Jump to content

The City of Wyoming

MJLO

By MJLO
in Grand Rapids

Recommended Posts

MJLO City

MJLO

Posted
Posted

I spent the better part of the day researching the City of

Wyoming, for one of those lesser known classes I have to take.

I understand that it was formed by merging two townships, Paris twp, and Wyoming twp, in 1959.

Why are there five separate school districts within it's borders. ( There is no point to that statement, It just annoys me.) I don't understand where, or how any of it's residents could derive civic pride from living there. I am in search of something interesting that has happened there, or happens there. All I can seem to find when I look though, is a bunch of scary post WW1 housing, and even scarier/ tackier post WW2 two bedroom houses that are glorified sheds. I know that 28th st. from Clyde Park, to Burlingame was a regional destination at one point, but that obviously ended long before I came to the region.

Can someone give me some kind of history about Wyoming Mi Pop 72,000, the second largest city, west of I-69 (in MI) But seemingly lacking a single interesting soul?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 26
  • Created
  • Last Reply
zenstyle Hamlet

zenstyle

Posted
Posted

MJLO, I can't answer any of your questions, but can only add another one:

Why is it considered a "city" when they have no downtown?

About "civic pride": This phrase may strike fear in the hearts of Wyoming residents. They probably equate "civic pride" with "another layer of gummint."

Link to comment
Share on other sites
torgo Town

torgo

Posted
Posted

MJLO, I can't answer any of your questions, but can only add another one:

Why is it considered a "city" when they have no downtown?

About "civic pride": This phrase may strike fear in the hearts of Wyoming residents. They probably equate "civic pride" with "another layer of gummint."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That first part is easy: taxes! ;)

I live in Wyoming, but I focus my civic pride on GR because Wyoming doesn't have much of anything to be proud of, other than its proximity to Grand Rapids, without which none of the suburbs could survive.

The only moderately interesting thing that comes to mind is this (correct me if I'm wrong): The City of Grand Rapids tried to annex it way back in the 60s, and there was a big fight over it, and there was bad feelings between the two cities for a long time. That's why Wyoming took so long to join the metro council, which they finally did a couple years ago.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GR_Urbanist Burg

GR_Urbanist

Posted
Posted

The problem with Wyoming is the fact that it has never been a place that developed over time, but rather a place that just appeared out of nowhere, overnight, and had no idea what to do with itself. Just like Kentwood, Wyoming basicly formed as a city to keep itself from being annexed by GR. Thats fine and all, but if your "city" had no greater purpose other than that, you tend to end up as the inner-ring heck hole that Wyoming is today.

Of course Wyoming knows that it honestly now just taking up space between GR and the new suburban shopping mecca that replaced it, Grandville. They now want to become a real city with a real downtown. The problem is that they spent so many years allowing their town to become a classic sprawl-ville, they have nothing to start from. That is why you see them trying to pretend that a section of strip malls, logo buildings, gigantic parking lots and a 5-lane road is a downtown by decorating it with faux antique street lamps and festive banners that tell you that you are in "Downtown Wyoming"

The funny thing is that Wyoming had a chance to create a real downtown just a few years ago when it rebuilt all of their civic buildings (city hall, police hq, courthouse, and library). Instead of moving all of these place to the only remotely walkable area in the city along Burton st., where some of the buildings actually front a sidewalk, they kept them near 28th in a sorry attempt to try to create a downtown from sprawl. Together, these new buildings would have made for a great focal point in which to build a city around, now they are barely noticable. You will notice the payday loan stores before you see the city hall. I feel most bad about their new library. It is a wonderful building that would be an attraction itself if it wasnt so hard to find. I guess Wyoming will have to go through a majior change before any real city every develops from the mess they have today.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
torgo Town

torgo

Posted
Posted

Please direct all questions related to Wyoming to Wy-Man:

wyman.jpg

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

:rofl: Are there Wy-man action figures? :lol: As a resident of Wyoming, I feel that it is my civic duty to purchase it and proudly display it on the dashboard of my car, as I drive from strip mall to strip mall...

Man, I can't believe that something so absurd was ever created... with my tax dollars! :o Hey!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MJLO City

MJLO

Posted
  • Author
Posted

on a more serious note, I was under the Impression, that the state of Michigan made annexation all but impossible back in the 20's to prevent the city of Detroit from becoming to powerful. which would explain why cities in michigan have a somewhat smaller size scale when it comes to acreage. Did the city of Grand Rapids really try to annex Paris Township in the 60's? Was there really that kind of anamosity between Grand Rapids and it's suburbs then? Do you think that Kind of civic anamosity exists now?

