31 replies to this topic

[GRDadof3]

Haven't done this in a while.  Anyone have any predictions for downtown this year?  I'll take a stab at some (don't take these as the final word)   :

) Plans/renderings will be unveiled for the year-round market. Maybe even see some early prep work this year.
) Announcement of plans to redevelop one of the warehouses across the street from the new market.
) Demolition of the cell tower building and beginning of construction of the new GVSU business college.
) New residential project announced for that area near the business school.
) Ferris State will announce that they are moving their pharmacy program to Medical Mile. Oops, already announced.
) A long-time suburban employer will move some of its staff to downtown GR, most likely design staff.
) Davenport U will open its new grad school building
) The BOB expansion will get underway.
) Property speculation and maybe even some renderings of a proposed new mixed use project in Heartside.
) New hotel project announced in a portion of an existing building (boutique hotel?)
) RHD Tire building renovations kick off

Any other predictions?

[RegalTDP]

GRDadof3, on 24 January 2011 - 04:07 PM, said:

) New residential project announced for that area near the business school.

Oooh I like that.  There's waaay more parking than they need over there.

Can you predict whether or not we'll hear news on this in 2011?  Should we wait for anything or just forget about it?

Anyways...
My only addition:
) The BRT millage fails to pass again.

Edited by RegalTDP, 26 January 2011 - 09:34 PM.

[GRDadof3]

RegalTDP, on 26 January 2011 - 09:33 PM, said:

Oooh I like that.  There's waaay more parking than they need over there.

Can you predict whether or not we'll hear news on this in 2011?  Should we wait for anything or just forget about it?

Anyways...
My only addition:
) The BRT millage fails to pass again.

I had forgotten about that. That's strange. I'll have to do some checking.

I don't think the millage will fail.  It's much more comprehensive this time (BRT is just a portion of it), including a lot of service upgrades people have been clamoring for.

[OneSweetWorld]

Heartside continues to boom:
-With the Gallery opening, 38 filling up, farmers market opening soon (hopefully), small businesses moving in, more young people starting small businesses (see Rick Devos' initiative he announced today), and a generally higher level of excitement for the neighborhood, I can't imagine there isn't some more retail opening up. Probably on Division, maybe on Commerce? I'm thinking Urban Outfitters type of stuff. Keyword: type.
-Development ensues on the southeast side of Wealthy & Division. Seriously, that land can't stay barren for too long.
-Same with State Street. It could be the PERFECT connection between Wealthy/Cherry Streets and the central Heartside area. COME ON!!!
-The Pyramid Scheme begins construction. More bars open or are planned on Ionia. As downtown's "strip" gains momentum, a more diverse range of entertainment options begin the planning stages.
-A small hotel in Heartside, similar to the one in the Fox Jewelers building on Monroe Center. Nothing huge, just a place for people like my friends and I who love going downtown but have nowhere to stay once last call has come and gone.
-Residential projects near the Medical Mile. I would think the area along Michigan between Division and Midtown Village. Maybe even something across the Ford.
-A significant plan to improve the riverside. The park/path/whatever it is that connects Riverside Park to Sixth Street Park opens.
-More scheduled road projects in the city include bike lanes or some similar type of "complete street" feature.
-I become extremely rich and powerful. I purchase the Post Office and tear that sh*t down, putting up something prettier and more engaging with the river. Also, I tear down and rebuild the entire Calder Plaza area- the WHOLE AREA. City Hall, 5/3, GR Press, everything. You're welcome.

[RegalTDP]

GRDadof3, on 27 January 2011 - 04:43 PM, said:

I don't think the millage will fail.  It's much more comprehensive this time (BRT is just a portion of it), including a lot of service upgrades people have been clamoring for.

Really?  I'd just been getting the sense that the 2009 millage had unnecessarily turned the Rapid into a polarizing entity.  I was worried angry voters would eventually start shooting down every transit-related ballot measure, and force them to cut services.

I'm not as close to the situation, let alone capable of voting in this one, so it's reassuring you feel different.  But don't you think there will be mobilized opponents, who will latch on to BRT and focus on that over everything else?

Or to those on this forum that voted against the 2009 proposal, what do you think?  Do you feel any different about the 2011 proposal?  Do the additional service upgrades justify it?

