[magellan]

Originally Posted by michigan83

True, the "old" part of Grandville does have a main street with quite a few businesses. If someone lived in one of the old neighborhoods right there, you could walk to quite a few things.

But I'm not sure if it's a place where people really walk much. Most people are driving everywhere and you have to be careful and dodge traffic.

The city of Rockford is definitely walkable.

Except when you need to go to work, or get groceries. Although that's like pretty much anywhere u.s.a. except the big cities.

[beachmouse]

The old Ottawa Hills area (not to be confused with the suburban-seeming area around Ottawa Hills High School) also has some neat older housing stock, and is popular with people who want to be near East Grand Rapids amenities but don't want or need to pay for EGR schools.

[mikeD-is-Me]

East to the northeast side of GR is nice IMO. If you want a semi urban area where you will be able to walk/ bike to shops, restaurants, bars/ pubs, etc... The area around Eastown, EGR and Heritage Hill is prob your best bet besides living downtown.

[SuperstarK]

Thank you all for the responses. Due to an unusual circumstance, I will not be moving to GR!!!! Maybe this post will help someone else though.
I did get there and even house hunted. I found Heritage Hills very nice but so e spots were hit and miss, as many neighborhoods are. I found an incredible Victorian that was a definite fixer upper which without too much major work could have been restored into a true beauty. All the neighboring homes were very nice, and the price was very reasonable.
East GR was pretty much very nice and had a lot to offer if you like jogging, dogwalking or strolling around and looking at nice homes in a clean area and also with a few restaurants and shops to go to.
There were also some spots just outside of town such as Caledonia which had beautiful wooded properties where you can feel like you are in the country but are still close to whatever you need. Also very reasonable prices.
Grand Rapids downtown had some areas which were sad, desolate, and boarded up, as many cities do. I could imagine that eventual revitalization of these areas could be very possible. What they need are a fe big businesses to come in and get their folks back to work.
Overall, GR was a pretty nice place. Extremely easy to get around with plenty of expressways. Most of all pretty much everyone I encountered was very pleasant and eager to help. Real estate prices as well as gas and groceries were all affordable. Had not this other circumstance come up for me, I am sure it would have been a great place to settle in and call home.
Thanks again for your posts!