Are you happy to live in Grand Rapids? (Lansing, Holland: high school, sales tax)

[mackinac81]

To Lakefrontgirl: yeah, sorry it didn't work out. You seem like someone who always needs new stuff to do (nothing wrong with that). Personally, I've lived here all my life and can't get tired of lake Michigan. But then, I also see many, many more things to do here than just go to the lake. Still, best of luck to you in Raleigh.

To Windfarmer: Drive by's, to my knowledge, aren't a common occurence. In fact, I don't think there's been one since I moved here. There were some murders and robberies last fall in GR, but it's not nearly like Chicago or New Orleans. I read the Grand Rapids Press and watch news 8 nearly every day, and if there were lots of drive by's, news 8 would be all over it. That said, it's wise to be careful in parts of GR...it is a city after all.

[beadster]

Grand Rapids, is a decent sized city. With any decent sized city, there are crime problems. As a whole Grand Rapids is a really safe city, there are not a large amount of murders and rapes. Its far from the truth of drive by shootings all the time. There are lots of lots of very safe areas. Its a developing safe city, for families that has a nice downtown. I am moving from Grand Rapids to Chicago. The only reason I am leaving is the struggles with the job market. Otherwise I would stay in Grand Rapids and raise a family

[magellan]

Originally Posted by 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.

Depends on the Meijer. The one we go to at Knapp's Corner on the Northeast side of GR is always busy on Sundays, and they actually run out of a lot of stuff by Sunday evening.

And windfarmer, you wouldn't be involved with those two large windfarms they are proposing for Sparta/Kent City area, are you? If so, I'm stoked to see those things get built.

If you can't say, no biggie.

[windfarmer]

Thanks Mackinac, Beadster and Magellan!

I "feel" safe and comfortable in GR whenever I'm there.. That's why it alarms me when someone like the future Raleigh-dweller speaks of frequent occurrences of drive-by's etc.. Personally I think it's an awesome city, and I've been waiting my whole life to find a place that fits my criteria.. So far GR has been the closest fit. Of course after a year or two I'm sure I will have made up my mind more accurately. I look forward to posting a positive report at that time. I recognize that those who like Chicago, NYC and LA much better, would be aghast at my words, but I'm not looking for a "monstro-polis." (I'm positive that's not an actual word.. sorry I just coined it because I can't think of any other portmanteau that combines 'monster' and 'metropolis'.)

Magellan, sorry to disappoint, but no I am not affiliated with the wind farm projects out there. I am however, a mega-windmill nut who loves alternative (read: natural) energy – even long before our current oil-crisis ever occurred. I do frequent Iowa very often – which is the third largest wind producing state. If western Michigan wants to add wind energy to it's sources of power, then "more power" to it!!

Recently I saw a program on the Science channel that showcased an energy harnessing device that was plunked down in the sea off the coast of western England. The device was about the size of a bedroom, and utilized the movement of the waves to power approximately 3,000 homes nearby. THAT my friend, is real, renewable energy.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by windfarmer

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

Grand Rapids (the city of) is a city.
As cities go, it's safe.
Is it the safest place on earth? Of course not.
Are drive-bys common? Of course not. Give me a break.

[shoes4birds]

Originally Posted by scottmi

Class differences in GR.
There's no reason to STAY in GR, honestly.
Weather sucks.

I'm a GR native, so I feel the need to speak on some of these issues raised about GR. My intent (although it will appear otherwise) is not to bash the area - rather, I want others (who might consider moving here) to have a really good idea about what the area is like. It's expensive to move and if someone shares such detailed info. with me about an area I'm considering moving to, I'm quite thankful.

These last three cons of GR listed by Scott are the main reasons we are leaving Michigan. There are many class differences. I say this coming from a family that makes pretty good money and does not suffer the lifestyle of the lower-class. If a mexican restaurant were to be opened here and run by mexicans it would be run out of town. If that same mexican restaurant were opened by people with blonde hair and blue eyes, it would do well - even if the food was not even close to being authentic. This, in a nutshell, is what Grand Rapids is to me -- closed-minded, uncultured, and removed of a variety of races.

I've also felt that the way a family gets respect in this area is to have their last name begin with VAN______ or to have a lot of money, be Christian Reformed (with a GIANT sign in your home window that screams "JESUS IS LORD OF ALL") and have a really big house and yard.

It's also true, that there is no reason to stay in GR. There's nothing here that's pulling us to be here such as great weather, a great economy, great housing (you can find equal housing in many other places in the U.S. with better job opportunities), another reason why we're leaving.

The weather is terrible. It's depressing to continuously have so many (RECORD-BREAKING) overcast days in the winter. If you move here from out of state, prepare to rarely speak to your neighbors throughout the winter because it's just so snowy and cold that all you see is the eyes, nose and mouth of the neighbor in a snowsuit quickly snow-blowing their driveway only to run back inside afterward.

Can you say, NO FAULT STATE?!?! Be prepared to pay WAY MORE for your car insurance if moving from a state that does not go by No Fault laws. Call your insurance company and get a quote and build this higher cost into your budget.

Lastly, THERE'S NOTHING TO DO!!! There are little festivals here and there, but they're usually rained-out anyway. There are no great restaurants, nightlife, etc.



The nice things:
*Summer is gorgeous (albeit short)
*Traffic is no issue
*The snow is pretty (for about a month)

[windfarmer]

Shoes4birds, I'm sorry that you feel this way about GR. I do however appreciate your sincere comments, rather than pulling wool over anyone's eyes.

