Telecaster Rex

An entity related to the Secchia family has owned the building since January 2016.

This church building is actually on the National Historic Register, so the preservation issues go a lot higher than just with local HPC.

Elaborate please?

Agreed. However the customer demographic includes quite a bit more than just those living in the neighborhood. If it just included neighborhood residents, most commercial districts GR would still be lacking for customers. Again, agreed on a lot of these points - especially about the homes along the north side of Wealthy between James and Charles. These properties are in significant need of investment that they likely won't receive; and residential use is no longer the "highest and best" use for these properties. Despite all the good about how we use historic preservation in Grand Rapids, I think there's a lot we do wrong as well - like using historic preservation regulations to stop any and all demolition in historic districts despite evidence that historic district/neighborhood designations were never intended to be a handicap to new development. There are a lot of places throughout the US that prove that historic regulations don't have to be hinderance to new development and/or reuse of existing commercial structures - we just need to follow some of those examples. My point was that development and demand for commercial space in Uptown continues in spite of the HPC requirements, because people and paying customers WANT to be in Uptown. Admittedly, as a resident of Uptown I'm biased but you can find objective proof of all of this as well - increased property values, increasing rental rates, etc. Again, not all of these are good things, but they do have some objective value.

With all due respect, I'm getting kind of tired of this old argument that Grand Rapids can only have one "it" area. Investment continues in Uptown, with plenty still in the pipeline; and demand for commercial lease space in Uptown remains incredibly strong, even as more and more comes on line along Bridge Street and other nearby parts of the Westside. Plus, Uptown and Bridge St. are not even the only potential "it" areas in town (see: Creston, North Monroe, etc.). This isn't two regional malls competing for national chains - for the most part investment in Uptown and Bridge Street have been local dollars, and it's not like everyone's just going to close up shop in Uptown and move to the new "it" area. Things aren't that portable. Not to mention that the customer demographics in Uptown will likely remain somewhat different than those on Bridge Street, with Bridge being closer to the college and drawing a somewhat younger, less family-oriented demo. Plus, it's my personal belief that people vastly underestimate the size of the customer base for ALL of urban Grand Rapids, and have for quite some time. And finally, this all has NOTHING to do with HPC mucking things up.

Notwithstanding what's being built south of the city parking lot on Barth SE? Because that's a stretch for "pretty darn cool"...

I wouldn't disagree with you except for the fact that a similar "modern" looking design was handily shot down by HPC and the neighborhood 3 years ago. And TBH, ...the neighborhood opinion here seems to carry more weight than HPC; only say that because I LIVE in the neighborhood (and don't assume I agree with the prevailing neighborhood opinion)....

234 Charles SE sold as of 3/31/2017 for $269,000, this after selling in mid-2015 for $185,000 Great look, but would never receive HPC or neighborhood (Cherry Hill) approval.

Does anyone know what was decided RE: 733 Wealthy at the HPC meeting last night?

c) Unless something very major has changed in the last few weeks, Cherry Street Capital is still very much involved in this project. Perhaps Triangle is their CM and/or GC? Cherry Street is submitting for the April HPC meeting for approval. There was a committee requested by HPC, led by Cherry Street, made up of neighbors and representatives of EHCN and EHBA that has been (and continues) to meet regularly to guide the redesign process. From what I've heard, the meetings have been productive and based on the new designs shared at the EHCN meeting tonight, the project is much more in the character of the neighborhood.

Deed restrictions run with the land, not the owner. A deed restriction can specify certain uses, etc. It's an interesting tool.

Trader Joe's (or any other grocery store) at this site would not be an option. Spartan had all parcels deed restricted when they purchased the D&W site from Benner.

Just noticed this. Bell's is coming to Ford airport. http://www.grbj.com/articles/76654-bells-brewery-lands-at-ford-airport-renovation