GRDadof3
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Posts posted by GRDadof3
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Sounds like Corewell is kicking around plans to build another tower along Michigan Street. Something about plans being drawn up on the lot that is currently a "staging area" for construction? Sounded like the lot across from the new ambulatory care center.
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The river restoration plan is back (again).
https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/03/push-to-restore-grand-rivers-rapids-isnt-dead-despite-setback.html
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17 hours ago, GR_Urbanist said:
Bought a lot of stuff from the police auctions that were held there in the early 2000s.
Definitely one day people will not believe the site of the amphitheater looked like that, like young kids today could never envision that the VanAndel Arena was once a vast parking lot with railroad tracks in some places.
Yeah, people will say "THAT was on the riverfront?" lol. And us oldies will say "We plead for years for the city to do something about it!!"
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One of those momentous "remember when..." pictures
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On 4/25/2024 at 4:36 PM, joeDowntown said:
Yep, that is Blumrich ad Winter. I haven't seen anything indicating that they'll extend Blumrich to Mt. Vernon, but it does seem like it would help alleviate traffic on Bridge Street after games (especially once the Stadium tower is up and 300+ cars are trying to exit the ramp onto Bridge.
Joe
This site plan shows a bit more of what streets they envision keeping.
On 4/25/2024 at 9:29 AM, RiversideGR said:Grand Action 2.0 has a booklet posted on their website that had some renderings I hadn't seen before....
Grand+Rapids+Soccer+Stadium+Full+Case+For+Support.pdf (squarespace.com)
That's pretty exciting. Will be cool to see the stadium lit up at night.
This image shows the proposed tower at the end of the stadium.
And more detail. They envision the fire station gone from Bridge Street and a parking ramp/liner building.
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On 4/10/2024 at 8:44 AM, whitemice said:
Huh. It's good press . . . but does that read like an AI generated article, or what?
- Start By Sharing Your City Name
- Organize Leaders In The Community
- Embrace New Industries For Growth
- Have Hard Conversations
- Play To Your Strengths
What does #1 really mean? There's no example of #4? But I can see an AI picking up that term, especially if it was reading transcripts when Commissioner Joe Jones was around. #2 feels like the only item fleshed out to any degree.
I dunno.
Kara Wood had shared this on her linkedin, but I didn't get a chance to read it until now.
It does read very strange. Like those national online pubs that came out 15 years ago (IST's, not Rapid Growth or ModelD). They seemed heavy on fluff, like this one does.
Having quotes from locals makes it seem more legit, but part of me wonders if those quotes were lifted from other pubs or events. I'm pretty sure the Dick Devos quote is from an economic summit or something that he spoke at.
I'd hang out with someone with green hair any day.
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20 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:
I think you are referring to 1340 Monroe (Display Pack), which I agree, should see bulldozers soon (though I believe they will build on the northen portion first before demolition of the Display Pack building).
The owner of 820 Monroe had gone for a height zoning change and it assumed something is being planned for the parking lot next to 820 Monroe. Still hoping something pops there soon.
Agreed about restaurants. Takeout is king (although I heard the fees are excessive, so I'm sure restaurants hope this trend changes). If you look at the "old guard" changing hands or closing (Reserve, Bar Divani, GRBC)- I honestly hadn't thought of any of those restaurants in years and think it's time for new concepts, new blood.
Joe
Oh duh, you're right. I was getting 1340 and 820 mixed up. I see that lot on the South end of the building where there was once a restaurant envisioned, and wonder what's going on with it.
Yeah, when word gets out about some of them, you'll say "yeah, I probably saw that coming." One will be pretty sad, as I've just become a recent visitor for their live music shows. Hopefully someone buys it and keeps the concept going.
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15 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:
Bentonville seems like an interesting area, that probably has a similar philanthropic community like Grand Rapids with Walmart located there. Also has an art museum / sculpture park / music venue funded by a supermarket scion.
I once did one of the quizzes of the best place for me to live, and it picked Bentonville. I was a little bummed that my ideal spot was Arkansas, until I started reading about it.
I agree, we need housing of all types. If someone purchases a $1-1.5M home, moving up from a $800,000 home, that in turn moves someone from a $500,000 home, etc. etc. etc. I hope we can find a way to pump more inventory at all levels.And I do hope people in their twenties have an opportunity to buy a house like I did when I was younger. My wife and I both had crap jobs, my wife (not me) was good at saving, and we bought our first house with no problem. That's not easy / possible in this market.
