Photos De Jour - Grand Rapids and West Michigan Area

[Allison Slater]

Maybe its a big world-of-warcraft nerd-fest in there.

I'll have my elven druid stealth in there and find out.

o_o

[disconsolate]

taken june 29th; lake michigan drive on the outskirts of standale.

[tamias6]

This shot taken this afternoon made my day.

A Ford Model-T jugging its way up Alpine Ave.

[GRDadof3]

Although this article is about a Michigan economy study done by the University of Michigan, in the article RapidGrowth features some fantastic aerial photos of different downtown Grand Rapids projects shot by Brian Kelly:

http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/features/beat6407.aspx

[Rizzo]

Holy Awesome! I really like a lot of Mr. Kelly's works. I believe there is a good assortment of YouTube videos Brian and Brad Kelly have edited and directed.

and

Andy really nails it in his piece -- "self-pity." I sure do recognize that crap here from all the ship jumpers and WOOD-TV's Week long "We Ain't Got Jobs" piece... I think Any Guys write up deserves a conversation thread maybe?

[AvtpeasK]

I stumbled upon this great website that has listings of virtually all buildings in every city of the U.S. Check out Grand Rapids!

www.emporis.com

[Veloise]

I stumbled upon this great website that has listings of virtually all buildings in every city of the U.S. Check out Grand Rapids!

www.emporis.com

I see where one of their photogs is "Jeff," anyone we know??

[sparky05]

[pr sc]

GREAT shot, Sparky! That should be in a good hard-print magazine or some type of publication

[GRDadof3]

If anyone wants to see streetscape photos of my trip to Washington D.C. last week, check them out here:

http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/Washingt...-20-t41617.html

There are so many things different between GR and DC, that I don't even know if there is anything that could be adopted here in GR. The only surface parking lots I saw in about 50 square blocks of downtown DC were where the old convention center was torn down and it was awaiting redevelopment. And the only parking ramps were incorporated into existing developments, and not as standalone parking ramps. Block after block, mile after mile of dense development with no "gaps" whatsoever.

Definitely the best American city I have ever visited (yes better than Chicago).

[JeffM]

Downtown Grand Rapids this past Saturday. It was a beautiful day. I love the clouds in this shot.

[Michi]

Well, I obtained my goal this summer of getting over to Grand Rapids with my camera in hand. I spent Friday, Aug 31 buzzing around town exploring on my bike. From my experiences, that is the best way to see a city! You can cover so much ground and get a better feel of the community.

I just love visiting Grand Rapids. I study urban planning and have formulated my ideology over the years of what makes a city and I find so much of those "ingredients" in Grand Rapids. I try to be in tune and as observant as possible when visiting a place, and it's always a pleasure to experience how GR just seems to work. I also got to see East Grand Rapids and East Town for the first time yesterday too...pleasant surprises!

I'll do my best to post my photos in the next week or two, but I can't make any promises.

[Michi]

Well, it looks like I got to it sooner than later. Here's a link to the post in City Photos:

http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/Grand-Ra...ote-t41762.html

[numstead]

The Trade Center Building

[Tesseract]

Don't know if this is entirely on-topic, but back in 2004 I took a photo of the Grand River every day for the entire year - a total of 366 photos (it was a leap year). You can see them here.

[grrwymg]

Don't know if this is entirely on-topic, but back in 2004 I took a photo of the Grand River every day for the entire year - a total of 366 photos (it was a leap year). You can see them here.

That is a nice collection. A year in the life of the Grand River. Bookmarked for later perusing, too.

[Veloise]

Well, I obtained my goal this summer of getting over to Grand Rapids with my camera in hand. I spent Friday, Aug 31 buzzing around town exploring on my bike. From my experiences, that is the best way to see a city! You can cover so much ground and get a better feel of the community.

Will you marry me?

I just love visiting Grand Rapids. I study urban planning and have formulated my ideology over the years of what makes a city and I find so much of those "ingredients" in Grand Rapids. I try to be in tune and as observant as possible when visiting a place, and it's always a pleasure to experience how GR just seems to work. I also got to see East Grand Rapids and East Town for the first time yesterday too...pleasant surprises! ...

I SAID....

Seriously, any cycling city planner is OK in my book.

ETA: the pics are great!

Edited September 6, 2007 by Veloise

[tamias6]

I don't know the name of this place. So for now I'm calling it the "Big Arch Building." It's located on Ionia Ave. between Oakes St. and Cherry St. What ever it is, its got to be one of the most unique vintage buildings in GR.

[Rizzo]

Its the Coliseum Building built around 1910. IT was used for entertainment and as a convention hall.

[tamias6]

What's the current use now?

Its the Coliseum Building built around 1910. IT was used for entertainment and as a convention hall.

[Rizzo]

Last I remember it was commercial.

[GRDadof3]

Its the Coliseum Building built around 1910. IT was used for entertainment and as a convention hall.

I think it's also called the "Heystek" building (?). It used to have an arcade that connected to a building on Division so that patrons had access to the Division Ave streetcar system (Commerce was not served by streetcar). I think it was also a car dealership or auto repair place at one time as well as the uses Rizzo mentioned.

It's now the HQ for the United Way of West Michigan. I have interior photos of it somewhere.

Ah, here they are:

[Rizzo]

Yah, I've heard it as Heystek's building as in Henry Heystek. I like the photos, by the way.

[gvsusean]

I don't know the name of this place. So for now I'm calling it the "Big Arch Building." It's located on Ionia Ave. between Oakes St. and Cherry St. What ever it is, its got to be one of the most unique vintage buildings in GR.

Ummmm.... Quite possibly my FAVORITE builiding in all of Grand Rapids!!!!!!!!! I love this place, I purposely go past it every chance I get.

[tamias6]

There are many active churches in GR's Westside area. One of them is this catholic church which I believe is called St. James. Its graceful spire can be seen from anywhere on Bridge St. and surrounding blocks. Being that a vintage church a few blocks east of this one is slated to be demolished to make way for a residential development, there seems to be a pressing need for GR to put forth more effort to preserving its beautiful vintage churches.

The spire's belfry.

This is the front of a church containing the main entry and narthex.

Looking down along one of the church's side walls. This church features very large stain glass windows which surely must be beautiful from inside. I wish I had enough time to go inside to have a look. Also there are two entries on this wall. The one in the foreground is an auxiliary entry leading into the narthex.

The other in the background leads into the choir.

Here's some colorful and well kept landscaping adorning the front of the church.

This is one of two face sculptures adorning each side of the main entry portal. Another pair flank the stain glass window above. Perhaps the faces represent founding members of the church's congregation or those who gave generously to the church's construction and upkeep.

Gracefully pointing Heavenward, St.James' slender spire can be seen from almost anywhere throughout the Westside.

Edited September 7, 2007 by tamias6