New projects on the West Side

[Guest]

I kinda agree with GRDad on this one.  There's not really a whole lot that draws me to W. Leonard.  It's kind of a mish mash of pawn shops, head shops, thrift shops, deer processing shops(?).   Don't get me wrong, 10 years ago I used to go to shakedown all the time, but  I still feel like the west side is a whole different city compared to the rest of GR.  It's just kind of a foreign concept to me I guess, growing up in SE GR we never really crossed the river except on the rare occasion a Union friend was having a party.  I'm not trying to bash or hate on the west side it's just different, kinda like Michigan street 15+ years ago was.

[Raildude's dad]

How is the West Side is a whole different city compared to the rest of GR? How is West Leonard much different than Division in Burton" Heights? You just see past the grittiness of the area you are used to. The quickest way to our house is Ann St from US131 to Alpine then north. I've had people coming to our house that they thought "where are we going? It looks like industrial downriver Detroit. A  railroad junction, an old factory that looks abandoned on the right  A old factory occupied by Padnos on the left, a concrete recycle yard on the left sorta of screened, a junky used car lot and then the Baker Auto Parts junk yard (being repurposed very nicely by Weller's. But I drive it every day and don't "see" it.

As for the deer processing shop, it's a family owned butcher shop (from 1939) that goes to the extra effort to be able to process deer  so a hunter can get venison from a deer they have shot. How many of your other "neighborhoods" have a  80 year family owned butcher shop? The West Side isn't any different than other older neighborhoods in the city - you are just used to the one you live in or frequent. I will say as someone that grew up on the north end, lived there 25 years, has lived on the west side for 40 years had a daughter go to school on the se side and had grandparents in the sw Wyoming area, I find it hard to agree with "the  west side is a whole different city compared to the rest of GR."

There's also some SE GR snobbishness that happens. I grew up 2 blocks from Leonard and Diamond. Went to Creston Christian and then Central Christian High when it still had students from the entire metro area. I had friends from the North end (Creston Christian and Mayfield Christian schools ) and the West side  (West Side Christian school). The kids from the south end schools (except for Oakdale) came from the "new" se suburbs. They kept to themselves and looked down on us kids from the west side neighborhood hood you are bashing and the north end  post war housing. (My mother's dad built my parents house in 1947 when my dad came back from the war. My sentimental daughter and her husband are thrilled to be living in said house:) )

The GR Christian School Association in 1964 built a new school on Plymouth (current location today of GRCHS)  with the promise that Central CHS would be closed and a new West CHS would be built at 2161 Leonard NW. They even owned the property.  By 1972 they had merged Central and East in to GRCHS. Then the bait and switch occurred. The GRCHS Association sold the 2161 Leonard property to the Catholic Dioceses who built the St Ann's Home there.  Needless to say the parents that support the WSCS were very upset.

Fast forward 30 years. My wife and I bought a house (oh the horror of it) on you guessed it, the West Side. We still went to church on the NE side. Then our daughter was born. When she went to preschool and then school we decided she needs to go to church with the kids she goes to school with so we switched churches. Some of these families have been west siders for 3-4 generations so I jokingly say you are not a west sider unless you have been here at least 3 generations.  The vast majority of her elementary class mates had older siblings that went to Calvin Christian High School.  After the GRCHA Association sold the West Christian High property, the WSCS supporters sent their kids to CCHS.  Today the current generation doesn't know why they are loyal to Calvin Christian.

So my daughter needs to chose a high school. I went to Central Christian but was not happy with the bait and switch. ( I remember my dad's unhappiness with the situation). We went to visit both high schools. She's very talented musically and academically. It was her choice and she picked GRCHS. Calvin was too small and didn't offer a robust music program or some academic offerings.  There was going to be a transportation issue. Calvin ran a bus thru our neighborhood right past our house , GRCHS didn't bus from the west side (I wonder why?, yeah right). We lucked out, GRCHS decided to run a bus to the west side. It was a used "short bus" a retired special ed bus.  The kids had a lot of fun with that - not necessarily politically correct lol - they are kids after all.

The SE nobleness showed up. The WSCS kids made friends with the Oakdale kids (Hall St and Kalamazoo area) , the Ada kids and some of the others. My daughter was very happy there, she received a quality academic education and participated in some awesome band stuff.  As parents my wife and I were very pleased with her education.  The snobbishness?  It was too far to come to our house for after school hang outs or even her graduation party. "It's too far and we might get lost".  Come on folks, lost!!! BTW the school now is just like any exclusive prep school, recruiting athletes etc. I'm not sure it will be the school for the grand kids.

So expand your boundary's,  come to the West Side, get to know it and enjoy what it has to offer like Leyden's Meat Market, Franks and Levindowski's,. Beside the Mitten , there's Longroad Distillery across the street and Grayline Brewing on Alpine north of Richmond.

