UP|Michigan

Developer trying to convert 3 Grand Rapids schools into apartments

arcturus — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:30:14 +0000

Mayor says city was duped - http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/02/grand_rapids_duped_by_detroit-.html

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Michigan Street Corridor Plan

SupercityGR — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:15:31 +0000

Its gonna be fun to see the outcome. The demand for housing is many many new high rise apartments and condos (just joking )

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Michigan Street Corridor Plan

fotoman311 — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:14:15 +0000

Deadline of March 2nd is looming if you were planning to play "Quality of Life".

I walked both north and south sidewalks from College to Fuller and back on Sunday evening. Here are the photos:
http://www.flickr.co...157629396197943

There are a lot, but you can scroll through them pretty quick if you click "slideshow" in the upper right.

http://www.flickr.co...157629396197943

Couldn't find the trees in the banner. Maybe they were cut down when the street was widened from the two lanes in the illustration.
http://www.flickr.co...157629396197943

http://www.flickr.co...157629396197943

No, I did not walk around to the rear of the funeral home.
http://www.flickr.co...157629396197943

http://www.flickr.co...157629396197943

And one of my favorites...ooops, forgot something. This is really inexcusable in a project that is less than 5 years old.
http://www.flickr.co...157629396197943

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New Community Grocery on Michigan St.

fotoman311 — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:10:05 +0000

Found this old thread looking for something else. The Community Grocery never got finished and now Spectrum has some offices or something in there.

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People talking about Grand Rapids

RegalTDP — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:32:21 +0000

I've noticed we're mostly past the point where a shoutout to GR from a website - least of all, a slideshow - should get us excited. But this link I caught via Rapid Growth was different:

http://newyork.grubs...#photo=53x00003

At first, I was like, big deal. But then I read through the rest of it, and noticed that this is a really exclusive list - there's a lot of recognizable names, celebrity chefs and the like, being thrown around in this article. That Grove is compared alongside them is really notable.

And beyond that, only a few cities are included - and none comparable to GR in size. OK, Charleston and Portland, ME are smaller, but they're also established culinary destinations. Chicago and Cleveland are the only others representing the midwest.

Good for Grove. I want to try that dessert now.

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Cabela's to build on old X-Rite site near Rivertown Crossings

arcturus — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:59:34 +0000

This would be a great site for a TJ Maxx HomeGoods store.

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Cabela's to build on old X-Rite site near Rivertown Crossings

GRDadof3 — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:15:15 +0000

Whoa, I had no idea that construction work on the site was so far along, and that it included a new Target store (under construction already):

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/02/cabelas_will_open_long-awaited.html

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Predictions for 2011

elcelc — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:40:21 +0000

elcelc, on 14 February 2012 - 09:19 PM, said:

Will the Cabela's rumors start up again?

Woo hoo! Go me! Next up, a "mystery" project downtown.

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Cabela's to build on old X-Rite site near Rivertown Crossings

GR_Urbanist — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:35:22 +0000

I hope this will maybe prod a certain Swedish home furnishing company to maybe consider setting up shop in the area too.

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Cabela's to build on old X-Rite site near Rivertown Crossings

GRDadof3 — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:15:29 +0000

Yeah, no kidding. I just think Cabela's didn't want to wait around for the Orchard Park deal to get put together. They get instant access to shoppers being next to Rivertown.

I wonder what will go in the additional 300,000 sf of retail space. It seems like that area already has every major national brand.

And I notice no talk of tax credits yet. Maybe because Snyder basically dumped most of them?

joeDowntown, on 16 February 2012 - 10:02 AM, said:

Wow, didn't Walker open their wallet to Cabela's a few years back? That's gotta be a kick in the teeth.

Joe

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East Hills Business District

joeDowntown — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:08:17 +0000

I'm amazed I missed the news that John Wheeler wasn't with Rockford Construction anymore.

Good to see more infill!.

Joe

mgreven, on 14 February 2012 - 11:05 AM, said:

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Flat Iron, Herkner and Groskopfs Buildings to be renovated

joeDowntown — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:06:37 +0000

I doubt this was ever seriously considered. Looks more like a conceptual design to fill out the portfolio. Now I'd love to see the old JA building get extra floors (I know it won't happen, but...). That building was intended to have extra floors but they revised it mid construction (I believe due to WWII?)