Joe
Yeah, the Walton grandkids are huge mountain bikers and compete nationally. They've pumped $millions and $millions into paved and mountain bike trails. The Razorback Greenway runs from North of Bentonville to the South end and is a 15' wide CONCRETE path (think White Pine Trail expanded to the size it should be and paved in concrete). Then all along the sides of it running parallel are miles and miles of mountain bike trails and jump tracks. All of this running down the center of a beautiful deep rocky ravine with a creek that runs through it. Reminded me a lot of Flagstaff Arizona or Boulder Colorado.
The Crystal Bridges Museum is set in the stony ravines near downtown and is unbelievable. They're expanding it right now to almost double its size. There's a Frank Lloyd Wright home that was relocated to Crystal Bridges campus and we hiked back to it one night on a lighted "art trail" (can't get to it by car).
Walmart is also building a brand new mega campus that feels like it's for Amazon or Google. Almost a square mile large with multiple buildings, parks, parking ramps, a gym, day care, etc..
https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/walmart-corporate-headquarters-hq-child-care-fitness-new
I thought it could possibly be a cool place to snowbird to. I never would have thought I would think Arkansas was so beautiful, but having the Ozark Mountains nearby makes is pretty spectacular.
Getting off topic. Sorry.
My last request is that I wish the Meijer family would get back into the biking infrastructure in West Michigan. Amenities like the trail systems we have (and what is being built in Ottawa County) make this a great place for recreation. But everyone I know in the biking community has a laundry list of projects they'd like to see and we just don't have the private $$ in the community flowing into these projects.
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On 3/18/2024 at 8:19 PM, joeDowntown said:
I think we will see a few in the next couple of years. Market/Fulton should have 2-3 (it's a big lot), I think the Convention Center hotel will go through, it'll be interesting to see if something gets developed at 820 Monroe (since they asked for the change in zoning height). Calm before the storm?
Joe
820 Monroe I thought was a go. I keep looking for work to begin there (tearing down the Display Pack building).
We will see a few more restaurants churn and burn. Some of them have been in the city for quite a few years. Some may change hands, some may just close.
Food inflation is a thing and people's disposable income is being stretched due to other inflation. That's my theory anyway.
Services like Doordash are huge now for restaurants, sometimes constituting 60% of their business. Restaurants who can't adequately handle delivery service are hurting or going to be.
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On 4/6/2024 at 1:05 PM, joeDowntown said:
I’ve always liked this building on Mt. Vernon (about a block off Bridge street). It’s been abandoned for a long time but looks like some work is being done. Are they just replacing the old boards, or are they starting to renovate. Doesn’t have the greatest view (concrete embankment of 131) but would make a cool little neighborhood bar (especially with the soccer stadium so close by. Anyone know what they are doing here?
I've talked to Walt about that building before. Can't recall what his plans were. That was years ago.
Next door used to be a a spot where bands would play and they had live music. Punk, rap and rave I believe. I think that closed a few years ago.
I'm getting old it was probably 10 years ago lol.
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On 4/10/2024 at 7:22 AM, whitemice said:
StrongtownsGR: A look at the phenomenon of Housing Step Down in a Grand Rapids neighborhood
https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/housing-step-down
That's a great writeup. I've argued the same for a while, that we need more housing in the higher tiers in West Michigan. I just sold a house in Ada in the $1 Million price range and in 8 hours of showing windows (over 4 days) we had almost 30 showings, which resulted in 4 offers. Cash buyer won out. Every buyers agent with buyers in that price range said there's nothing out there for these $1 Million - $1.5 Million buyers. Most people would say "oh whoa is their life", but those buyers are then snatching up homes from other lower tier buyers/neighborhoods and tearing them down and building brand new (aka East Grand Rapids).
I just got back from a weekend trip to Bentonville AR for their mountain biking and it makes East Grand Rapids look like lego-land. The amount of infill and tear downs/rebuilds was like nothing I've ever seen before. All kinds of money pouring into the area from around the country and there's not enough housing stock for these new people.
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On 1/17/2024 at 12:33 AM, walker said:
Construction as of 1-11-2024 of the new consolidated car rental facility:
Never mind, found my answer in this thread.
