161 replies to this topic

[x99]

And anyone that rides on the pipe dream is going to have the kind of disposable income necessary to make this a viable urban retail project?  Let's get real here for a minute (and horrifically politically incorrect):  People who ride buses in this town are people who have to because they don't have enough money for a car, and particularly so if they're going to a place with adequate free parking, which this project has in spades.   Is the parking just a temporary thing until they can finish the build out?  That would certainly be more logical.

As for something else I've wondered about:  ICCF also owns that old party store on Wealthy between Lafayette and Prospect.  They also own the house next to it on Prospect, and a vacant lot next to that, plus one behind it fronting on Lafayette.  The City owns a lot right on the corner of Lafayette and Wealthy.  Is there a plan to do something here in the future?  This is much closer to existing population centers, and far more walkable than this Division/Wealthy project, which is quickly becoming a boondoggle given the failure of the grocery store.  If they've got a viable commercial project for this space (which seems better that Div/Wealthy), I can't imagine the HH Association would grip too much about moving or razing the two houses in the way (although one is privately owned--ICCF must have missed the foreclosure sale--oops).

GR_Urbanist, on 25 May 2012 - 05:45 AM, said:

And the biggest losers? The BRT riders. They get nothing more than a slightly fancy version of the shelter you see on Fulton and Sheldon. Completely exposed and in front of a parking lot.

Edited by x99, 25 May 2012 - 08:43 AM.

[andrew.w]

x99, on 25 May 2012 - 08:27 AM, said:

And anyone that rides on the pipe dream is going to have the kind of disposable income necessary to make this a viable urban retail project?  Let's get real here for a minute (and horrifically politically incorrect):  People who ride buses in this town are people who have to because they don't have enough money for a car, and particularly so if they're going to a place with adequate free parking, which this project has in spades.

On the other hand, if we continue to design based on this mentality, we will never have a good public transportation system.  I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I can afford a car (in Grand Rapids at least) but if a reliable transportation system could get me where I wanted to go when I wanted to get there I would definitely take it, mostly because I don't care for city driving.  If the city is going to invest in a new method of transport, riding it should be as pleasant an experience as possible, regardless of who is projected to be riding.  Otherwise you are right: the people who can afford other means will not use it.