Allison Slater

This is exciting! Really glad I moved to Muskegon, it's really feeling like GR did in the naughts. Really looking forward to that kayak launch, too. Don't currently see many kayaks in the lake.

Globally, sure. But also take into account population location shifts. Birth rate has been low in the US for a while now I think? But population growth continues to increase due to immigration. As climate change takes hold, perhaps you'll see better housing availability in future undesirable locations like Florida, but continued housing shortages in areas that do relatively better in a global warming scenario like Michigan. Can kinda see this between GR and Detroit, or even Detroit and Detroit Suburbs. Housing shortages throughout the suburbs, great housing availability in Detroit proper. Can also see this in Japan, which has been experiencing population decline for a while. Tokyo continues to grow despite declining country-wide population as the rural towns are practically giving houses away and still losing population. I'd guess GR won't be worrying about population decline for a very long time.

Considering that a lot of entry level housing is being bought up by land management companies to be turned into rentals, and a lot of new home construction (and even entire developments) in many parts of the country are being purpose built as rental homes.. yes, yes we are definitely becoming a nation of renters instead of homeowners. The American Dream is on its deathbed. In Muskegon I can see four houses built within the past year. All four are rentals. I can also see a handful of older housing stock, half of which are rentals. Granted, I do live a handful of blocks outside of downtown.

Choo choo grill is apparently closing

Bamboo can quickly get out of control and take over an area and for that reason is considered an invasive species that is advised against planting. +1 on the cap of 96 though. A park connecting Michigan St and Belknap would be lovely.

I was convinced Lyon Square and Calder Plaza were both dead plans, things had been so silent on them both for so long.

And a big development at Market/Fulton, new tall skyscraper, subway to the airport, and a giant statue in the style of the statue of liberty dedicated to some guy named Faust to complete a two-decade-old joke. Honestly, commuter rail connecting the three cities: GRR - Grand Rapids - Walker - Coopersville - Fruitport - Muskegon GRR - Grand Rapids - Grandville - Hudsonville - Zeeland - Holland Saugatuk - Holland - Grand Haven - Muskegon - Whitehall Tram / Streetcars (Major stops listed, with minor stops between): Millennium Park - John Ball Zoo - GVSU - Downtown GR - East Hills - Easttown - East GR North Muskegon - Downtown Muskegon - Adelaide Point - Lakeside / Lake Express Ferry - Pere Marquette Beach With this, one could go to a couple different beaches, go to Milwaukee, hit all of the major festivals in the region, without ever once using a car. And then restore some of the ornamentation that's been missing from a lot of historic buildings in GR for almost a century. If there's anything left, rebuild the old city hall as a community center somewhere in the city.

I appreciate that your finger is helping to point at where the digging is happening. Thank you, Cookin_peacocks' finger! /j

Comparing it with other projects that could be done in Grand Rapids, I suppose there there could be better projects. But if they're targeting this for West Michigan, and looking at Muskegon as a location.. West Michigan is more than just Grand Rapids. Something like this would probably be huge for Muskegon as it slowly transforms from a rust belt to a tourism focus, and can help drive demand in the future for regional transit connections between the big three cities.

Well that's mildly annoying

It was a bit weird walking through that fence and gate to get in, and being inside seemed a bit confusing, with an unstaffed counter at the front door, going to a table, seeing a QR code to scan for ordering online on the table, and then a waitress coming over to take my order. But the food was good.

Noticed Icon on Bond looking a bit interesting last week

Noticed those elevator shafts can be seen from parts of Alpine by I-96. This is going to be a bit more prominent than I'd have guessed. Blurry pic time

Is that concrete going to be painted / clad in something or are they going for the grand castle concrete wall look?