joeDowntown Posted July 31, 2013 Report Share Posted July 31, 2013 I drove past the Keeler Building (N. Division, currently has one tenant - Grand LAN) this morning and there are fences up along the sidewalk. Is something happening with this building or are they stopping falling debris due to Azzar's neglect? Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paramaribo Posted July 31, 2013 Report Share Posted July 31, 2013 The brick sidewalk is in bad shape, especially street side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpchicago Posted July 31, 2013 Report Share Posted July 31, 2013 I wonder if GRCC or Kendall has ever looked at this building to expand their campuses. One thing that hurts this building's redevelopment is the lack of parking. The lot on the south side of this building would be a perfect spot for a ramp that could be shared with the Civic theater. Another building I wonder about is the Michigan Bell/ AT&T building to the north. Is that fully utilized or is it mostly empty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRDadof3 Posted July 31, 2013 Report Share Posted July 31, 2013 Jeez Joe, don't start threads like that. I believe a certain dt developer was investigating this as a potential project, don't know how far they got. I thought this was the announcement. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfloria Posted July 31, 2013 Report Share Posted July 31, 2013 I noticed the fencing last night too. Its across the entire front along Division except where the Grand LAN storefront is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeDowntown Posted August 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 Sorry GRDad- Didn't mean to give anyone a heart attack. Maybe a little wishful thinking that something was happening with the building. More likely falling debris. I doubt they would put a fence around it if it were just bad sidewalks. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allison Slater Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 It's a rough sidewalk, but I don't think it's so bad it needs closing. Unless there's a plan to redo the sidewalk in the very near future? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veloise Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) They are repositioning the Civil War statue, moving it closer to the Fulton corner. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/07/locust_trees_gone_monument_par.html Edited August 1, 2013 by Veloise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfloria Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 They are repositioning the Civil War statue, moving it closer to the Fulton corner. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/07/locust_trees_gone_monument_par.html You're thinking of the Kendall Building. The Keeler building is further up Division. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeDowntown Posted August 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 Right, the Kendall building is another building that Azzar let sit and rot. Thank god 616 came along... Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcturus Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 Look at the first google hit for 'Azzar Grand Rapids' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRDadof3 Posted August 2, 2013 Report Share Posted August 2, 2013 Look at the first google hit for 'Azzar Grand Rapids' Ha! We were certainly blazing trails back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctpgr34 Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 Any update on why there is fencing on sidewalk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarpenterJoseph Posted September 3, 2013 Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 Grand LAN says the fence is up for sidewalk repairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GR_Urbanist Posted September 3, 2013 Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 I hope that gets fixed before ArtPrize. We cant just have a huge amount of sidewalk on Division unusable like that. Whose responsibility was it to keep that sidewalk in good repair anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veloise Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 I hope that gets fixed before ArtPrize. We cant just have a huge amount of sidewalk on Division unusable like that. Whose responsibility was it to keep that sidewalk in good repair anyway? Rest assured, the construction pace will be blistering for the next couple of weeks. They'll get 'er done. Fulton by SCMC has been a mess all summer. This lane closed, then that one. Suddenly the bus shelter top is in place, everything's cleaned up...and there's a new coffee & art place opening just in time for you-know-what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GR_Urbanist Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 It seems like the entire sidewalk around this disgrace is just getting worse. There is now a fence on both Fountain and along the entire Division side of this building, making the entire sidewalk next to it unusable and has been for a while. This is on top of the fact that 99% of the building seems to be unused. Is there any indication that the city is ready to bring the hammer down on the people that are obviously not doing anything with this place, other than letting it rot and become an even bigger eyesore? This is simply becoming a farce. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allison Slater Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 That fence has been up for at least a year now, I think. I think it's due to the condition of the sidewalk and possibly some areaways, something along the Fountain side seemed to suggest the sidewalk was opening up to something below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingbert Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 You know, it's not the most unattractive building downtown but it is a bit nondescript. Is there any historical significance to it? For example, isn't the Michigan Bell/AT&T building across the street supposed to be haunted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walker Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 You know, it's not the most unattractive building downtown but it is a bit nondescript. Is there any historical significance to it? Not sure if it makes it historic but its window design in particular is a good example of the Chicago School of Architecture style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegalTDP Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 You know, it's not the most unattractive building downtown but it is a bit nondescript. Is there any historical significance to it? For example, isn't the Michigan Bell/AT&T building across the street supposed to be haunted? Keeler was built to be an exhibition space (like Waters) for big furniture expos in 1912 and 1914, with the intention of converting it to offices afterward. A quick primer on the Michigan Bell building is here. I've never come across any actual first-hand accounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJLO Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 What can really be done with the Keeler Building in its current state? maybe more loft conversions? There is little in the way of parking around it. They could build a ramp next door in that lot I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcturus Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Something like this would be cool - http://www.citylab.com/design/2014/10/dutch-designers-just-made-your-market-look-sorry/381112/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingbert Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Keeler was built to be an exhibition space (like Waters) for big furniture expos in 1912 and 1914, with the intention of converting it to offices afterward. A quick primer on the Michigan Bell building is here. I've never come across any actual first-hand accounts. Cool. Thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GR_Urbanist Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Would be an excellent space for FSU/Kendall dorms and workspaces. But after the UICA purchase they may be tapped out for expansion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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