[GRDadof3]

RegalTDP, on 28 January 2011 - 02:59 PM, said:

Really?  I'd just been getting the sense that the 2009 millage had unnecessarily turned the Rapid into a polarizing entity.  I was worried angry voters would eventually start shooting down every transit-related ballot measure, and force them to cut services.

I'm not as close to the situation, let alone capable of voting in this one, so it's reassuring you feel different.  But don't you think there will be mobilized opponents, who will latch on to BRT and focus on that over everything else?

Or to those on this forum that voted against the 2009 proposal, what do you think?  Do you feel any different about the 2011 proposal?  Do the additional service upgrades justify it?

It remains to be seen. I think every Rapid millage request has been funded, up until the Silver Line millage last year.  This time, there are 9 or 10 service enhancements being looked at, particularly late night service for some of the bar crowd (that people have been asking for).

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

[John E]

The people have been happy with the improvements that the Rapid has made with previous millage increases. The Rapid does an exceptional job. The problem with their latest increase request is that it is for a reduntant service that people think is just a luxury that is not needed. At first I was for the Silver Line but after looking into it more and more have come up with the same conclusion. I don't see the need for it. There may be a usable need for it some years from now for people working Medical Mile who will not be able to have their own vehicle but for the next few years the Silver Line would just be a redundant service that is currently being met for the current needs.

I am mixed with this millage increase. They are emphesizing other improvements while slipping in the Silver Line. Personally I would like to see them cut out the Silver Line and add more frequent runs, especially on the weekend. They could also have every route run on Sunday. It is a pain having many routes only run once an hour on the weekends. Increasing frequency is a proven method for increasing ridership. It makes the system more usable. Another reason I am mixed about the vote request is that I STILL don't understand why they can not seek other sources for income. I don't understand why they need a millage increase every time they want or need to upgrade the system.

I am a huge fan of the Rapid and love how friendly and usable the service has become since it was taken over from GRATA but I'm not sure about continued millage increases to support improvements.

I think the requst will fail by a slim margin due to the mass public's ignorance on the issue. But if the proponents push the other improvements, leaving the Silver Line quiet, they could squeak by with a win.

Either way it goes, my hope is that one way or another that they will be able to increase route frequency on weekends with every route running on Sunday.

~John Eisenschenk

[walker]

John E, on 28 January 2011 - 09:40 PM, said:

The people have been happy with the improvements that the Rapid has made with previous millage increases. The Rapid does an exceptional job. The problem with their latest increase request is that it is for a reduntant service that people think is just a luxury that is not needed. At first I was for the Silver Line but after looking into it more and more have come up with the same conclusion. I don't see the need for it. There may be a usable need for it some years from now for people working Medical Mile who will not be able to have their own vehicle but for the next few years the Silver Line would just be a redundant service that is currently being met for the current needs.

I am mixed with this millage increase. They are emphesizing other improvements while slipping in the Silver Line. Personally I would like to see them cut out the Silver Line and add more frequent runs, especially on the weekend. They could also have every route run on Sunday. It is a pain having many routes only run once an hour on the weekends. Increasing frequency is a proven method for increasing ridership. It makes the system more usable. Another reason I am mixed about the vote request is that I STILL don't understand why they can not seek other sources for income. I don't understand why they need a millage increase every time they want or need to upgrade the system.

I am a huge fan of the Rapid and love how friendly and usable the service has become since it was taken over from GRATA but I'm not sure about continued millage increases to support improvements.

I think the requst will fail by a slim margin due to the mass public's ignorance on the issue. But if the proponents push the other improvements, leaving the Silver Line quiet, they could squeak by with a win.

Either way it goes, my hope is that one way or another that they will be able to increase route frequency on weekends with every route running on Sunday.

~John Eisenschenk

This is amazing John.  I agree with everything you wrote.  This has never happened before, not even close.  Thank you.

[GRDadof3]

John E, on 28 January 2011 - 09:40 PM, said:

The people have been happy with the improvements that the Rapid has made with previous millage increases. The Rapid does an exceptional job. The problem with their latest increase request is that it is for a reduntant service that people think is just a luxury that is not needed. At first I was for the Silver Line but after looking into it more and more have come up with the same conclusion. I don't see the need for it. There may be a usable need for it some years from now for people working Medical Mile who will not be able to have their own vehicle but for the next few years the Silver Line would just be a redundant service that is currently being met for the current needs.

