Are you happy to live in Grand Rapids? (Sparta, Byron Center: lower-class, sales)

[windfarmer]

And why stay in Michigan? Because there IS culture here and it IS growing. Grand Rapids isn't that diverse, but its getting there. The community aspect is strong, and very welcoming.

Oh sorry I forgot to specifically respond to this.

You said it best. I think too many people bash michigan. But thankfully, I also see people out there who believe in their own home state. I mean c'mon, you gotta have more community spirit than that. What other state has an "upper peninsula" like ours? What other state has this many miles of unspoiled Great Lakes as well as in-land lakes? What other state has a hip-hop mayor who just won't go away? I mean even HE'S standing up for his own position while the rest of the world begs him to stand down.. To quote the corny cliche billboards, I believe in Mich-Again.

[kiff]

Originally Posted by windfarmer

Also, KIFF, why did you say that if you're not Dutch or Mexican one will stick out like a sore thumb? When I go to GR, I feel very much at home and I'm neither. I've never talked to a Mexican there (of which I hope they are all legal and law-abiding – ie. no Latin Kings or crazy idiotic MS13 gangs with tattoos on their forehead), but I sure have spoken to many of the Dutch folks. And the Dutch I've encountered have all been very polite and open to converse with me. I didn't find them phony in the least. Neither did I find them to be very boastful or arrogant about their established presence in Western Michigan. I hope I don't stick out in a bad way.

You might be reading a little too much into my post here. I've seen no crazy or idiotic Mexicans in the GR area, or Salvadorans for that matter, or have had any reason to check their papers.

As for the Dutch, a large number belong to pretty conservative church and have a definite attitudes toward outsiders. This is particularly true to the west of GR in the Zeeland and Holland areas. By "outsiders", I mean non-white or belonging to "that other church". I suppose any tight-knit, conservative community could come off as arrogant to outsiders- these folk happen to be Dutch.

[windfarmer]

Originally Posted by kiff

You might be reading a little too much into my post here. I've seen no crazy or idiotic Mexicans in the GR area, or Salvadorans for that matter, or have had any reason to check their papers.

As for the Dutch, a large number belong to pretty conservative church and have a definite attitudes toward outsiders. This is particularly true to the west of GR in the Zeeland and Holland areas. By "outsiders", I mean non-white or belonging to "that other church". I suppose any tight-knit, conservative community could come off as arrogant to outsiders- these folk happen to be Dutch.

One of my wife's teachers from a few semesters ago, taught in Holland. She said that the hispanic gang problem was terrible. She cited many horrific stories from a girl getting raped on a school bus to other violent crimes. Remember, I'm moving to GR to get away from these types of "big city" problems, though it is apparent that crime exists everywhere, and is not restricted to one particular race.

I am extremely secular, so I'm sure the Zeelanders will hate me. :-) But I will still offer them a friendly hello and smile when I see them at the Holland IHOP on Sunday mornings.

[mackinac81]

I am extremely secular, so I'm sure the Zeelanders will hate me. :-) But I will still offer them a friendly hello and smile when I see them at the Holland IHOP on Sunday mornings.

No, they'll be friendly, if anything so they can persuade you to go to church too

You mentioned festvals...Besides the Tulip festival, there's the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, which is pretty sweet. In September there's the Celebration on the Grand, in downtown GR. Haven't been to that one, but apparently it's a big deal in town.

[kiff]

Originally Posted by windfarmer

I am extremely secular, so I'm sure the Zeelanders will hate me. :-) But I will still offer them a friendly hello and smile when I see them at the Holland IHOP on Sunday mornings.

Better make sure IHOP is open on Sundays first. And on a related note, Sunday is a great day to do your shopping- no big crowds at Home Depot or Meijer!

[windfarmer]

KIFF - heck yeah I'm gonna be at Meijer on Sundays! The Meijer by my house here on this side of the state is always full of people on Sunday from morning to night.


Mackinac - Thanks for the list – I'm really looking forward to checking them all out. I've also heard they have live Blues bands downtown on certain nights of the week. Is that true? I totally dig good live music.

[lakefrontgirl]

Originally Posted by windfarmer

Maybe this thread has been done before, but I haven't found it.