Joe

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Cabela's to build on old X-Rite site near Rivertown Crossings

joeDowntown — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:02:48 +0000

Wow, didn't Walker open their wallet to Cabela's a few years back? That's gotta be a kick in the teeth.

Joe

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Cabela's to build on old X-Rite site near Rivertown Crossings

GRDadof3 — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:29:08 +0000

Cabela's announces they will build an 88,000 sf store as part of a new 380,000 sf retail development on the old X-Rite site (East of Rivertown Crossings):

http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-cabelas-announces-plans-for-a-grandville-store-20120216,0,6876626.story

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Flat Iron, Herkner and Groskopfs Buildings to be renovated

andrew.w — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:22:31 +0000

RegalTDP, on 15 February 2012 - 11:19 AM, said:

That is interesting. I don't think I've ever seen a tower built that way, has anyone else?

As for "The Flatiron," I have a feeling the end result would look f'ugly, but I'll reserve judgement.

Usually that construction requires gutting out the centers of the buildings, leaving only the facade. The new tower would be built slightly inward of the existing walls on a separate foundation. The wood structure of the Flat Iron Building isn't really conducive for adding anymore than 1-2 floors (if even that). It's pretty typical in larger cities; For instance there is a tower on LaSalle in Chicago that was built on the four story base of at earlier tower.

I think the only reason it worked for McKay Tower was that the internal structure was over-designed and able to hold an extra dozen floors.

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Andrea's Pizza in Grand Rapids' Eastgate Neighborhood to add full restaurant/bar

SupercityGR — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:39:27 +0000

I hate the new mlive layout But glad to see pizza isnt dieing anytime soon. Whats the difference between a class B and a class A and a class C liquor license?

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Andrea's Pizza in Grand Rapids' Eastgate Neighborhood to add full restaurant/bar

twoshort — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:48:44 +0000

http://www.mlive.com...lace_looki.html

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Photos De Jour - Grand Rapids and West Michigan Area

SupercityGR — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:39:19 +0000

I dont like the caldar plaza. Totally kills that part of monroe. The buildings are set back and it makes it feel less dense.

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Flat Iron, Herkner and Groskopfs Buildings to be renovated

SupercityGR — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:56:27 +0000

Iv seen pics of washington where they built up on old buildings to keep the ground levels charm, but still add the height they needed.

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Photos De Jour - Grand Rapids and West Michigan Area

RegalTDP — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:48:10 +0000

I like City Hall too! It works for me especially because of the way the two buildings are paired with each other - kind of a "Fat Man & Little Boy" duality. Placed by themselves, they're not as unique.

But I'm not keen on most of the other buildings around them. And I do wish we still had the old City Hall to look at.

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East Hills Business District

RegalTDP — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:29:00 +0000

It's amazing that block still has room to grow after all that's already been rebuilt. East Hills is really moving forward this year.

Looks like the "Old Neighbors'" vandalism campaign accomplished JACK SQUAT.

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Flat Iron, Herkner and Groskopfs Buildings to be renovated

RegalTDP — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:19:11 +0000

mgreven, on 14 February 2012 - 11:45 AM, said:

Found this interesting as I was looking at a website...pretty easy to figure out where this is especially with the "Flatiron" sign on top.

Scroll down to Residential Tower Concept Study. I wonder if it's even possible.

http://www.r2designg...residential.php

That is interesting. I don't think I've ever seen a tower built that way, has anyone else?

As for "The Flatiron," I have a feeling the end result would look f'ugly, but I'll reserve judgement.

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East Hills Business District

jdkacz — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:51:00 +0000

thanks for the link - sounds like this project is moving fast - awesome!

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Predictions for 2011

elcelc — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:19:18 +0000

Morton House and Bobville might actually see some progress this year. Other than paperwork!

I'm personally looking forward to the Urban Market opening too. Any timeframe on that one?

Will the Cabela's rumors start up again?

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Photos De Jour - Grand Rapids and West Michigan Area

LA Dave — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:20:16 +0000

GRDadof3, on 04 February 2012 - 08:27 AM, said:

I noticed the other day how nice City Hall looks with its new windows and the removal of those gawd awful screens (as the architects intended it to look).

