Have you visited Grand Rapids?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

Went numerous times and we are in fact driving out tomorrow to look at open houses for my sister-in-law. We've been all over at all times of the year. We usually hang out in downtown and near the in-laws to the east.

Grand Rapids strikes me as the "Savannah" of Michigan. The historic housing stock is stupendous like in Savannah. Both are home to some very good regional unviersities, but none that define the city like Ann Arbor or Athens, GA. With some luck and proper development, I think it could easily gain the national reputation Savannah has as a beautiful destination city.

Thanks to the Devos family, you get the sense that GR is trying to become a big city destination through some big-time investment in civic buildings. I'm not sold if this is the best thing. Flashy investments into concentrated areas that outsize overall development in the city have a danger of producing white elephants that can push development in the wrong direction. As a crowning feature in a master plan, these investments can be a great thing that seals the deal, but I don't get the sense that these big-time developments are crowning anything but themselves. A perfect example of this is Stanford University's campus. There are buildings EVERYWHERE because every donor wants their name prominently displayed on a public building. This has produced a disjointed and overdeveloped, sprawling campus.

Overall, the future does look bright and here's hoping it continues!

That's obviously an ongoing debate around Grand Rapids about all the "names on buildings". On one hand, it does get to be a little ostentatious to have (what seems to be) everything downtown named after the big donors, especially the big Amway families of Devos and Van Andel. On the other hand, I don't think Grand Rapids would have a first-rate arena, an amazing new art museum, the Midwest's first JW Marriott, and the rapidly expanding Van Andel Institute without having big benefactors in town willing to reinvest their Billions into the city (Richard Devos and Fred Meijer on the Forbes 500 Richest every year most notably). I have a feeling without them giving back and taking the risks, downtown Grand Rapids would look a lot like Flint, Saginaw or Toledo.

The big debate is whether all this reinvestment has spurred other investment from other companies, which I would think should be the goal. Recently there have been scores of small companies moving into downtown office space (mainly the loft conversion spaces). Maybe the tipping point is close.

[Cato the Elder]

After spending a day in GR, I now think the greatest strength is not downtown, but the neighborhoods. That's why I would move there. I suppose it might explain why downtown is so empty, but I forgot how many people walk around the neighborhoods. It's bustling in a good way and people are extremely friendly. Joggers, dog walkers, walkers, baby strollers, etc. You just don't see it too often in our automobile/weekend-flat-screen-tv-warrior culture. The layout has a lot to do with it. There isn't just one huge retail area, but each neighborhoods seems to have a smattering of retail - lots of healthy mixed-use development without large thoroughfares serving as artificial "friction" boundaries. Essentially, people have somewhere to walk and they don't have to fear crossing busy four-lane streets or unpleasant highway overpasses. Outside of downtowns, and even in them, you just do not see that type of foot traffic in most neighborhoods.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

After spending a day in GR, I now think the greatest strength is not downtown, but the neighborhoods. That's why I would move there. I suppose it might explain why downtown is so empty, but I forgot how many people walk around the neighborhoods. It's bustling in a good way and people are extremely friendly. Joggers, dog walkers, walkers, baby strollers, etc. You just don't see it too often in our automobile/weekend-flat-screen-tv-warrior culture. The layout has a lot to do with it. There isn't just one huge retail area, but each neighborhoods seems to have a smattering of retail - lots of healthy mixed-use development without large thoroughfares serving as artificial "friction" boundaries. Essentially, people have somewhere to walk and they don't have to fear crossing busy four-lane streets or unpleasant highway overpasses. Outside of downtowns, and even in them, you just do not see that type of foot traffic in most neighborhoods.

Yeah, downtown is sort of quiet a lot of the time, except around lunchtime during the week (especially in warm weather). Then it's got a pretty good vibe to it. It'd be nice if more retail and residents were downtown, to give it a feel like downtown Ann Arbor.

But you're right about neighborhoods. East Grand Rapids especially is one of my favorites. It's almost too perfect in the Summer, with scores of people out walking, biking, running, stollers, you name it.

[Wayland Woman]

Grand Rapids has great museums and art galleries. The arena brings in a lot of cultural activities to the city as well. Like any large city, though, it has neighborhoods that aren't exactly safe as well as neighborhoods that are just the opposite. I grew up in the area and I'm in Grand Rapids almost every day. I happen to think it's a pretty nice place.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

After spending a day in GR, I now think the greatest strength is not downtown, but the neighborhoods. That's why I would move there. I suppose it might explain why downtown is so empty, but I forgot how many people walk around the neighborhoods. It's bustling in a good way and people are extremely friendly. Joggers, dog walkers, walkers, baby strollers, etc. You just don't see it too often in our automobile/weekend-flat-screen-tv-warrior culture. The layout has a lot to do with it. There isn't just one huge retail area, but each neighborhoods seems to have a smattering of retail - lots of healthy mixed-use development without large thoroughfares serving as artificial "friction" boundaries. Essentially, people have somewhere to walk and they don't have to fear crossing busy four-lane streets or unpleasant highway overpasses. Outside of downtowns, and even in them, you just do not see that type of foot traffic in most neighborhoods.

I agree... East Hills, Heritage Hill and especially East Grand Rapids (which isn't a neighborhood...but close enough) are always full of pedestrian traffic. It's refreshing.