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Photos De Jour - Grand Rapids and West Michigan Area


GRDadof3

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I couldn't get a good angle to photograph the pair of deer mounted to the back of this car (because of the jackass behind me that thought I should be driving instead of looking for an empty memory card). There were TWO, a doe and a buck. The car was parked on Monroe just south of Pearl.

These unexpected surprises are why I love being downtown.

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Speaking of interesting sights, has anyone seen the low-rider bike that has been made into a lizard or dragon riding around downtown?

Anyway, had to do some things today around town, and thought I'd do a burb tour (for those of you tired of seeing the center city for a change):

Road construction on I-96, this near the new airport interchange:

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New hotels near "Waterfall Shoppes on 28th". Still looking for that waterfall.

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Love this "walled in marsh" they created behind Staples :sick: They turned a beautiful wetland into a foul looking sess-pool.

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New medical building where Harley Hotel used to be

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Bridge expansion along I-96 and I-196 preparing for eventual expansion of the highway sometime before 2016, and another new highway information board. For those of you superhighway lovers, this section of I-96 will be FIVE lanes within the next 10 years.

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New hotel where Duba's was

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Continued orange barrels along I-196 (can't they just repave it in the meantime?)

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Another new highway info board (did I hear they were working on making these more useful?)

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My favorite part

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It's hard to look around at all the cranes with this stupid construction going on

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I also took some in Allendale which I'll share later :thumbsup:

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Hey Dad, next time post a warning before you go traveling. I'd feel better if I was off the highway while you drive around with a camera in front of your eyes. :rofl:

:lol: I don't look through the viewfinder. I just point and shoot. It's not like I'm talking on a cell phone or anything.

Here are some from Allendale, which I haven't had the pleasure of visiting in 4 or 5 years (since Lake Michigan Drive was being rebuilt and relocated)

Interesting retail/housing development. Not sure if I like it or not. The concept is good, just maybe the delivery is.....

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I've never come into Grand Valley this way. Didn't realize the clock tower lined up with the drive. Nice touch!

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Some great looking new student housing

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A building that wasn't here last time I was here (I think??)

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Allendale is REALLY pushing the streetscape thing. Some of it looks great, but then the streetlights in the "country" just before you reach GVSU are a bit strange.

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Standale Business District before (let's hope there's an "after" in ten years)

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Lake Ontario Hall is new. In the bathrooms, they have one of those urinals that you just pee on, and somehow it is clean. I think they're called waterless urinals or something like that. I've been told that the entire building was designed environmentally friendly. Of course that doesn't change the massive parking lot next to it. :lol:

They have serious problems with erosion with their gorge. When I was there, over the course of two semesters I could see a lot of signs, hopefully they can get it taken care of, otherwise two or three of the buildings could fall into it, lol.

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...

Allendale is REALLY pushing the streetscape thing. Some of it looks great, but then the streetlights in the "country" just before you reach GVSU are a bit strange.

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...

What I like is when they add park benches and other pedestrian furniture because their DDA got a grant to create a "downtown." And sidewalks. And this is along a 45 or 50mph multi-lane arterial. (My original hometown, Farmington Hills, has done this along Twelve Mile between the Novi border and Farmington Road. I have yet to see anyone walking on the sidewalks, let alone sitting on a bench.)

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Quote "Another new highway info board (did I hear they were working on making these more useful?)" GRDadof3

Yes, MDOT is increasing its IT to better utilize the highways that we have rather than pour money into getting new roads. The new ITS center is going to be really big, larger than Metro Detroits from what I hear. That particular board just got repositioned I believe. It had to have its foundation replaced.

Edited by Grand Rapidian
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