Thanks for letting me rant LOL.  BTW  "The West Side is the best side" from a 1st generation West Sider and "If your not Dutch you're not much" from a 3rd generation Dutch immigrant that really is a descendant of  French immigrants to the Netherlands and then to the US.  I guess I should say if you're not French your not much? Doesn't rhyme very well LOL

[GRDadof3]

16 hours ago, Floyd_Z said:

I kinda agree with GRDad on this one.  There's not really a whole lot that draws me to W. Leonard.  It's kind of a mish mash of pawn shops, head shops, thrift shops, deer processing shops(?).   Don't get me wrong, 10 years ago I used to go to shakedown all the time, but  I still feel like the west side is a whole different city compared to the rest of GR.  It's just kind of a foreign concept to me I guess, growing up in SE GR we never really crossed the river except on the rare occasion a Union friend was having a party.  I'm not trying to bash or hate on the west side it's just different, kinda like Michigan street 15+ years ago was.

I'm also not hating on the West Side. There are many areas of the West Side I prefer to the SE side. You'll find me on Bridge Street way more than Wealthy Street now. I also love having breakfast at the Westsider. 

But West Leonard is generally just a collection of outdated retail. And if Tommy Brann wants to build his rather podunk office building looking mixed-use project there, have at it. I don't care either way.

 

[Raildude's dad]

I remember Bridge  St of the past and even the current stretch around Lane Ave. and Wealthy St of the past.  Wealthy west of Lake Dr a few blocks to Jefferson was pretty rugged. West Leonard looked like much better than those 2 did. Walter Swift started the renaissance of Bridge Street, Rockford has spent a lot of money there. And Bridge Street is within walking distance to Michigan Street and the Devos.  How is Brann's development any different than the building on the SW corner of Wealthy and Diamond? Nothing striking about that one IMHO.

I'm not a fan of Brann's politics (the flag thing etc) but how is he doing anything different than others who have invested  in a rundown area. Private  investment should bring more investment (unlike the Silverline )

This discussion could go on forever. But I don't get the criticism of the redevelopment. There's quite a few  what I consider blah new buildings like this. 

Edited October 26, 2019 by Raildude's dad

[GRDadof3]

40 minutes ago, Raildude's dad said:

 

This discussion could go on forever. But I don't get the criticism of the redevelopment. There's quite a few  what I consider blah new buildings like this. 

Exactly.    But people will say it increases density and will add more pedestrian activity to that area, which I don't see happening. Think about how big the Michigan Street development is with Gordon's on the ground floor, and I don't ever see pedestrians in that area. Or no more than there used to be. 

[organsnyder]

@Raildude's dad—hear, hear. As a Burton Heights resident, so much of what you say resonates. I also happen to be an Oakdale Christian grad who is close friends with a West Side grad, so your missive hit quite a few notes.

[Raildude's dad]

Would you have a sister / cousin with a first name of Rachael?

[JoeSchmo]

No more than 5 years ago, Bridge street wasn't any better than West Leonard.

There is a lot of potential beyond Bridge St  on the west-side for future investment opportunities.  

I am potentially concerned with Branns ability or eye for design.  Just remembering a couple years ago the exterior of Leonard Branns was miffed up with awkward metal panels. before it was redone again.

 

Edited October 27, 2019 by JoeSchmo

[Raildude's dad]

After church this morning we drove to Manhattan Park to watch our daughter and SIL in their cycle cross races. Then took Michigan St from Fuller west to Bridge St at Garfield and then Leonard from Covell to Alpine. I know what Leonard to Turner looks like quite well.  I think Leonard is doing pretty good if not better than west Bridge. I was observing all the new developments on Michigan / Bridge. I just went back and looked at the Brann drawings. If it comes out close to the renderings, it has a lot more class then the new buildings with the pretty much unusable dinky balconies sticking out out all over. That must be the new, must have, architectural dodad.T here's a lot of new buildings with some crappy details. The Brann's design has some nice classic looks to it, varied facades, I like it. But what does a n old school civil engineer have in the way of an architectural eye

[Raildude's dad]

Nov 14th the GR Planning Commission is considering a parking variance for a hotel at 942 Front, just north of the new apt building.

[MJLO]

1 hour ago, Raildude's dad said:

Nov 14th the GR Planning Commission is considering a parking variance for a hotel at 942 Front, just north of the new apt building.

It’s been well over a year since that hotel has been mentioned. I was recently wondering if it had gone to the proposal graveyard.  IIRC it was proposed as a Springhill Suites, will be interesting to see if that is still the branding they are pursuing.   It just seems like such an odd location for a hotel to me.  Aside from the LIHTC apartments next door the area is almost exclusively 9-5 industrial type businesses.   From a walking stand point it’s a restaurant/amenities dead zone.  If someone is staying there to be close to downtown they still pretty much need a car for everything.

[joeDowntown]

I noticed this morning that the north side of the building on Bridge Street (former Red Lion site) is almost fully bricked.

Joe

[GRDadof3]

7 hours ago, joeDowntown said:

I noticed this morning that the north side of the building on Bridge Street (former Red Lion site) is almost fully bricked.

Joe

Yep, and the South side facing Bridge is starting to get the metal siding. I kind of like it. 

