Live in a Piece of Grand Rapids History: Inside the Historic Waters House Mansion

Some apartments give you a place to live.

Others give you a story to tell.

Tucked into Grand Rapids’ historic Heritage Hill neighborhood at 20 College Avenue SE, the Waters House Mansion is one of those rare places where the past is not simply something you read about. It is something you can actually call home.

And right now, a limited number of residences within the mansion are available.

For anyone searching for a truly unique apartment in Grand Rapids, this is an opportunity that does not come around often.

A Grand Rapids Home With a Remarkable Past

The mansion is closely tied to one of the families that helped shape early Grand Rapids and to prominent businessman Dudley E. Waters.

Born in Grand Rapids in 1863, Waters became an influential figure in the city's financial and civic life. He served as president of Grand Rapids National Bank beginning in 1901, sat on the city's Board of Public Works and was involved in numerous business ventures throughout West Michigan. Historical accounts describe him as deeply connected to the growth and development of Grand Rapids.

His name can still be found throughout the city's history.

Perhaps one of his best-known business ventures was the development of the historic Waters Building in downtown Grand Rapids.

In the late 1890s, furniture entrepreneur Phillip Klingman approached the Waters family about developing a building dedicated to showcasing furniture. Dudley Waters and his sisters partnered with Klingman, and the Waters Building opened in 1899.

It quickly became an important part of Grand Rapids' booming furniture industry and was once described as the largest building in the world devoted to furniture exposition, helping reinforce the city's reputation as Furniture City.

More than a century later, that history remains visible throughout Grand Rapids.

And at Waters House, part of it is still residential.

The Mansion at 20 College Avenue

The Grand Rapids Public Library's historical archives identify the property at 20 College Avenue as the Dudley Waters home, with preserved records of its interior dating to the 1930s.

Today, the mansion remains part of the Waters House community.

Unlike a newly constructed apartment designed to repeat the same layout from floor to floor, residences within a historic mansion have something completely different to offer: character.

Architecture like this simply cannot be recreated.

The scale. The craftsmanship. The details. The history behind the walls.

For renters who want something beyond a traditional apartment experience, living in the Waters House Mansion means calling one of Grand Rapids' distinctive historic properties home.

Historic Character, Right in Heritage Hill

Location only adds to the experience.

Waters House sits within the beautiful, tree-lined surroundings of Heritage Hill, one of Grand Rapids' most recognizable historic neighborhoods, while still keeping residents close to everything happening downtown.

The Waters House community is approximately one mile from the Medical Mile, Grand Rapids Community College and Aquinas College, making it especially convenient for professionals, students and anyone who wants quick access to downtown without giving up the residential feel of Heritage Hill.

That means your surroundings may feel rooted in another era, but your everyday lifestyle does not have to.

Restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment, downtown Grand Rapids, healthcare and some of the city's best-known neighborhoods are all close by.

More Than a Historic Home

Residents of Waters House also have access to community amenities designed for modern living, including a swimming pool and sun deck, onsite fitness studio, resident parking, a community coffee bar, controlled access and a fenced dog park.

It creates an unusual combination:

The personality of historic Grand Rapids with the convenience of apartment living today.

That is difficult to find, even in a city known for its historic architecture.

Imagine Saying, “I Live in the Mansion.”

There are plenty of apartments for rent in Grand Rapids.

There are far fewer opportunities to live somewhere people stop and wonder about when they drive past.

That is part of what makes the Waters House Mansion special.

This is not just another apartment address. It is a home connected to the people, businesses and architecture that helped shape Grand Rapids.

If original character, local history and a home that feels completely different from everyone else's are on your wish list, the mansion deserves a closer look.

Because opportunities to live inside a piece of Grand Rapids history do not become available very often.

Mansion Residences Are Available Now

Select residences at the Waters House Mansion are currently available.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to live inside one of Grand Rapids' historic mansions, now is your chance to find out.

Explore current availability and schedule a tour of Waters House today.

Your next apartment could come with more than an address. It could come with a story.