blueradon

From what I'm taking in that article - sounds like MSU will be in the mesh of the 3 tower buildings and the cancer center possibly being the 4th? It does state that they will join medical office (Employees of the current Towers building?), and sharing the ramps. And if it can get any bigger, then MSU has that extra parcel to expand into an even higher tower? Or maybe some sort of mini campus/parkish feature? But I also wonder at the same time if one of those 3 towers across from Butterworth and VAI will get an extra boost in height? Definitely a lot of questions still unanswered but we're getting closer that's for certain. And boy, I drove down 196 last night and I was astounded by all the steel that's up right now, GR is definitely growing.

While they're at it they can paint the ungodly blue underneath the bridges a different color at the 131/196 interchange...it looks so dated and dingy...and might give people a different impression driving through the interchanges But I guess that would be listed under the "small details" list I took a drive down 196 (after I was happy to note that I could get there from the 131 southbound exit, YAY!) and driving through that really makes me glad that they are widening that portion...I'm sorry to all the nay sayers but it needs an upgrade...I like having that comfortable "I'm driving however I want so there..." middle lane to depend on.

While I'm all for this lifestyle center and I like the fact that there's a lot of more upscale stores coming to GR (long overdue if you ask me)...at the same time I think the location is a little weird. Why would you place an "outdoor mall" about 10-15 minutes away from 2 malls that carry the same stores? That's the only thing that doesn't make sense. In my case, living in Greenville, I love it because it'll be closer for me to get to one of these stores...but I drive all over GR anyway so I don't think it'd be much of a difference. So all in all I have a 50/50 response to this...but I'm leaning towards the "it's pretty cool" side of things. I also think this would have been more suitable by knapp's corner IMO. Then again, traffic congestion would absolutely suck. Edit: Ok now that I have looked at the store list more thoroughly...there's more stores on here than I thought that aren't in woodland or centerpointe...but still some of the generics are there...that'll have to hurt the two malls some when it gets built.

Well just think they're recycling/refurbishing....that's a good thing, yeah?

I had to take a picture of the beautiful winter extravaganza we had Friday...this is from my backyard at my house in Greenville...ya know, every time I say that people say "and you live in the city?" yes...I do. Most of the houses within the city have lots of trees...but I am by the river too so that is part of it as well

you could probably do that size on a flickr account?

I used to work by one of the rails and every morning around noon the train was coming from Greenville (I worked in Belding) and heading to Lowell...but obviously that doesn't happen anymore. I haven't seen a train in Greenville since probably 2000 I say it every time...passenger rail to GR would be nice from here!!!!

I love that rendering...it would fit in great

From another article: Inside the arena, plans are in the works to convert a meeting room into a sports bar that will be open to ticket holders and non-ticketholders on event nights. So now we know where it's going

the more I think about it, and how many concerts I have been to in GR where the upper bowl seats were dead empty...I don't think a full expansion of the arena would be a good idea. I honestly thought the seating was big enough...but I think that south side could use some work, especially with maybe adding some restaurants, bars, and such...it would give a lovely view from the s curve if it was like the front of the arena. I think if we do happen to get any sort of major league team...then a new arena should be built...but the question with that would be...where would it go? I don't think chicago or detroit has any effect on our position to have a major sports team...and we could give one of the two some good rivalry teams like michigan and msu

Maybe that's where they'll add on for the restaurant or bar or whatever it becomes?? I'm excited for whatever will go there

Yeah I just realized about the title after the fact I typed it in...I'm tired, leave me alone

This isn't really HUGE news...but I found this in an milive.com article about Van Andel Arena's 10 year celebration. Doesn't look like the arena itself is looking for an expansion...at least anytime soon... Or could an announcement take place at the anniversary?

That's a well written article...and by actually reading that...it has now changed my perception with widening the roads as I had agreed earlier...but I still think 196 should be 6 lanes or at least have some weave lanes

They have a bigger image of the rendering...not sure if this has been posted yet

No I just like driving in the middle lane where the other two lanes are served as "If you don't like it, pick a side to pass" game

I personally feel that widening 196 is long overdue...I hate driving down 196 because you have people going too fast anyways because it's 55mph and everyone is going 80...and congested as it is already, you have people trying to merge into the expressway and there's no room to get over (much like everytime I try going 131 southbound getting on the I96 eastbound ramp you've got like 10 seconds to get over or you are going 131 northbound. Now that I think of it everytime I go on that ramp there's a stupid semi in my way and was forced to go 131 northbound a couple times... As for Michigan...I'm not sure if widening would be such a good idea...of course I never drive in through the rush hour and none of us will really know how bad the congestion is until people are working in these new buildings...but I don't think it's all that necessary.

I think that "The Spire" thing is pretty cool...but I hope that they have some kind of dramatic nighttime lighting effects to make it look really cool in the skyline...but I hope it isn't rainbow colors like one of those other renderings? And probably not red...the kids will be scared enough that the hospital is going to be black...and then see red bloody strings hanging off a metal stick...niiiice

Yeah like maybe a 20 story state of the art parking structure

Do you think it would be feasible to build an underground tunnel rail line underneath Michigan St that connected with existing outside rails? Or would you think that would cost just as much as a subway? Just had the thought in mind...

I really didn't like the thought of MSU medical school being in the RDV Christman building...with everything else being built or "proposed" to be built -cough DeVos Children Hospital cough- that does not have decent pedestriability (is that a word?)...basically why does a school want to be in a building on an extremely busy street with no sidewalk attraction...I think if anything the school would move to somewhere where there can be a little green space too and not just a building...just my small 0.02 not to mention being as close as possible to the bars/shopping/etc

All I'm going to say is that if it is geographically going to be the tallest thing you'll see in the skyline (or obviously visual for that matter)...they need to get their fingers back to clickin on that mouse and "give us somethin to talk about" I am disappointed with this rendering...I hope it changes very soon... The only positive thing I can say about this is I like the curve in the building and I like the fact it has become a little bit taller...but come on let's get creative here...

If anybody heads to lansing from GR...check out the new Ionia store that was built. Remember, Ionia had the old store similar to the one on Alpine for a long time and they finally replaced it...and the entrance has this big glass that points out to the top, and drops to the ground...it's the coolest thing. I wish someone had pictures of it. I think the layout is different from all the stores too...but I could be wrong.

Don't forget the "BJ St NE" when heading east bound leaving cannonsburg