joeDowntown

You have a great view. Drove by today and it's really hard (at street level) figuring out what they are. Hopefully in the next month or two it will start making more sense (or I'll have to get a Y membership to go and gawk). haha Joe

While open, it securely still has some finishing touches to be done / they were still working on the roof, etc. So I’m sure there is more to come

Went to Blue Dog Tavern’s new patio today for lunch. It’s amazing! Really cool to see the bones of the old movie theater from the inside out and they have an original projector from the theater. Such a cool space!

Looking at this, is this a bit of a flaw in the design? I’m surprised they didn’t design some sort of retaining wall that steps down for security reasons. In the grassy hill rendering, it seems like you could just walk up the hill and crash the party into the lawn seating area. Joe

That's a shame. I've always thought that block would be a great spot for infill and start to pull that corridor together. I'd love to see both Seward and Stocking get developed south (and near north) of the expressway. It would really help connect these neighborhoods together. Stocking has Blue Dog, Holiday Bar, etc. Seward has a lot of office space (building on some of the large surface lots could make that an interesting neighborhood to work and play).

The City Commission approved a Brownfield amendment for 1407, 1409 and 1417 Robinson Road SE yesterday. Sounds like "Robinson Flats" project continues to move forward. Joe

It’s been done for a year or two. This is the second phase which goes all the way to Fairbanks. Joe

Why the city is allowing them to do this is beyond me. It is private property (on a street the city vacated for then IIRC), but I remember them selling the design as an open, walkable plaza. Joe

Union suites II received LIHTC funding, Construction will start about a year from now (52 units).

I was thinking the building that would go on 1,2 and 3, but are these different plots of land? Also, I think it’s hilarious that they had a “logo reveal” for this. Not everything needs a reveal. It’s the Acrisure logo, Acrisure name, with a smaller amphitheater beneath in a pretty standard looking San serif font. Not saying it’s bad, but also, doesn’t need a reveal. Haha

I heard the other day that it is in fact still alive, and funding was secured recently.

Well that was fast!! I'm sure the answer is NO, but has anyone heard about the bids (or lackthereof) received for the tower proposal above. I thought the deadline was late January(ish) and they would potentially announce something in May (if one of the projects was chosen)? Joe

I don't remember there being a "ghost sign" at St. Cecilia's (I'm kind of obsessed with ghost signs). I hope the are actually adding them back! I would actually love to get with Swift Printing and see if they have any interest (unless they have plans for the little parking lot where the Red Lion Sign is located. They have a couple of fantastic ghosts signs that are almost gone. The first says: "Coca Cola. Relieves Fatigue. 5 cents. Sold Everywhere". The other says "Honest Scrap". I think it has a tin can as part of the advertisement. There's a guy out of North Carolina that restores ghost signs (kind of forensic restoration). He restores them, but does not make them brand new. They're still worn, but will make it for another century. If anyone know anyone at Swift printing that might be interested, let me know. I'd head that fundraiser in a heartbeat!

I’ve heard that the project on Leonard and Front street is moving forward. I’d expect we’ll start to see some news about it soon. Joe

The Foolery is closing. Disappointed to see this one go. https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2025/07/downtown-grand-rapids-pizza-spot-closing-after-less-than-two-years.html