RegalTDP

We may have to change Commerce's name to Sellers Avenue. So all in all, this makes four businesses they own on that street alone? Plus HopCat a block over, for a grand total of five?

You're right, but I think this situation is even worse than Kelo. Eminent domain shouldn't be used to arbitrate sales disputes, whether or not one of the parties is a government body. I'm rooting for this thing to get built downtown in some form or fashion, but to me this is still wrong on principle. If DeVries wants to be involved in the development so bad, couldn't GVSU threaten him more effectively by just saying, "Fine, go away, we'll build somewhere else then?" They're negotiating from a position of weakness if they're devoted entirely to a single piece of property. Imagine if GVSU threatened to move the business school to Allendale... Immediately, you'd have GR city leaders and major donors upset and denouncing DeVries, while GVSU would appear blameless. Instead, DeVries gets to portray himself as a victim.

That really is a great name for a Grand Rapids venue. Commerce is really opening up! I have high hopes this place will raise GR's profile in the live music scene.

I like my cities dense and packed tight, so I'm always open to squeezing a new building wherever possible (especially if it's replacing a surface parking lot), including on the Fulton/Ionia/Louis "Triangle Island" lot. That being said, I think if there's any place where you'd want to put a pocket park, it's right there. It's a small block, so anything you put there would be by itself. And the fact that there's other pocket parks nearby - Rosa Parks, Civil War Monument, Veteran's Memorial - is why I suggested putting something interesting there, like a fountain or a big statue, to set it apart. Being a triangular block, it would have a captivating view from any street corner, and it'd be a centerpiece for the entertainment district. I'm not a surveyor or anything, but whenever I've gone by there that lot just looks too dang small to build anything bigger than a Taco Bell Express. Now, that other lot across the street, next to the parking ramp - that needs to be built on. I don't see why anyone would rather have a park there instead of Triangle Island. And let's face it, the guy on this thread who actually lives near there - John - still feels a need for more green space in his neighborhood. I think that's worth taking into account.

...With a gigantic fountain. Let's rally donors! It'd be a fine centerpiece for our downtown nightlife. Perfect meeting place for a night on the town after a hockey game. I like it. On the other hand, I'm not convinced we couldn't put a building there... They squeezed a fairly sizable building on that triangular block once a long time ago, didn't they? I feel like I've seen it in an old photo somewhere...

boulevard

I could be hip to streetcars, as long as the purpose is to replace the DASH. The preferred scenario doesn't mention either the proposed Downtown Circulator or DASH, so I figure the streetcar network was put in there to replace both. Streetcars are better suited than BRT to ferry people within an area (BRTs are designed for commuting), and likely more economical and cleaner than the DASH buses (but that's only an assumption on my part. Anyone have any thoughts? I figure ITP wouldn't propose it they didn't think so). Plus, if it connected with DeVos Place, it would up its marketability immensely. Conventioneers eat up things like this. Again, not 100% sold yet, but I could be. Concur with everything else, John... I'm anxious to see how they'll fund it.

Thanks... Way for me to be on top of things. I guess the takeaway is, then, that additional locations could be forthcoming.

Switched the TV on just now; Dateline's doing a piece on the Julia Dawson case in Sparta from a few years ago.

Two pizza chains could be possibly coming GR's way in the next few years: -Happy's -Topper's Both already have K'zoo franchises in the works. Link to article [MLive]

Whoever said a paste-applier could never make do as a spiritual leader? Thanks

The Cherry/Division Pocket Park is getting an official name - "Barbara Pekich Park." GR Park to be named after PASTOR [argh!] who died in 2008 (MLive)

Yeuck! I hope not! Great shots John. This time of year, I love how the dense green crowds the cityscape.

Seward Ave. on GR SW Side will get $3.4 million expansion - Mlive ... Is there really a need for this? It seems like such an inefficient use of land. They're paving through a lot we could use. And how does another cul-de-sac make the neighborhood more navigable?

Hopefully the Census Bureau will read this and impulsively put Holland back in our MSA.

hunger

Huhh?? That's so weird. Is there an attorney's office near there? Maybe "All Felonies and Misdemeanors" was a tagline from his/her yellow pages listing that somehow Googlemaps picked up.

Anyone going to the Top Chef tour show tomorrow downtown? They're only stopping at 21 cities this year, so GR should feel privileged.

I don't think it'd be worth the cost. It would cost a lot to build, then more to fix the inevitable leaks. It'd be really nice for the adjacent neighborhoods, but not enough bang for all that buck. Maybe the next time MDOT has money burning a hole in its pocket...

You guys seen Bing Maps' upgrade? Bird's Eye view improved a great deal. They have their own version of Street View now (called Streetside), but they haven't covered GR yet.

Were they going to tear down this building anyway?

You know, this Sunday I watched Dateline NBC's depressing hour-long special on how Detroit is in such awful shape, I found myself wishing that somebody - anybody - would pay attention to some other parts of the state and give Michigan some positive press. Too bad Archpaper didn't put in enough effort to get their facts straight, but at least they were looking in our direction for once.

Going off of jbr12's post on the other thread, the article mentioned a summit hosted by Community Streetcar Coalition in Alexandria, VA, that apparently had reps from GR in attendance. Does anyone else know more about this summit or anything about what happened there? I've seen a few general articles floating around the internet, but I was curious if GR's effort took anything away from it.

I think people that miss Fresh Market will shop at the new D&W... Only D&W will probably be cheaper, and it's in a better location.

Yay! I love photos. Rock on, John. They look great. Thanks!