There's been a lot of work done in Creston over the last few years, it's all coming together very nicely recently. The North Quarter Corridor Improvement District was officially approved in May. You can see their full proposal on Creston Neighborhood Association's website.
Construction just started on Plainfield Avenue and includes the addition of seven bio-retention islands. These are the first in Grand Rapids and about half the money was raised locally, the business community in Creston stepped up big time and supported the project. FOX 17 did a nice piece on it back in February. (This isn't our only green project, Our Living Green in Creston group supported the planting of the first urban orchards in GR last summer, in Briggs and Aberdeen parks).
And Red Jet is far from the only successful business in Creston! There's Graydon's Crossing, Sazerac Lounge, Choo Choo Grill, Stonesthrow, GR8 Tastes (in the former Wired space), Cheshire Grill, Kingma's, Sweetlands, Dorothy & Tonys, etc. Off the top of my head I can count five buildings south of Sweet Street that got facelifts in the past few years, plus one currently underway.
Now, I'm admittedly biased. I live in Creston and I volunteer with the neighborhood association. But, I chose to buy a house in the neighborhood and to get involved because I see tons of potential. There's plenty to talk about in Creston and I'm surprised that things in the neighborhood aren't mentioned here on UrbanPlanet more often (I'm a frequent lurker and very rare commenter). The question isn't whether or not it will be revitalized, because it's already happening. The question is how successful it will be moving ahead. Help us out and come shop and eat in the area.