Grand Rapids for progressive minded? (Detroit, Warren: middle-class, oceanfront, crime)

[pjmiami]

Definitely consider Kalamazoo over the Grand Rapids area; the fact that Kazoo has two good colleges (WMU and Kalamazoo College) goes a long way in moderating the overwhelming "compassionate conservatism" and Dutch Reformed Church effect that you will have to put up with in GR; the colleges also add to the diversity of the population--still pretty homogeneous but far less conservative. Kazoo has some great city neighborhoods, its easy to get out to the countryside, and the people are friendly. If you have kids, the Kalamazoo Promise is an extraordinary opportunity as well. It's not a perfect place by any measure but I've been gone seven years and still wish I could find my way back!

[magellan]

Originally Posted by pjmiami

Definitely consider Kalamazoo over the Grand Rapids area; the fact that Kazoo has two good colleges (WMU and Kalamazoo College) goes a long way in moderating the overwhelming "compassionate conservatism" and Dutch Reformed Church effect that you will have to put up with in GR; the colleges also add to the diversity of the population--still pretty homogeneous but far less conservative. Kazoo has some great city neighborhoods, its easy to get out to the countryside, and the people are friendly. If you have kids, the Kalamazoo Promise is an extraordinary opportunity as well. It's not a perfect place by any measure but I've been gone seven years and still wish I could find my way back!

A lot has changed in 7 years. Grand Valley State University (in Grand Rapids), which has seen about 292% growth in 20 years, is about to surpass WMU in enrollment. Its campuses downtown and in Allendale have quadrupled in size since we moved here 10 years ago. They're having a huge impact on the city.

[pjmiami]

Yes, GVSU is a very nice school and growing quickly; in fact, my daughter is looking at it seriously along with MSU and Eastern (She won't look at WMU because she "grew up there!" . However, GVSU's main campus location in Allendale hasn't had much impact on the overiding conservative ideology of the area whereas WMU and K College are well integrated into the local culture of Kalamazoo. I'm not saying that's a bad thing--just something to consider for the folks that are looking for a more liberal minded community. It would be take a major stretch of the imagination to call the Allendale area liberal.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by pjmiami

Yes, GVSU is a very nice school and growing quickly; in fact, my daughter is looking at it seriously along with MSU and Eastern (She won't look at WMU because she "grew up there!" . However, GVSU's main campus location in Allendale hasn't had much impact on the overiding conservative ideology of the area whereas WMU and K College are well integrated into the local culture of Kalamazoo. I'm not saying that's a bad thing--just something to consider for the folks that are looking for a more liberal minded community. It would be take a major stretch of the imagination to call the Allendale area liberal.

Well I can say first-hand I went to Western and it's no liberal mecca, and neither was most of Kalamazoo. K-College I would agree. And you're right, Allendale and Ottawa County are bible-thumping country. But GVSU now has 3 separate campuses downtown GR, so it's having a bit more affect on the city. And we're trying to corral all the "compassionate conservatives" into the Hudsonville/Jenison/Grandville area so they won't hurt themselves or anyone else. Wish us luck!

[Virginia1]

Just wondering. Why does the Grand Rapids corridor have lower crime, new hospitals (Childrens Hospital being built), MSU will move there Med. School there, new convention centers, nice downtown area, plethora of parks, clean( must be the Dutch/German thing). Actually attractive small Metro city. What are they doing different then other Metro areas. Doing some research and I see that it is heavily congressional Republican, but yet some local Democratic. What do they do that....lets say Detroit/Flint doesn't.

[crappinatbernies]

**The sounds of Duelling Banjos**

They actually have 50's style gangs still in Marshall.


Liberal - EAST LANSING

also....EAST LANSING.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Virginia1

Just wondering. Why does the Grand Rapids corridor have lower crime, new hospitals (Childrens Hospital being built), MSU will move there Med. School there, new convention centers, nice downtown area, plethora of parks, clean( must be the Dutch/German thing). Actually attractive small Metro city. What are they doing different then other Metro areas. Doing some research and I see that it is heavily congressional Republican, but yet some local Democratic. What do they do that....lets say Detroit/Flint doesn't.