Great seeing City Hall in its original glory. I remember when those screens went up, totally destroying the skin of this Skidmore building. I know that the International Style is not popular with the younger crowed, but I for one have always thought that the City/County complex was an elegant addition to downtown.

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Flat Iron, Herkner and Groskopfs Buildings to be renovated

SupercityGR — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:13:20 +0000

That would be awesome. It would add even more height to monroe center!

I edited this in, i thought that Locus Development was working on the flat iron building?

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Flat Iron, Herkner and Groskopfs Buildings to be renovated

mgreven — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:45:05 +0000

East Hills Business District

mgreven — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:05:42 +0000

The other half of what I heard about is now public...along with the Sushi place it's going to be a three story office/retail building between Grove and Vivant in the Vivant parking lot.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/02/grand_rapids_builder_may_move.html

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Predictions for 2011

SupercityGR — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:59:21 +0000

Since the grand rapids portion of Urban planet has been so slow i thought i would bring this back from the dead and see if anyone has any further thoughts on how 2012 will turn out?

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It's all about the bike

Raildudes dad — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:43:46 +0000

I've suggested going under the end spans of all the 3 bridges. We'll see if it happens that way

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It's all about the bike

fotoman311 — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:13:19 +0000

Quercus, on 11 February 2012 - 01:40 PM, said:

I wonder if and how the trail will cross the RR tracks near the Baker Furniture warehouse; notice the slight break in acquired land where the east/west RR crosses the Grand River.

I recall having a conversation with someone involved with the project where I asked the same question, but this was awhile ago, and I can't remember what the answer was. It seems like they had worked out a solution for that crossing, but the more challenging one was how to cross Leonard and Ann Streets.

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It's all about the bike

Quercus — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:40:19 +0000

I was near Monroe and Coldbrook on Thursday and I noticed many of the RR ties have been pulled up in preparation for the connection of the non-motorized trails between downtown and Riverside Park. The article I linked has a graphic labeling the land that (I assume) was acquired sometime last year. I wonder if and how the trail will cross the RR tracks near the Baker Furniture warehouse; notice the slight break in acquired land where the east/west RR crosses the Grand River.

Clearing the right-of-way:

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West Fulton Street

fotoman311 — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:51:52 +0000

pcdoctor, on 11 February 2012 - 06:13 AM, said:

Didn't Lexington used to go through to Butterworth?

Yes. Now Seward curves around the existing building to where Lexington was, dead ending Lexington between Fulton and Watson, and goes by the Atek Medical Manufacturing plant to Butterworth. The master plan is to purchase the old rail right of way that Padnos now owns (which they currently use as a parking lot for their big salvage trucks and dumpsters) and continue Seward all the way to Straight Ave, where it will effectively feed into Wealthy. I think the idea is that Seward will be the main N-S urban "arterial" for the near west side, going all the way from Leonard to Wealthy.

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West Fulton Street

pcdoctor — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:13:18 +0000

Didn't Lexington used to go through to Butterworth?

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Old Sprint Nextel HQ Building

joeDowntown — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:03:02 +0000

I've been wondering about this building myself. Major facade change (it definitely needed it). No signs telling who is doing what.

Joe

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Division / Wealthy and ICCF

MiGuyz — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:02:32 +0000

The addition will be built to the west of the current building at what is now a parking lot along Jefferson.

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Old Sprint Nextel HQ Building

EEKris — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:41:42 +0000

Anybody know what's going on with the old Sprint Nextel HQ building on 28th street?

It looks like a pretty major renovation and expansion.

6303 28th Street.

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Year round market planned for downtown Grand Rapids

jdkacz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:25:04 +0000

I pledge my $50 for a brick. With the winter being mild, this project is really going smooth. i am pretty excited to see this finished.

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West Fulton Street

fotoman311 — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:12:56 +0000

pcdoctor, on 07 February 2012 - 03:32 PM, said:

Since when did they take out the traffic light at Lexington/Fulton and what was the reasoning behind this?

When they opened the new Seward extension, sometime around November. Lexington south of Fulton dead-ends at the new Seward Ave extension (which goes from Fulton to Butterworth) and they "moved" the light to Seward and Fulton.

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West Fulton Street

pcdoctor — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:32:31 +0000

Since when did they take out the traffic light at Lexington/Fulton and what was the reasoning behind this?

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