing residents alike.
We exist to preserve what makes our neighborhood great, even as we grow into the future. We will always fight to maintain the unique character of our community. We gladly partner with developers, businesses, and community leaders who want to build on what makes our neighborhood such a great place to live—and we will fight those who wish to pave over our community for their own profit.
A different kind of neighborhood association
What sets the Shawmut Hills Neighborhood Association apart? Two things:
Everyone who lives here belongs.
You do not have to own property to belong to our association. If you live here, you belong. Full stop. Anyone 18 years or older who lives within the Shawmut Hills neighborhood is welcome to join the association, free of charge.
We put residents first.
We welcome investment in our community. But what we welcome even more: those who make a commitment to this community. Those who put down roots. The people who live in our neighborhood, they play for keeps. Some of them make this their home for a lifetime. That’s the kind of community we want to build. And that’s why, if you own property in this neighborhood but don’t live here, we’re glad you see the value of our community—but this community belongs, first and foremost, to the people who live here.
Association documents
Bylaws are currently being drafted by an organizing committee and will be presented to residents in the coming weeks.
Our board
Once our bylaws are ratified, board members will be elected, and the work of managing the association will transfer from the organizing committee to the board.