Wealthy Street Mega Thread

[GR Jackson]

Is 1019 Wealthy the tan brick building next to the future Electric Cheetah?

Yep. It has tan brick on one side, and black metal on the other.

[joshleo]

any plans for that furniture shop to be made into something more than a pile of furniture that makes it's way to the sidewalk when it is warm?

or maybe making the wealthy market more than a glorified liquor store with a GIANT parking lot?

I love that this intersection is turning into something great!

[twoshort]

or maybe making the wealthy market more than a glorified liquor store with a GIANT parking lot?

I think the owner wants a ton for it. And its pretty busy all the time, so i can't imagine he's itching to sell. I never thought about the lot though, it is huge and completely unnecessary.

[Avocado]

any plans for that furniture shop to be made into something more than a pile of furniture that makes it's way to the sidewalk when it is warm?

or maybe making the wealthy market more than a glorified liquor store with a GIANT parking lot?

I love that this intersection is turning into something great!

I'd love to see the Wealthy Market transformed, but I hope the furniture store stays exactly as is.

[GR Jackson]

I'd love to see the Wealthy Market transformed, but I hope the furniture store stays exactly as is.

I don't mind the furniture store being there at all, but I would like to see it cleaned up some. The building is crooked, and unless some work is done it isn't going to be there long. Diversity is a strong point of Wealthy St. I have heard of some positive movement from the owners of the Wealthy Market, they are at least talking to other people about their building and parking lot now.

[joshleo]

I don't mind the furniture store being there at all, but I would like to see it cleaned up some. The building is crooked, and unless some work is done it isn't going to be there long. Diversity is a strong point of Wealthy St. I have heard of some positive movement from the owners of the Wealthy Market, they are at least talking to other people about their building and parking lot now.

I agree about keeping the furniture store, I think you are spot on with it jsut needing to be cleaned up a little bit. I feel like that is the case for a lot of things along wealthy...

it is amazing what a clean facade and nice sign can do for a place

[twoshort]

I have heard of some positive movement from the owners of the Wealthy Market, they are at least talking to other people about their building and parking lot now.

I thought a company that rhymes with Hazzahni did some drawings for them a while ago, but then nothing came of it. Perhaps someone else can chime in on that...

[GR Jackson]

I thought a company that rhymes with Hazzahni did some drawings for them a while ago, but then nothing came of it. Perhaps someone else can chime in on that...

I know that they were talking. It is just nice to have them make an effort at this point. Before they wouldn't even talk, now they are working on keeping on eye on their parking lot and things. I am pretty sure this is a result of a different person running the operations now.

I am pretty sure that the this mystery company that you are talking about will continue talking with them along with the Wealthy Street Business Alliance.

[twoshort]

Sweet!

[Nitro]

I thought a company that rhymes with Hazzahni did some drawings for them a while ago, but then nothing came of it. Perhaps someone else can chime in on that...

We talked, they listened....until they realized that they would have to spend money. End of conversation.

[GR Jackson]

From what I understand is that they were concerned that with the increased transparency that they would have to rearrange their coolers and things. Right now they have refrigerators against the exterior walls. Plus, if you're making money with how it is they have to really believe spending money is in their best interest.

[Nitro]

From what I understand is that they were concerned that with the increased transparency that they would have to rearrange their coolers and things.

Convenient answer, but not quite. It seemed that they had (and still have) a major concern about the security of the neighborhood. Evidenced by the way the building looks like Ft. Knox after hours.

Edited March 8, 2008 by Nitro

[twoshort]

Alright Wealthy Historians, what can you tell me about this building? I see it still standing back behind the overgrowth at 1026 Wealthy St SE

EDIT: I see it in this picture too, K. Vander Vennen & Sons Paint Shop perhaps? Now you could drive by it 100 times and never notice it....

