jonathan.jam

^ Tom Gores (owner of the Pistons) and Dan Gilbert are still working on getting a MLS stadium built at Wayne County's "Fail Jail" site downtown as part of a wider development.The current Detroit City FC (not MLS) is playing at the recently-renovated Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.

^ See Franklin Partners, LLC's post on their facebook page to confirm what he is alluding to.

This is why we always drive down to Kalamazoo and leave from there instead.

I've thought the same. I used to work in a factory off of Hall street there, so I would drive through everyday. Some of the old factory/warehouse buildings are really great. If you ever get the chance, there is a coffee roasting shop in the building at the corner of Hall and Godfrey that is a neat experience. ...The old brick road still exists underneath Godfrey as well!

You could even extend building C so that it makes an L-shape along I-196. Put a parking ramp on the lower floors and residential on the floors that extend above the highway.

^ I was thinking the same thing; at least develop part of the site so there is a streetwall along Monroe. What lots are owned by MSU? Are they likely to want to sell their property there?

Heartside Ministry is going to move from the current space at 54 S Division to Tini Bikini's old space. The first phase of construction, restoring the damaged storefront, will take place from April to June. http://www.grbj.com/articles/81727

I don't necessarily mind the expansion of ArtPrize, but is Dallas really the right city to be expanding to?

Grand Traverse Distillery will open up shop in the Downtown Market next month: http://www.grbj.com/articles/80977-craft-spirits-maker-pours-into-downtown

Across from the market perhaps?

As I moved to London just before ArtPrize started this year, I really enjoyed looking at these. Thank you for posting!

I wonder if the delays caused by the torn up intersection at 44th and Division are having an impact on numbers...

I actually, for the most part, like the look of the building. If the metal panels are similar to those used on the Herkimer apartments and the apartments at Division and Cherry, I will be happy. It'll be a nice contrast to the YWCA building when on Sheldon. While I don't have a problem with the height of the projection, I do wonder if the height difference between it and TowerPinkster's headquarters will be too severe.... There's not really a way around this though; it's just the reality on the ground.

Makes ya wonder if these architecture styles will even come back...they probably won't in our lifetimes, but the lifetime of a city is much longer.

Saw this article on the front page of The Press today while at the coffee shop: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/05/more_public_parking_in_downtow.html#incart_river Apparently the city is possibly in need of new parking lots because existing lots might get developed....new parking lots that would be right along the river. *sigh*

Ideally, it would be nice to see both buildings saved and redeveloped. However, I would be content with 41 S Division being saved provided that the site of 35 S Division produces a development similar in style to something like the Cherry Street Apartments.

Those pictures of Michigan...I almost cried.

I agree with the general consensus that Route 2 would be better as a starter line. Now, for something somewhat outlandish, how about something like this for GR: http://www.monometro.com/ ? I'll admit, I haven't actually researched it very much, and I don't think it would end up being a good fit for the city....but it is kind of interesting. Here's a link on a memorandum about it. Apparently it costs only 60% of a typical tram (LRT) line...

I support the reintroduction of streetcars in Grand Rapids. At this point, I think the better question is: how can we best reduce the costs of streetcar lines to make it more appealing to the masses? It seems as though when these lines are designed, some cities try to go 'all-out.' I'm not sure what areas of high cost could be improved on, but here's a link for starters. I haven't read the whole thing yet (and it is geared towards LRT instead of streetcars), but some of what I read seems to have merit...

I think a combination (to provide for a downtown segment) of Route 7 (Bridge/Covell to Michigan/Plymouth) and Route 8 (Fulton/John Ball to Fulton/Lakeside) or Route 7 and Route 6 (Chicago/Marble to Leonard/Covell) from Harland Bartholomew's streetcar plan (link) would probably work best for a proposed first segment.

I thought I saw once (somewhere on the web) a wind turbine built in a Dutch city that was made to resemble a traditional windmill...a couple of those might be cool. Or the city could think about teaming up with the Frederick Meijer Gardens to create some sort of satellite project?

2014 Roads and Risks Reserve Fund projects have been announced. The only award in the City of Grand Rapids is $800,000 for Godfrey Street between Market Ave. and Chicago Dr. I'm currently working at one of the places off Hall Street in that area, so I travel this stretch every day. At least at the Godfrey & Hall intersection, the potholes have enlarged enough to expose the brick street underneath. Is there any chance that the street could return to brick, or would that just be a fantasy of mine (seeing as how the corridor sees heavy truck traffic)? Any one have any MDOT/GR Street Management connections? http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/OGA_Dec12_State_List_442695_7.pdf

http://www.mlive.com/ada-cascade/index.ssf/2013/12/post_331.html#incart_river The plan sounds interesting...now we'll just have to see how much of it comes to fruition.

We went to the Downtown Market for the first time today. It was much better than I expected it to be. I also was surprised at the food prices. Most of the places are slightly out of my price-range if I wanted to get fresh food there everyday. However, the prices are still cheap enough that I could still shop there occasionally. The Market is still super busy too, and that makes me fairly confident that a full grocery store could survive downtown. As long as they make it a (reasonably-priced) destination, I think one could work.

That argument is so 1930's. I don't know how successful an actual lightrail line would be at this moment, but I definitely think Grand Rapids could handle the beginnings of a new streetcar network.