blueradon

I guess bad timing for them then eh? It's too bad they can't lure Whole Foods there - although I'm sure that's not a particular location WF wants to be in anyway.

So what's the latest with Orchard Hills? It's been pretty quiet thus far...

I noticed some things are being moved around at the Greenville store, and they're redesigning the women's clothes department - produce had all their stuff moved around too so I'm not sure what's happening here.

I just flew in to GRR last week and I have to say I am pretty impressed and I will feel a sense of pride for GRR when everything is finished and people flying into town will see the great work that has been done. On another note - I am not sure if this is old news I didn't take time to look back, but I noticed this on GRR's website - GRR will now be starting non-stop flights to Ft Lauderdale on November 13 via Allegiant Air.

I had to fly to miami 3 weeks ago (to move) - I wanted to go to GRR - did a price check on flights - $280 with a layover in memphis... Detroit for a non-stop flight to miami international airport - $99 Guess where I went?

Well I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer - but I know a lot of artists in Chicago and Miami and I told them about this and they were totally excited, and then as soon as they found out that Devos has their hands in the project - they're not interested anymore. It's kinda sad how politics comes over art sometimes :/

So for the first time I had to go to Meijer Heart Center today - for unfortunate circumstances - but we took Ramp 7 and went into the skywalk - and all I can say is WOW - you see all these pictures on UP all the time showing the look - but you all really just have to see this in person it is mammoth. My relatives that were with me we all just sort of stopped and dropped our jaws. I think it is so cool that GR has something like this.

Maybe they'll pressure GR Press to move out so they can build another building

So has anyone been to GRR lately? Have there been any major improvements to the construction yet? You think it would be nice if they had a stinkin webcam so you could watch the construction

The future of transit? I hope not! Thought I'd spread some extra motivation for getting mass transit

Well I remember a long time ago that some of us here wondered what traffic would be like if this section of road was closed off (although I think we talked about converting it into a 55mph highway... Looks like we're actually going to see how this pans out. I bet that they will do widening with this project - they just may not make the lanes accessible until the entire project is finished - otherwise you'll just have a lot of unnecessary lane changes...at least I think?

Thank you for the information GRDad... And that just proves my point. And I'm only going to say this one more time I AM NOT AGAINST RAIL DEVELOPMENT I am just saying that economically and feasibly it is not going to happen overnight...unless something huge in part of funding changes from the government and we shouldn't be in a huge uproar every time money is being thrown at roads. But they understand the need like I do to fix the roads. People are still going to drive cars no matter how many rails you put on the streets. You cannot deny nor argue that. I'm personally quite thankful for all the work that was put into 131 from west river to 14 mile rd, anyone who can remember 5-6 years ago what 131 was like driving there you were literally playing cat and mouse to losing your tires! If we can find funding for street rail...PERFECT. I wish nothing more than for streetcars in GR...but it seems like every time we don't get funding everyone goes into a big uproar. It'll probably be another 5 years before anything even starts to happen - and then another 20 to get the rail lines everyone wanted. I'm rooting for Obama on this one - he lived in Chicago he should know how important mass transit is - and I hope he shifts his priorities - but he also understands the need that roads are also a top priority and I'm glad that he's starting to take measures to fix infrastructure as a whole. And since when did Grand Rapids ever wait around for people to help them - GR is known for getting things started on their own.

Well consider how long it took for other cities to gain rail lines...are there any statistics out there for towns and how many years it took for them to have multiple established lines...if I'm not mistaken I think it was Denver or some other city west of us that had been doing this development for over 20 years. BUT - I will agree that there are reasons that it takes so long for cities to get things started such as: - Not enough government funding - Not enough donations/support from local governments and people - Lack of knowledge in the public about the benefits of mass transit vs. vehicle And trust me - I for one am no advocate for the urgency that our freeways in Michigan need to have additional lanes to meet with "future growth." I think that it is unfair for the government to shove mass transit aside for those all important vehicles. Just think what it would be like if the US was not the first to be known for the automotive industry development...we would have probably kept all of our old rail lines throughout the towns and Grand Rapids would have probably been a lot like Portland, Oregon. Hopefully GR will become a mini-Portland some day, but for now we have to make do with what we have. I think we should be very proud and pleased for the way that The Rapid has turned out over the past 5 years. They are promoting this itch that we all need to scratch for more mass transit. Hopefully in the next 4 years Obama could actually do something for us or gives us a huge push onto center stage for mass transit. But look at the current road system in America, the bridges that are failing and the roads that are in rough shape - I think it is more than fair to fix our old infrastructure first because it is a process that is long overdue and more funding should have been available for it the past 8 years, and then the focus should be strictly switched towards mass transit alone and fully funding the projects that we really need. But all of this will be money money money - and right now - banks don't even have "money" so to speak...but that's a whole other topic

I wouldn't be down and out that we're not receiving any funding from this money for other transit related projects - but seriously folks - not every single person is going to ride a train in town - it will not be accessible for every single person in the town and surrounding it - these things take time to develop - a lot of our roads are in really rough shape and could use a boost to get them fixed. I'm not putting down anyone's ideas - I just don't think we should keep the focus of transportation to be so one-sided (granted it is sort of that way right now). Look at how far we have come already with the busses and the planning for the BRT - these are just the small steps - and we're only going to be able to do it right one time. I think down the road we will see some more progress with funding rails and streetcars - but I don't think right now is the time.