Images via: http://www.viget.org/Projects:Civic_Studio...y_Image_Gallery

[GR Jackson]

Alright Wealthy Historians, what can you tell me about this building? I see it still standing back behind the overgrowth at 1026 Wealthy St SE

EDIT: I see it in this picture too, K. Vander Vennen & Sons Paint Shop perhaps? Now you could drive by it 100 times and never notice it....

Images via: http://www.viget.org/Projects:Civic_Studio...y_Image_Gallery

Minus the cars, that looks pretty much the same.

[plee30]

Well, it looks like we're getting the round-abouts we've been desiring, along with additional surface renovations to Wealthy St.

http://www.grcity.us/index.pl?page_id=611&...ocument_id=4746

[twoshort]

While it needs it, that sucks for my commute

[ericnmu]

Alright Wealthy Historians, what can you tell me about this building? I see it still standing back behind the overgrowth at 1026 Wealthy St SE

EDIT: I see it in this picture too, K. Vander Vennen & Sons Paint Shop perhaps? Now you could drive by it 100 times and never notice it....

Images via: http://www.viget.org/Projects:Civic_Studio...y_Image_Gallery

The wood building to the right (labeled "Paint Shop") is my step dad's house and workshop. He designs and builds wooden signs.

Edited March 11, 2008 by ericnmu

[jthrasher]

What do you think the chances of the Ren. zone in the Wealthy area being extended. The Ren. zone has been a great help to get investors to renovate the area, but now that those benefits are starting to phase out this year, the renovations might start slowing down. There is sill a long way to go to bring this area to it's full potential and I think an extension of the Ren. zone would be a huge help.

thoughts?

[GRCentro]

The wood building to the right (labeled "Paint Shop") is my step dad's house and workshop. He designs and builds wooden signs.

I'm told there's an urban forest wonderland of wooden bridges, tree houses, and even a sailboat-turned-guest house back there. True?

[ericnmu]

I'm told there's an urban forest wonderland of wooden bridges, tree houses, and even a sailboat-turned-guest house back there. True?

Yes. Two of the buildings are connected by a pretty cool wooden bridge, surrounded by vines. Theres plenty of bamboo to give the "forest effect" (thank my mom).

And yes, there is even a 41 ft boat that is dry docked. He built a deck coming off the boat, so it can be a guest room/hang out.

[Nitro]

What do you think the chances of the Ren. zone in the Wealthy area being extended. The Ren. zone has been a great help to get investors to renovate the area, but now that those benefits are starting to phase out this year, the renovations might start slowing down. There is sill a long way to go to bring this area to it's full potential and I think an extension of the Ren. zone would be a huge help.

thoughts?

The chances are extremely unlikely in my opinion. The ren zone served its purpose and caused a great deal of economic rehabilitation in the area since its inception. There are other areas of the city in need of an economic boost.

[Cabot]

The chances are extremely unlikely in my opinion. The ren zone served its purpose and caused a great deal of economic rehabilitation in the area since its inception. There are other areas of the city in need of an economic boost.

By Michigan law ren-zones can only be extended for large projects (i.e. 100s of jobs or millions of investment) where "significant improvement" has not occurred. It is very difficult for Grand Rapids who is the poster child for Ren-Zone success to argue that

Edited March 11, 2008 by Cabot

[twoshort]

Yes. Two of the buildings are connected by a pretty cool wooden bridge, surrounded by vines. Theres plenty of bamboo to give the "forest effect" (thank my mom).

And yes, there is even a 41 ft boat that is dry docked. He built a deck coming off the boat, so it can be a guest room/hang out.

Thanks for the info! I've always kind of wondered what the story was...

[gvsusean]

If something has been very successful i.e. ren zones, why arent they implemented everywhere permenately?

[GRDadof3]

If something has been very successful i.e. ren zones, why arent they implemented everywhere permenately?

I think the State is not entirely sold on the effectiveness of Ren Zones. Although they have been widely successful here, they have stimulated very little reinvestment in the Detroit area and other parts of the State. Which begs the question, why is that? (although probably more suitable for another topic)