That kind of scares me. It makes me think of Metro Detroit, and how the suburbs Try to pretend the city doesnt exist because of it's image, and in turn the city blackmails the suburbs, because it control their utilities? Do those kind of attitudes exist here on any level?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
egrguy Burg

egrguy

Posted
Posted

as a wyoming resident for many years and the school district system annoyed me to no end. it would make more sense to consolidate them all into one district. also, it would be nice for gr to annex wyoming, kentwood, and walker and just make them buroughs of GR and add about 120,000 to the city's pop.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Prankster Burg

Prankster

Posted
Posted

on a more serious note, I was under the Impression, that the state of Michigan made annexation all but impossible back in the 20's to prevent  the city of Detroit from becoming to powerful. which would explain why cities in michigan have a somewhat smaller  size scale when it comes to acreage.  Did the city of Grand Rapids really try to annex Paris Township in the 60's?  Was there really that kind of anamosity between Grand Rapids and it's suburbs then?  Do you think that Kind of civic anamosity exists now?

That kind of scares me.  It makes me think of Metro Detroit, and how the suburbs Try to pretend the city doesnt exist because of it's image, and in turn the city blackmails the suburbs, because it control their utilities?  Do those kind of attitudes exist here on any level?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe Grand Rapids was annexing all the way up to the 1960's. The court fight with the city of Wyoming put an end to that. The only annexation that has happened since was the Knapp's Corner area in the 1990's, and that was because of either utilities or zoning reasons.

As far as the friction between city and suburbs, it very much exists today. The city is trying to reign in sprawl by limiting new utility extensions and increasing the price they charge for them. The northern suburbs are currently moving forward on a proposed waste treatment plant of their own, so they won't be beholden to the city. As a further example of this disconnect between the city and burbs, I know of a fare amount of people that live in the burbs that proudly claim that they haven't been to downtown for X number of years because there is "nothing down there".

Link to comment
Share on other sites
torgo Town

torgo

Posted
Posted

I know some of you can't get enough of WyMan :P , so here is an excerpt from the most recent City Newsletter:

"A popular component of the campaign is WyMan, the protector and promoter of Wyoming Town Center businesses. His activities help obtain discount and special sales for customers. The mysterious WyMan has been seen in numerous locations and events in the Wyoming Town Center area and nearby. His red-cape uniform and black mask attract much attention, as do the vehicles he often utilizes."

T-Shirts are also available B)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LA Dave Hamlet

LA Dave

Posted
Posted

The last major annexations to GR were in 1961, when I believe parts of the West Side and the North End (the area around North Park school, north of 3 Mile Road) were added. I think that these areas were township property and not charter townships (which have home rule powers and cannot be annexed).

I remember a humongous fight between GR and Wyoming over land east of Division Avenue ) and including the old airport (now the industrial park along Roger Chaffee Boulevard. Ultimately, that case was decided in favor of Wyoming. I think that the land formerly was part of Paris Township, most of which was eventually incorporated into Kentwood.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MJLO City

MJLO

Posted
  • Author
Posted

you'll all have to forgive me, but If I saw Wy-man, I'd have the incling to kick him in a special spot! I wonder what he'd do then. But then after reading the editorial about him I got to thinking, maybe he's gay if he sweats so much on a date! I mean come on Wyoming is starting to be a rather progressive town.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fluffy Whistle-Stop

fluffy

Posted
Posted

As a previous long-term resident of Wyoming, I can definitely say, Wyoming is a dying "city".

It's last hurrah was in the 80's with Roger's Department Store and Rogers Plaza both bustling businesses. But now with the department store closing and nothing but a grocery and a post office to keep the plaza alive, it continues downward.

A makeover is one thing, but there is nothing drawing people to Wyoming besides maybe renewing their license at the SOS.

Studio 28 has become an eyesore with big business corporate theaters all around it.

Every corner boasts a pharmacy, a cash store or a cellular store. That does not constitute a city.

There are so many closed businesses now on 28th street in Wyoming that need to be torn down. But for what? No other business wants to build or occupy worthless retail space.

I honestly don't know what could save Wyoming, but it is definitely not a superhero.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.