Yeah I agree the spire can do without - but it was all the cool cables and effects with the spire that made it kinda cool.

Slightly off-topic but I got this in my email and wanted to share... Retail is definitely going to be taking a hit: Circuit City stores... most recent (? how many) Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide are to be shuttered Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's to close 150 store nationwide Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January Cache will close all stores Talbots closing down all stores J. Jill closing all stores GAP closing 85 stores Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January Wickes Furniture closing down Levitz closing down remaining stores Bombay closing remaining stores Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January. Whitehall closing all stores Piercing Pagoda closing all stores Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January. Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ (New Brunswick) Macys to close 9 stores after January Linens and Things closing all stores Movie Galley Closing all stores Pacific Sunware closing stores Pep Boys Closing 33 stores Sprint/ Nextel closing 133 stores JC Penney closing a number of stores after January Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores. Wilson Leather closing down all stores Sharper Image closing down all stores K B Toys closing 356 stores Loews to close down some stores Dillard's to close some stores. Looks like we're going to have some vacancies...

Well yeah I would not be surprised for many stores to move from Woodland over to the new location...I can't imagine these retailers keeping two stores within a what 5 mile range? I mean if this was NYC or something then it would make sense. Although given the sizes of the available stores - there is not much room for the big ones like jcpenney, macy's, sears - those would probably stay at woodland...but I could see stores like abercrombie, banana republic, pac sun, etc making their transition to newer buildings. So if the anchor stores stay at their locations - this really could open up some opportunities for Woodland to get its own one-of-a-kind-in-its-area stores too. But some people at the same time will be going to the new lifestyle center more over woodland because of its convenience - and let's face it some if not all parts of Woodland need a serious makeover. By the way - isn't it ironic how M@C is the only store so far in GR that is beefing up its look and trying to really get the high end feel going...it's almost like it knows a favorite grocer is coming to the area very soon

Yeah it's in the picture of the rendering too - I was wondering how that was going to look...

-looks at you confused- I terribly disagree. Meijer organics? it's ok. I would much rather prefer higher quality in Whole Foods.

I still don't get why cedar springs is getting a store...although I guess I would be annoyed to have to hop on 131 just to get groceries...most people i know from cedar springs usually hike out to the greenville store... so maybe that is a good thing - the greenville store is so damn busy sometimes (especially on the weekends, m57 looks like alpine sometimes) it drives me absolutely crazy

Well being from the burbs I can honestly say I don't get to spend a lot of time in downtown GR...but Monday I had to drive a friend down to Ledyard for a meeting and we walked around a few blocks afterwards - I am just really so disappointed with all the empty storefronts in downtown and coming from the burbs I say to myself after walking around "well no wonder why I shop at the mega malls and strip malls." I guess I can understand with the recession going on and the economy on a downward spiral that these places aren't rushed to be filled in with new stores...but I found my downtown trip to be quite depressing in some aspects. However, I did enjoy a nice coffee at the very very small Biggby's..those guys really need to get a door on one of the window sides or something. Very confusing figuring out how the heck to get in there...and then I stopped into flanagan's for lunch - that was fabulous. Anyways, this got me thinking... I know that there's been many discussions in the past, especially in this thread, about getting some more retail in the downtown area...I think the emptying of all these store fronts in a weird way is kind of a good thing...obviously bad for the economy and what not...but it would seem to me that an abundant amount of available space would give a group of retailers the notion to set up shop and finally give downtown GR the vibrancy it deserves. Perhaps I'm just sounding like a broken record on this - but this is getting me in the mood to want to start a franchise downtown to wake some people up that GR can have a MUCH better downtown. PS - I didn't have a problem with parking.

I think with or without the spire - at least we will have a new building rather than nothing at all - or not another brick/block square building which would have been totally boring. Looks like everything else is coming together nicely...

Did I not tell you all this thread would be a good idea to start... partnership from the city itself eh? ROCK ON!

Little Brother kicked Little Sisters butt (sorry, couldn't resist)

Any new pics of the children's hospital? Has much changed?