Well here goes my best shot, since no one else has replied. Having lived in multiple areas in Michigan (Lansing for 18 years, Kzoo for 6, Detroit metro 3 mos, Grand Rapids 10), Grand Rapids has a much different past to it then the rest of Michigan. Grand Rapids has been historically much more influenced by Chicago then Detroit. You can pick up Chicago radio stations from here. I personally know more Cubs fans than Tigers fans. Many of the old rail lines back in the 1900's went from Chicago through GR on the way to Northern Michigan. It never made automobiles. Grand Rapids' history is all in fine home furnishings, all wood. Hekman, Baker, Widdicomb, Phoenix, Berkey & Gay, Sligh, Imperial, there were literally hundreds of furniture makers here. Much of that has left for low-cost Southern states, but the whole layout of the city, the well-built housing stock (you would be amazed at the woodwork in even a lot of the small old homes), the ornate and finely preserved furniture factories, the dutch immigrant furniture makers, all helped shape Grand Rapids more uniquely than any other city in Michigan. That transformed into office furniture systems design and manufacturing, which still thrives today with three of the largest in the country in West Michigan (Steelcase, Herman Miller, and Haworth). They're all enjoying record revenue and profit growth this past year.

Grand Rapids didn't have the enormous race riots like Detroit. Good in a way that it didn't tear the city apart as much, bad in that it's not as racially diverse as many bigger cities.

On top of that, there are a large number of wealthy philanthropists in GR who have an interest in the city. Some people complain that a few are Amway family members, but those people have dumped literally hundred of millions into downtown, and they certainly didn't have to. The other families like Meijer (superstores), Wege (Steelcase), Secchias, Freys, etc. (there are actually too many to name) have also invested heavily in cultural attractions in the city through a group called Grand Action. Grand Rapids was ranked second in the country for philanthropy after Salt Lake City. Now, they are all giving to healthcare and health-research related ventures.

The other thing I've noticed here is that Grand Rapids essentially all fits in Kent County. Not as much infighting across county lines like Detroit or even Lansing, and much more sharing of services. You don't find the us vs. them between the city and the burbs as much as from what I've seen.

Who knows. A lot of different things, and a ton of people constantly working non-stop to make Grand Rapids better.

But with all that, I still hear people from Detroit and Lansing bad-mouthing Grand Rapids, or saying it's a bastion of conservatism. Whatever. I'd rather put up with a bunch of enthusiastic optimistic uber-conservatives in a city that's growing, than a bunch of depressed UAW liberals in a city that everyone is leaving.

Magellan

[Virginia1]

Thanks Magellan for the short history of GR vs. Detroit. I agree with your latter statement. If one is looking for a place to live no matter what side of the aisle you are on, my first priority would be jobs, economy, development of the city (privately) and low crime. I could live in a conservative town or liberal town. If a city is liberal leaning ( extreme) and it has high crime, high unemployment, and politicians perpetuating the problems and if I was a liberal I would not want to live there, and if my choice is a conservative leaning town I would have no problem living there because my (speaking for me) priority would be safety for my family, job, etc. My politics and ideaology come second to my well being, I mean it's not like moving to Saudia Arabia where they take your religous symbols and bible away when you enter that country. I am sure if you live in GR they aren't going to ban tye dye T-shirts and Birkenstocks. I am leaning towards GR to live when I move up. As you have mentioned the houses are well built even in the range that I am looking at, compared to down here in Va. Beach the housing market looks sweet. Being in the medical field I can get a job, my concern is where I live, I just don't want the neighborhood crumbling around me. Thanks sooo much for the history lesson, appreciate it.

[moving959]

I live in Grand Rapids in east gr and I love it here! this is from a kids point of view! im 12

[Virginia1]

Well gosh darn, if a kid loves it in Grand Rapids its gotta be the place to move. Thanks for your input 959. I hope one day I will love it there also. Probably the most positive input in this Michigan forum .