I am mixed with this millage increase. They are emphesizing other improvements while slipping in the Silver Line. Personally I would like to see them cut out the Silver Line and add more frequent runs, especially on the weekend. They could also have every route run on Sunday. It is a pain having many routes only run once an hour on the weekends. Increasing frequency is a proven method for increasing ridership. It makes the system more usable. Another reason I am mixed about the vote request is that I STILL don't understand why they can not seek other sources for income. I don't understand why they need a millage increase every time they want or need to upgrade the system.

I am a huge fan of the Rapid and love how friendly and usable the service has become since it was taken over from GRATA but I'm not sure about continued millage increases to support improvements.

I think the requst will fail by a slim margin due to the mass public's ignorance on the issue. But if the proponents push the other improvements, leaving the Silver Line quiet, they could squeak by with a win.

Either way it goes, my hope is that one way or another that they will be able to increase route frequency on weekends with every route running on Sunday.

~John Eisenschenk

I believe that currently, that's all that The Rapid can use to fund operating expenses, is millages.  Although that might be changing soon, as city leaders in Michigan are (finally) starting to talk about regional taxation:

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

[jdkacz]

- Things come in threes: 1913 Room closing, Sayfee's closing and maybe Charlie's Crab closes and a proposed development is planned there?

- Laughfest 2011 is a huge hit comparable to Art Prize.

- Schuler's stays downtown

- Trader Joe's makes 2011 announcement to expand in GR in 2012.

[Jippy]

GRDadof3, on 24 January 2011 - 04:07 PM, said:

Haven't done this in a while.  Anyone have any predictions for downtown this year?  I'll take a stab at some (don't take these as the final word)   :

) Plans/renderings will be unveiled for the year-round market. Maybe even see some early prep work this year.
) Announcement of plans to redevelop one of the warehouses across the street from the new market.
) Demolition of the cell tower building and beginning of construction of the new GVSU business college.
) New residential project announced for that area near the business school.
) Ferris State will announce that they are moving their pharmacy program to Medical Mile. Oops, already announced.
) A long-time suburban employer will move some of its staff to downtown GR, most likely design staff.
) Davenport U will open its new grad school building
) The BOB expansion will get underway.
) Property speculation and maybe even some renderings of a proposed new mixed use project in Heartside.
) New hotel project announced in a portion of an existing building (boutique hotel?)
) RHD Tire building renovations kick off

Any other predictions?

GRDadof3,

Any updates on any of these projects not recently in the news, or any new ones to add to the list?

[jdkacz]

Was the City Flats official announcement after this post? Also, if a Zondervan moves their HQ downtown.

[Jippy]

GRDadof3,  I would love to hear your predictions for 2012!

[RegalTDP]

Shouldn't we be scoring our old predictions first?

RegalTDP, on 26 January 2011 - 09:33 PM, said:

My only addition:
) The BRT millage fails to pass again.

Fortunately, mine was a big fat WRONG.

[tSlater]

I sure am glad you were wrong!  It was certainly close though.  Half a point?

Only brought ~3 boxes of things when moving to Mississippi, but made sure the GR Press article with the narrow BRT win was in one of the boxes.

[SupercityGR]

Fulton and ionia propsal renderings.
new center city condo proposal
new center office tower propsal
new retail down ionia and monroe center
surface lot by plaza towers propsal

[fotoman311]

SupercityGR, on 30 December 2011 - 04:03 PM, said:

Fulton and ionia propsal renderings.
new center city condo proposal
new center office tower propsal
new retail down ionia and monroe center
surface lot by plaza towers propsal

Is that your wish list or your predictions?

[SupercityGR]

Maybe alittle of both

[tSlater]

I don't think we'll be seeing new condos for a long time yet.  Apartment and hotel projects, but no condos.

[SupercityGR]

Theres a lee and birch now on ionia. It would be nice to some more shops follow all the way down to where it would interesct monroe center. See some forever21, urban outfitters, and some michigan mile shops line the streets.