As a recent GR transplant, I can certainly say that I love this place.

I also agree that the winters can be long and dreary, but I'm personally glad to live in a 4-season climate. I don't care for mugginess all year, nor drought as San Diego experiences. I do like the fact that GR is quite verdant. Most of the streets around the city have giant trees on either side of the block. "Rush hour" is a joke... I find commuting to be simple and intra-city navigation far from complex. I never have to drive over 40 mph unless going on the freeway.

I'm non-Dutch and extremely secular as can be, but I truly appreciate the culture that the "Van_____" folk have brought. They've turned this part of west Michigan into a fairly well-run, quite organized city. In my opinion, they put up with far too much from those bent upon destroying the community through crime/violence and the like.

I like the neighborhood I live in; it's a hybrid of free-spirit/hippie-types, blue-collar families, yuppies, etc. My neighbors are VERY friendly and always offering to help with things. Neither are they nosy nor intrusive. I've lived in many parts of the US/Canada and some other countries, and I have yet to find neighbors as genuine and community-minded as the ones I have now.

One day perhaps different economic situations may arise and I may be forced to relocate, however it will not be without a good solid fight. :-)

[magellan]

Originally Posted by shoes4birds

I'm a GR native, so I feel the need to speak on some of these issues raised about GR. My intent (although it will appear otherwise) is not to bash the area - rather, I want others (who might consider moving here) to have a really good idea about what the area is like. It's expensive to move and if someone shares such detailed info. with me about an area I'm considering moving to, I'm quite thankful.

These last three cons of GR listed by Scott are the main reasons we are leaving Michigan. There are many class differences. I say this coming from a family that makes pretty good money and does not suffer the lifestyle of the lower-class. If a mexican restaurant were to be opened here and run by mexicans it would be run out of town. If that same mexican restaurant were opened by people with blonde hair and blue eyes, it would do well - even if the food was not even close to being authentic. This, in a nutshell, is what Grand Rapids is to me -- closed-minded, uncultured, and removed of a variety of races.

I've also felt that the way a family gets respect in this area is to have their last name begin with VAN______ or to have a lot of money, be Christian Reformed (with a GIANT sign in your home window that screams "JESUS IS LORD OF ALL") and have a really big house and yard.

It's also true, that there is no reason to stay in GR. There's nothing here that's pulling us to be here such as great weather, a great economy, great housing (you can find equal housing in many other places in the U.S. with better job opportunities), another reason why we're leaving.

The weather is terrible. It's depressing to continuously have so many (RECORD-BREAKING) overcast days in the winter. If you move here from out of state, prepare to rarely speak to your neighbors throughout the winter because it's just so snowy and cold that all you see is the eyes, nose and mouth of the neighbor in a snowsuit quickly snow-blowing their driveway only to run back inside afterward.

Can you say, NO FAULT STATE?!?! Be prepared to pay WAY MORE for your car insurance if moving from a state that does not go by No Fault laws. Call your insurance company and get a quote and build this higher cost into your budget.

Lastly, THERE'S NOTHING TO DO!!! There are little festivals here and there, but they're usually rained-out anyway. There are no great restaurants, nightlife, etc.



The nice things:
*Summer is gorgeous (albeit short)
*Traffic is no issue
*The snow is pretty (for about a month)

So which is it shoes4birds? Is Byron Center a good place to live or a bad place to live?

http://www.city-data.com/forum/4556438-post21.html

I can think of quite a few "Mexican owned" restaurants that have been in the GR community for a long time. Or Indian-owned, or Vietnamese, etc.. I can think of a lot of great restaurants. I can think of a lot of great places to go for nightly entertainment. You just won't find them in Byron Center. But you're right, you will find a lot of religious people there.

Good luck wherever you're going. Although finding faults in the locals probably won't keep the neighbors from running away into their houses.

[dutchinnd]

Just a few odd, rambling thoughts from someone who was raised in the GR metro, and wishes to return, but really cannot--
--Yes, a significant portion of GR can be close-minded, and the the Dutch Calvinists can be some of the worst. But they can also be progressive and trying to transform their corner of the world into a better place (for instance it's a Calvin grad who is running the Catherine's Care Center to provide healthcare for the uninsured)
--If you don't want to be in a neighborhood of CRC folks, scout out the area of the city _w/o_ Christian day schools (NE side of GR, northern suburbs more than SW ones)
--Be appreciative of the fact that for many years GR had family-owned corporations headquartered in or near GR. Many institutions and public facilities are strengthened by those families' sense of leaving a legacy and strong corporate philanthrophy. To get strong arts organizations, libraries, gardens, and other facilities in other cities would require things like sales taxes. For a city its size GR has a lot in this regard.
--For those of you who complain about harsh winters--get over it. To me, you really don't know what you're complaining about. Until you have experienced -38 Fahrenheit w/ a 35 mph wind you don't really know what a cold winter can be. In the Northern Plains it is usually sunny in January, but it's 10 below zero. What would you really rather have?

[shoes4birds]

Originally Posted by magellan

So which is it shoes4birds? Is Byron Center a good place to live or a bad place to live?

The question that I responded to in the other post had to do with which area is the best if one is going to live in Michigan. The question was not, "Do YOU like Michigan?". I answered that question in this area, the appropriate place to do so.

It is possible, not to care for Michigan (as you've seen I don't) and still be able to provide opinions as to the best area for someone to move if they've made the decision to move here. I do believe Michigan is for some people, and for those people, I provided my opinion.