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$80 Million of that is the new baggage handling system. That's a massive contract for whoever is doing the handling system.
"Behind the scenes, there will also be a new automated system for getting checked bags from the counter through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspection and then onto the plane. That system accounts for $80 million of the project’s $135 million price tag. TSA will put $30 million toward the new system." - from Mlive
The rendering of the terminal expansion...
Also, call me not as tuned in as I used to be, but I picked someone up at the airport last night and there's a tower crane at the east end of the terminal area. What was that for again?
Edit: is that the car rental consolidation and expansion?
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On 4/9/2024 at 10:26 AM, joeDowntown said:
Even better, if GR can build a rabid base, and Detroit FC's crowd travels well (which they do), it'll be such an awesome atmosphere. Loved when DCFC played GRFC and they had more supporters than GR. The drums, chants, etc. was such a cool vibe. My favorite part (even though I was a GRFC fan) was when they introduced the Grand Rapids players and the whole DCFC fan base turned their backs to the players with middle fingers in the air. It was epic!
And educational for the children in attendance. Haha
Joe
I think the Broadleaf space would be a great spot for a "soccer bar", to host the parades to the stadium like Bob's Bar did. The party could start on the decks out back.
Sort of like how SpeakEZ caters to European expats. Have that concept on Bridge Street.
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I was at the West Grand public input meeting at Mitten Brewery, and agreed, a lot of the demands and questions posed to Grand Action were not at all within the scope of responsibility for Grand Action. For the city and DDA? Yes.
Has anyone seen any creative work for these two towers? I'm interested in scale and placement. They sound like they'd be rather large, larger than Studio Park Tower.
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There's a community meeting about the soccer stadium on Monday at 6pm at Mitten Brewing Co. I may try to go depending on my schedule. I do like their beer. :0
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On 12/13/2023 at 10:43 AM, cstonesparty said:
I'm curious if anyone knows what the YMCA's disposition is toward this site concept. Their parking lot is a key piece...
I'm curious about that too. Since the Y owns that lot that appears to be enveloped by the stadium, I wonder what the backup plan is for parking for the Y? Assuming the Y gets a pretty big price tag for that land...
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On 11/7/2023 at 8:58 AM, Zads said:
Here's a story from Crain's on the updated renderings on the stadium.
Meh. I was hoping it would have a feel that blended more into the West Side industrial area, or even some masonry, but I'm sure it'll go through a bajillion changes before it's built.
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Finally an image of the amphitheater on the correct side of 131/s-curve.
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On 11/29/2022 at 12:00 PM, Cookin_peacocks said:
Probably nothing, but the grass area west of the old Charlie's Crab is torn up. Is something up, or just related to the the Market St reconfig?
Maybe the staged equipment there and I missed it?
Interesting that you posted this. I saw street cleaners out the other day on Market and it actually looks like they're almost ready to reopen it.
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They were adding sections to the crane today.
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On 10/27/2022 at 9:01 PM, joeDowntown said:
Like a really old dog that you loved for years, I think they just need to put ArtPrize down. As far as I can tell, there is very little Art or Prize left in ArtPrize.
Agreed. I'd love to see them use the funds (if there are any, I'm somewhat doubtful) to host large scale outdoor art installations, like they do for winter fest. That's the part of AP I liked the best in the beginning, even if it was kitschy (the dragon at the Bob for instance).
But with the major institutions stepping away from it (other than Devos Place) there's really no large venues anymore.
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On 10/29/2022 at 11:22 AM, Pattmost20 said:
At the airport today and decided to snap a few pics. Tried to get an angle showing how much they are expanding the width as well as the length.
At least they have better windows to see the addition taking shape.
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50 minutes ago, Khorasaurus1 said:
The center of gravity has moved down closer to where Central Station is, though. Calder Plaza is now one of the least active/vibrant parts of downtown. Plus it's served by plenty of transit as is.
But the gigantic parking lot where the old GRATA station was seems like a great opportunity for medical expansion, housing, etc. And yet no one ever talks about it as a possibility.
That whole area feels like "old downtown" to me. The energy of downtown has definitely shifted South and West.
I can't imagine in a million years Acrisure going into the 5/3 building. They're trying to position themselves as a "tech" company.
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Medical Mile/Michigan Street Developments
in Grand Rapids
Posted
Could be. The person who told me knows someone who works in a design firm working on the plans. Just said "current staging area."