Phizzy

On the topic of parking, I read WOOD TV8's article regarding these plans and most of the Facebook comments were complaints about parking. One person even wrote "GR needs more, not less, parking."

Very true. The April 1990 census had Grand Rapids at 189,673. The July 1999 estimate had Grand Rapids at 185,005. So, supposedly a loss of 4,664. The April 2000 census had Grand Rapids at 197,800. A gain of 8,127! And now Newsweek is relying on the April 2000 census and July 2009 estimate to proclaim that Grand Rapids is a dying city?

The problem is, the Allendale planners can only enforce the new rules on new developments. Note that all of the new businesses, housing developments, apartment complexes, etc. do have sidewalks.

Hackenwerth's artwork is bizarre, but I like it. I can see something like this in a front window display in Grand Rapids:

More talk of GM moving its HQ (although, not necessarily to Grand Rapids). GM CEO Fritz Henderson says tasks are large to avoid bankruptcy, leaves open possibility of moving headquarters out of Detroit

Link: In a World Short Of Oil, Provisions Must Be Made

Okay, I understand what the problem is. At wikipedia, the figure of 602,894 is based on the old definition of the MSA. The old MSA only included the Parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and West Baton Rouge. The population of the old MSA was 602,894 in 2000 and 632,758 in 2005. Respectable growth (4.95%), but not huge. The new MSA (after the OMB redefined MSAs after 2000) now includes the parishes of East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, and West Feliciana. The population of the new MSA was 705,973 in 2000 and 733,802 in 2005. Again, not huge growth (3.94%). So, at wikipedia, the stated population of 602,894 in 2000 is based on the old MSA and the stated population of "over 700,000 since the 2000 census" is based on the new MSA. It is a fact that the MSA did have 602,894 in 2000 and 733,802 in 2005, but the components (parishes) of the MSA has changed. Looking at those figures, one would initially think that the growth was huge (21.71%!), but that would be like comparing apples to oranges. Based on this erroneous figure of 21.71%, one might assume that the population would reach 1,000,000 by 2015. If you want to, you can visit census.gov and check the population of each of the parishes above. On the right side of the webpage, under "Population Finder

According to the 2000 census, the Baton Rouge CSA population was 729,361 (far higher than the 600,000 you quoted). According to 2004 estimates, the CSA population was 750,619 (a bit higher than your figure). According to 2005 estimates, the CSA population was 756,998. So, population growth from April 1, 2000 thru July 1, 2005 was only 27,637, or 3.8%. That is far from being one of the fastest growing metros under 1 million people. In fact, out of the ten parishes comprising the CSA, six lost population and two others gained less than 100. Ascension Parish and Livingston Parish had phenomenal growth, however. At the 2000 thru 2005 growth rate, it wouldn't be until the 2040's or 2050's before the Baton Rouge CSA would reach 1 million in population. Census Census Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate Increase 00-05 1-Apr-90 1-Apr-00 1-Jul-00 1-Jul-01 1-Jul-02 1-Jul-03 1-Jul-04 1-Jul-05 # % Ascension P 58,214 76,627 77,358 79,526 81,728 84,410 87,019 90,501 13,874 18.1% East Baton Rouge P 380,105 412,852 412,770 410,723 410,147 410,970 411,564 411,417 -1,435 -0.3% East Feliciana P 19,211 21,360 21,382 21,247 21,108 21,030 20,870 20,823 -537 -2.5% Iberville P 31,049 33,320 33,313 33,285 33,062 32,801 32,483 32,386 -934 -2.8% Livingston P 70,523 91,814 92,581 95,538 98,945 102,126 105,758 109,206 17,392 18.9% Pointe Coupee P 22,540 22,763 22,768 22,621 22,560 22,503 22,444 22,377 -386 -1.7% St. Helena P 9,874 10,525 10,513 10,433 10,425 10,322 10,309 10,259 -266 -2.5% West Baton Rouge P 19,419 21,601 21,566 21,644 21,694 21,685 21,855 21,634 33 0.2% West Feliciana P 12,915 15,111 15,135 15,147 15,165 15,233 15,111 15,199 88 0.6% Assumption P 22,753 23,388 23,384 23,232 23,208 23,229 23,206 23,196 -192 -0.8% CSA 646,603 729,361 730,770 733,396 738,042 744,309 750,619 756,998 27,637 3.8%[/codebox]

Looks like it has great potential.