Photos De Jour - Grand Rapids and West Michigan Area

[joeDowntown]

I didn't see it either when you posted this message. Now that I know, I can't miss it. Here's a blog about it:

Arrow in Fedex

Joe

Someone pointed out the arrow in the FedEx logo to me the other day, now when I see a picture of the truck, i have a giant moment of DOH! Because it's so obvious!

[torgo]

Holy crap! I never noticed that either! Great pics grdad!

[gvsusean]

just think how that pic will look if tall house takes that lot!

[RustTown]

Here's a relatively recent aerial of the Monroe Center area courtesy of The Hinman Company's website:

[destijl]

Look at all the parking ramps..

[dtown]

^Better ramps than parking lots though.

[tracer1138]

^Better ramps than parking lots though.

not necessarily, It's easier to replace a parking lot with a building than it is to tear down a garage and start of scratch.

Garages tend to be more permanant - A long term commitment to parking on a scale you don't necessarily see in the historically successfull, larger cities.

[ryternrezdence]

I'm so excited to finally post some photos!!! I feel like a true UPer now.

Happened to be driving past Michigan/Sinclair and saw the demolition to make way for the MSU Med School (or so the Pitsch guys told me). Raced home and got my camera. Apparently, the first time the bucket hit the building, a bat flew out and attached itself to someone who was delivering phone books to the multi-unit complex on Sinclair. Apparently, that person provided a lot of entertainment trying to get the bat off them!

The building in background below is the multi-unit apartment house. The Pitsch guys said MSU is trying to buy it for the land but the owner won't sell unless they meet his asking price.

Anyone know anything about this?

And, by the way, all these bricks are going to the landfill. All I can think about is how Home Repair Services might have used the windows, doors, and cabinets for their clients... Ah, well.

Ryter-n-rezdence

[GRDadof3]

Great photos Ryter-n-rezdence! I was driving by and saw the same thing. I have no idea what's going on, but MSU did purchase that property and the whole section that wraps around the back of Bagel Beanery over to College, but they claimed they were NOT going to put the new school there. That it was just for future expansion.

More..

I believe that building was over 100 years old. I'm surprised there was no mention by the city commission on the demolition.

[ryternrezdence]

Great photos Ryter-n-rezdence! I was driving by and saw the same thing. I have no idea what's going on, but MSU did purchase that property and the whole section that wraps around the back of Bagel Beanery over to College, but they claimed they were NOT going to put the new school there. That it was just for future expansion.

Thanks, Dad. You must have snapped your shot just after I left. I tried to get across the street for a better angle, but didn't dare sneak between all those rubber-necking drivers!

I'm going to investigate further and find out who's doing what to that patch of land.

[torgo]

Apparently the Press today says the ramps should be reopened by the end of the month.

Really!?! Awesome! I can't tell you how tired I am of having to drive the wrong way down a 1-way to reach the parking lot!

What about Ottawa Ave under 196? I haven't been able to drive that way in what seems like a year

[GRDadof3]

These releases all say through Dec. 30th. Woohoo!

http://mdotwas1.mdot.state.mi.us/public/LaneClosure/

I think Division will be closed for the foreseeable future though.

[FilmMaker]

Ah, yes. The re-opening of any major roadway is reason to celebrate. I recall my own snoopy dance when the Northland bridge at West River finally went back to 4 lanes.

Of course, my office is now in Rockford, so the bridge doesn't matter to me much any more, but the completion of a summer long project was still cause for happy faces.

[Allison Slater]

I celebrated when Division between 60th and 68th went back to 4 lanes. (But they left some barriers in the middle turning lanes for a few days, so occasionally somebody not realising the road was back open to 4 lanes, would start driving down the wrong side. I saw this happen a couple times the first 2 days it reopened xD)

[GRDadof3]

Here's the backside of Verne Barry Place on South Division, going vertical.

This warm wet weather blows BTW.

And Union Square from today, with many of its balconies and landscaping in place. Looking nice!

And someone asked about the new RAPID bus stops? It looks like they're system-wide, with these two new ones added downtown just recently.

[Allison Slater]

It's actually becoming difficult to find the ugly black ones now =p

[numstead]

The sun came out around 2 yesterday and afforded me the opportunity to take a few pictures. Here is one from my desk, looking out towards the Area 5 parking lot...

[sparky05]

[dtown]

Nice shot Sparky. That highway bridge stands out really bad, lol. I hope that she gets replaced with something nice someday.

[numstead]

a little something from today's greyness...

[ryternrezdence]

a little something from today's greyness...

Very nice!

[GRDadof3]

Saturday Dec. 30th, about 50 beautiful degrees

News vans camped out for Gerald R. Ford's burial

Nothing like skating when it's 50 out. I didn't think RPC would be open, but they were.

[dtown]

I hope the CNN cameras get planty of shots of that tower crane. Hopefully at least you guys get a little exposure out of all this.

PS- Monroe Center looks like a nice little strip!

Edited December 30, 2006 by dtown

[tamias6]

My contribution

Plaza Tower and a corner of the BOB

[Veloise]

The new frog at city hall.