GRdutch

I hope they build the streetcar long enough so that it doesn't turn into the Seattle monorail. The only people who ride that are tourists who have never seen a monorail. If they only build a line that goes along Monroe, it will get a lot of ridership early on but will quickly fade. The critics will then come out of the woodwork. I've seen first hand what a first-class trolley system can do. If Grand Rapids does this right and makes an efficient and convienient trolley system that reaches out of the downtown corridor, then the streetcars will be an amazing success and create a huge amount of economic development.

Does anyone know if they want to bring in a House of Blues or did they mean something "like" House of Blues?

Living in San Diego, I've seen first hand what a streetcar system can do to spur development. The trolleys here in San Diego have turned a run-down city core into a major downtown. As a native of Grand Rapids, and someone planning on moving back, I think everyone in Grand Rapids will be amazed at the development spurred on by the streetcars. Everytime I ride the trolley, I see new development at every trolley stop. I know the route is not ideal but it's a start. For a city in car happy Michigan, it's a wonderful start.