[sfloria]

Not sure if this has been posted yet but it looks like they are moving dirt around on Seward, between California and Veto.  This lot has been empty for a looooong time, because of controversy if I remember correctly.

[demhem]

48 minutes ago, sfloria said:

Not sure if this has been posted yet but it looks like they are moving dirt around on Seward, between California and Veto.  This lot has been empty for a looooong time, because of controversy if I remember correctly.

Also in this area: someone tore down the old service station at the corner of Gold and Fulton and appear to be prepping the site. I don't have a picture but I saw the equipment and vacant site last night. 

[demhem]

https://fox17online.com/2019/11/18/cedar-springs-brewing-opening-second-location-in-grand-rapids/?fbclid=IwAR1wF_SH7JnLJPq8fLo5mOrmwkVr5M3dFrBsU4KJMjD6hZ0LmckhMqBibB8

Cedar Springs Brewing Company opening a taproom/brewing operation at 642 Bridge Street NW as the "Kusterer Brauhaus." 

Edited November 18, 2019 by demhem
and brewing!

[mgreven]

5 minutes ago, demhem said:

https://fox17online.com/2019/11/18/cedar-springs-brewing-opening-second-location-in-grand-rapids/?fbclid=IwAR1wF_SH7JnLJPq8fLo5mOrmwkVr5M3dFrBsU4KJMjD6hZ0LmckhMqBibB8

Cedar Springs Brewing Company opening a taproom/brewing operation at 642 Bridge Street NW as the "Kusterer Brauhaus." 

That's the "Jesus Evangelistic Center" building so you all don't have to Google it.  =)  That block still doesn't look great so this will help.  I wonder if anything will ever happen to the old Duthler's, the old Chase or if the liquor store will ever get cleaned up.  There are lots of places to eat and drink - wonder if retail (besides Bridge Street Market) will show up ever.

[mpchicago]

45 minutes ago, mgreven said:

That's the "Jesus Evangelistic Center" building so you all don't have to Google it.  =)  That block still doesn't look great so this will help.  I wonder if anything will ever happen to the old Duthler's, the old Chase or if the liquor store will ever get cleaned up.  There are lots of places to eat and drink - wonder if retail (besides Bridge Street Market) will show up ever.

Rendering looks sharp!   It will be a nice addition to the neighborhood.

 

Edited November 18, 2019 by mpchicago

[walker]

4 minutes ago, mpchicago said:

Rendering looks sharp!   It will be a nice addition to the neighborhood.

 

This was another old neighborhood movie theater.  It made it till 1988 as a spanish language theater:

Town Theater history

[thebeerqueer]

55 minutes ago, mgreven said:

That's the "Jesus Evangelistic Center" building so you all don't have to Google it.  =)  That block still doesn't look great so this will help.  I wonder if anything will ever happen to the old Duthler's, the old Chase or if the liquor store will ever get cleaned up.  There are lots of places to eat and drink - wonder if retail (besides Bridge Street Market) will show up ever.

The old Duthler's site is enormous. I would love to see it broken up and parceled out. As far as retail goes, there's still a few shops the further west you go Bridge St Electric, Dodd's Records, etc ... it would be nice to have a little more variety there. 

[ironyisadeadscene]

1 hour ago, mgreven said:

That's the "Jesus Evangelistic Center" building so you all don't have to Google it.  =)  That block still doesn't look great so this will help.  I wonder if anything will ever happen to the old Duthler's, the old Chase or if the liquor store will ever get cleaned up.  There are lots of places to eat and drink - wonder if retail (besides Bridge Street Market) will show up ever.

This is going to be one of my 2020 predictions. The old bank site becomes a mixed use project. Or at least proposed.

[Guest]

I thought Rockford owned the old bank and Duthler's property?  They have similar LLCs to other Rockford properties.

I really don't think it will be long before we see those parcels developed.  I also think development will continue to head further west down Bridge.  It looks like the old laundry mat and 1034 Bridge are being remodeled as well.

I could also see a couple blocks of relatively cheap housing stock demolished for condos/apartments north and south of Bridge.  There seems to be a lot less NIMBY-ism in the area than there used to be.

[getemngo]

We've seen a rendering for the Chase site before in this very thread, but that was 2 years ago. Doesn't sound like it was ever a concrete plan.

On 11/30/2017 at 2:16 PM, Pattmost20 said:

This rendering popped up on the commercial listing for 614 Bridge St NW (Chase Bank Site). 

 

Edited November 19, 2019 by getemngo

[Pattmost20]

3 hours ago, getemngo said:

We've seen a rendering for the Chase site before in this very thread, but that was 2 years ago. Doesn't sound like it was ever a concrete plan.

 

The space along with the rendering are still listed for rent. Maybe they are just trying to gauge interest. 

[GR8scott]

3 hours ago, getemngo said:

We've seen a rendering for the Chase site before in this very thread, but that was 2 years ago. Doesn't sound like it was ever a concrete plan.

 

That Rendering would be almost ideal for that angled corner with the amount of brick/glass and height ratio....that and the summer ave/bridge st lot would be great infills