Medical Mile/Michigan Street Developments

[GaryP]

I don't like Rudolph's idea that we're doing what every other mid sized city in the country is doing, because we aren't doing what every other mid sized city in the country is doing. He's right; there have been a lot of cities that have passed bills similar to our governor and the legislators' technology fund where a big pool of money gets handed out to whoever has a business plan that implements some technology and connections to the government. I think we have gone a different route, so far, in that we as a city have invested in research institutions that create and will continue to create technology for a long time. The big difference is that most new technologies fail; eventually other states will run out of money supporting these ventures (plus studies show that the companies the governments pick in these types of situations almost always turn out to be turkeys), while our institutions will continue to create opportunities for a long time.

The effective part about the government money give-aways is the potential to attract a large cluster of talent to an area, and with the broad 'technology' or 'bio technology' labels these things are given in addition to the large amount of states doing the same thing I don't doubt that all these initiatives will fail miserably.

[superNOVA]

Ben Rudolph I didn't realize how funny he was.

Actually he is. He was probably one of my best professors when I was at GVSU. Well at least one of the only ones with real world experience.

[torgo]

Has anyone taken a picture of this site lately? They are digging to China over there! If no one has pics I'll try to get some tomorrow.

[designcritic]

Has anyone taken a picture of this site lately? They are digging to China over there! If no one has pics I'll try to get some tomorrow.

No pictures but I did notice this morning that they have started work on the tunnel which will eventually connect to the Children's Hospital.

[GRDadof3]

No pictures but I did notice this morning that they have started work on the tunnel which will eventually connect to the Children's Hospital.

Sweet! Get some photos Andy.

[torgo]

Here are some pictures from today (12/30), looking east from Ionia Ave.

[twoshort]

Lotsa dirt.

[GRDadof3]

As Andy's photos show, they've removed almost the entire earth-wall along Division now. I got some too from Belknap:

(this must be where the tunnel is going through?)

[twoshort]

Nice pics Jeff!

[GRDadof3]

Thanks! Good job Andy I was thinking "Are we ever going to see the sun again?"

[GaryP]

that retaining wall is HUGE!

[GRDadof3]

that retaining wall is HUGE!

I know, it's gotta be 40 - 50' high (at least).

[GRGridGirl]

Congrats MSU, Newsmakers!

[GRDadof3]

Just when I think they can't dig any deeper

It's hard to see, but just beyond that "road" is another precipice, with another 20' - 30' drop.

[twoshort]

Just when I think they can't dig any deeper

It's hard to see, but just beyond that "road" is another precipice, with another 20' - 30' drop.

Gives me the creeps. How deep is it in total, anyone know?

[Rizzo]

I think we can guestimate it, lets see - thoes boards are what 6" or 8" and I counted... so that times that. Wait I lost count..

[torgo]

Its gotta be like 60' to the bottom.

[GRDadof3]

This MIGHT help. Here's sort of a cross section of the complex looking North:

(my pic is of the far right on this drawing)

[blindside]

Holy hole!

[hood]

I think we can guestimate it, lets see - thoes boards are what 6" or 8" and I counted... so that times that. Wait I lost count..

I counted 76 boards, so 38' for 6" boards or 50' 8" for 8" boards .

[GRDadof3]

It looks like the steel uprights may be welded together at 8' or 10' increments. You can kind of see thinner areas where they may be welded together

[PBJ]

So.... we're guessing we could put most the building in d/t in that hole and not see the top ....

Hate to be that guy.

"What do you want me to do today boss?"

"Dig a hole over there"

"How deep"

"Eeeeehhhh, lets say about 6 stories, he's some boards to keep the dirt from falling in on ya"

" "

[GaryP]

Based on 3dad's diagram, it looks like part of the ramp that will eventually go in the tower building's place will actually be further below grade than the current hole is now

If there was some kind of monsoon this spring would it be possible for the tower building to slide down into the hole?

[GRDadof3]

Someone can probably verify this, but when finished, I think it's going to be one of the largest underground parking garages in the State.

[designcritic]

Gives me the creeps. How deep is it in total, anyone know?

It will be 58 feet from the lowest parking level to the first floor of the cancer center and will have four parking levels below grade in that area.