Can anyone tell me please if you are satisfied living in GR and why, or if you aren't happy, please give a reason.

The reason I'm asking, is because as a metro-detroiter, I am pretty sick and tired of SE Michigan. It's got some good areas and a few things to do, but overall I don't like the busy and impersonal aspect of the big city nor the crime.

I have only been to GR three or four times, but here's what I like:

(not in any special order)
1) proximity to Lake Michigan
2) Holland/Saugatuck are so close
3) Chicago is an hour or so closer
4) Overall very polite and friendly residents
5) Good balance of conservatives/liberals (i like both so I'm not opposed to living around either)
6) Not terribly expensive housing
7) Residents of the city seem to have a VERY healthy attitude towards business, growth, progression and development
8) MEIJER!!!!!!!!!!
9) Don't have to go far to be around farms
10) Waaaay nicer downtown than Detroit
11) The ice skating rink downtown is awesome
12) Nice river right through the city - feels a little like Toledo (Maumee), only more quaint.
13) Heritage Hill (an absolute GEM.. rather reminds me of a smaller Boston-Edison district except without the 'hood nearby)

I'm sure I can think of more things, but this is pretty much all of the top of my head. Anyone else?

First of all, myself and my husband and our daughter moved to grand rapids from California in 2002. The ONLY nice thing about michigan is the lake, but once youve seen it all then youve done EVERYTHING there is to do here. I dont mean to sound harsh towards this place but we all feel like its sucked us in and made us become people we arent. I love Chicago and go as much as possible but it IS 3 1/2 hours away and thats going over the speed limit. Heritage Hill is a nice area but you deff have drive by shootings quite often, we moved from there to cleaner nicer area, altho the hippie style homes are fun its a dangerous area all around there. The ice rink in winter is awesome. In summer however you cant drive down any major street becuz its the only time they can do street repairs, and this city is the #1 for cars being ruined for potholes, which is no fun. I work 6 miles from home and because the roads are closed its taking me in the spring summer and fall almost an hour to get there, all due to road work. They call it the 5th season around here, Construction!!! Basically, other than the lake you have nothing to do fun. There are a couple of restaurants but even the malls arent anything great. With gas prices driving to chicago every 2 weeks isnt something to do anymore, which is why we are moving to Raleigh North Carolina in August when our lease is up here. Raleigh is the population of grand rapids but with everything chicago has to offer and more. Raleigh is now the #1 city to relocate to for a better lifestyle. In regards to this being a growth area for jobs, etc....thats not true. Its something they "want" to see happen but they were saying it in 2002 when we moved here and so far its gotten worse. More costly than living in Cali and yet...we moved to grand rapids for a better life and got a worse one. I know this seems like a hateful reply...but like I said, other than the lake theres nothing here, not even fun stores. We just got our first Macys 2 yrs ago, everyone here thinks Walmart is "way cool", so you can guess where Im coming from on this.
If you relocate here I really hope you have a better experience than we did. We've ran into a few other familys from church all moving as well from michigan, same reasons.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

No, they'll be friendly, if anything so they can persuade you to go to church too

You mentioned festvals...Besides the Tulip festival, there's the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, which is pretty sweet. In September there's the Celebration on the Grand, in downtown GR. Haven't been to that one, but apparently it's a big deal in town.

Don't forget the nations largest all-volunteer arts festival:
Festival of the Arts - Grand Rapids, Michigan

That was this past weekend...great fun if you could dodge the severe thunderstorms!!!

[windfarmer]

Originally Posted by lakefrontgirl

Heritage Hill is a nice area but you deff have drive by shootings quite often, we moved from there to cleaner nicer area, altho the hippie style homes are fun its a dangerous area all around there.

Thank you for all of your commentary. I'm sorry that GR didn't live up to your expectations. Mine are fairly high right now (I moved from San Diego back to Michigan recently too).

I'm only quoting this segment of what you said, because I want others' feedback to support what you said. Although I don't doubt your word, I would hope to not hear a flood of agreement.

So yeah, anyone else, are drive-by's that commonplace in Grand Rapids?

[windfarmer]

Suydam - thanks for the link. I hadn't heard of the Festival of the Arts before. Looks like a good variety of performers. Awesome!