Grand Rapids to ban strip clubs?

[Rizzo]

But morality is the point of this issue. We wouldn't be discussing this topic if it werent for morality. This issue was sparked by a grassroots campagin by the folks of the Black Hills Neighborhood Association. Their main base for argument is that it degregates the community... blah.

[RustTown]

Well, if it is all about morals, then it discussing a conservative vs. a liberal mindset is all within the realm of this discussion. In fact, it's a big issue seeing as how different people value different things. I don't know what you took offense to.

[snoogit]

We are living in interesting times here. Traditionally a strip club in an industrial setting would be fine, because I can't imagine how it would depreciate the value of a factory. However, with industrial facilities either leaving for the burbs, leaving the State or leaving altogether, many of these properties have a potential second life as residential use. The city needs to get their arms around this and figure out what they would like to see in the center city and surrounding industrial areas. Imagine a strip club opening up right on Monroe Center as this article points out, or right on North Monroe. No one can convince me that it would be good for residential property values. Look at the areas around the club on Lake Michigan Drive (can't think of the name), or the properties around the adult video stores on Bridge Street?

It has nothing to do with conservatism or liberalism.

That line made me laugh woz. What kind of documentation would a born again present?

Parkway Tropics? I thought that was more of a "ladies club" then a gentleman's club

[GRDadof3]

LMichigan, if you're stopping over to start pointing fingers around at all the "conservatives" and to get people riled up, you can go back.

Parkway Tropics, that's the name. That's a ladies club??

[Rizzo]

I took offense because I thought you ment that only a conservative would be the type of person to object to this establishment. Sorry if I misunderstood your comment.

And as documentation, I ment studies that consistently prove that adult clubs degrade a community or other setting in which its estabilished.

[snoogit]

LMichigan, if you're stopping over to start pointing fingers around at all the "conservatives" and to get people riled up, you can go back.

Parkway Tropics, that's the name. That's a ladies club??

(Just so you know, I'm not the GR strip club expert, but I did do a lot of research... oh crap that doesnt sound good either.)

I just remember hearing on the radio, whenever Parkway would advertise they would always advertise their male strippers much more then the female ones. But its difficult to find out any information on strip clubs in GR, there just arent that many. At least not all nude ones that aren't complete dumps.

[allbusiness]

With recent court decisions cities have to be creative. They are not allowed to strictly outlaw any type of adult business. This is usually done with zoning rules that restrict certain uses to specific zoned districts, while also outlawing certain uses (bars, strip clubs, liquor stores, etc) within 1,500 feet of a residentially zoned district, a church, a school etc.

This type of law has been upheld in court, yet the 1,500 foot rule, for example (more than a 1/4 mile) effectively "zones out" most of these types of businesses from areas where they are not wanted -- sometimes whole cities!

[GR8scott]

this may be a contiversial issue but I think if this is going to happen that location may be the best location in the whole city for a place like that to be built. I also think it is a waste of the cities money to fight this bc it will probably happen anyways

[snoogit]

this may be a contiversial issue but I think if this is going to happen that location may be the best location in the whole city for a place like that to be built. I also think it is a waste of the cities money to fight this bc it will probably happen anyways

they arent fighting the existing ones, but any new ones not already built or approved.

[DSchoon]

snoogit--what do u want to know? I've written a couple articles on adult use in GR.

[Rizzo]

^Grand Rapids Press?

[GRDadof3]

^Grand Rapids Press?

If so, I was wondering if anyone from the press was going to stop in here, since we post so many linky's to their site

[snoogit]

snoogit--what do u want to know? I've written a couple articles on adult use in GR.

I dont want to know anything I don't, can't... *runs*

[allbusiness]

^Grand Rapids Press?

I hope DSchoon considers that a terrible insult!

[Rizzo]

I didn't mean that as an insult... But, now after I read articles in the Press I can now understand if he thinks what I said to be a terrible comment. oops, my bad... Sorry DSchoon... Schoon sounds familiar.. I bet he/she wrote an article for MediaMouse or some independent paper or website.

[DSchoon]

I'd think it be bad policy to out myself, because I'm not on here for promotional reasons. I doubt it'd be that hard to figure out if you really wanted to.

And just for clarity on my "what do you want to know about strip clubs," I was thinking of things like ownership, political affiliations and finanical well-being. Hope it didn't come across as "hey, who wants to know where you can get the Porky's treatment?"

But if you did, it's at 155 Michigan St. NE, ask for Mark.

And I love Media Mouse.

[GRguy]

OK, now what am I asking Mark for exactly?

[Rizzo]

Place on Division and Burton gives rub downs with "happy endings." Ask for Yolanda. I learned that through a website I accidently found while searching for Grand Rapids top companies. There is actually a site on the web that people can goto to rate Grand Rapids hookers, yup.

[torgo]

Place on Division and Burton gives rub downs with "happy endings."

What, do you get a free candy bar or something?

[Rizzo]

or something... I think a nice pat on the back and a lollipop, kinda like these guys:

[zenstyle]

The Lollipop Guild! I love the way they kick the dirt around.

Anyway, it's high time a card-carrying feminist weighed in on this strip-club issue. (That would be me.)

My first, unthinking, knee-jerk reaction is:

"The fundies don't like it? Then I DO! Let'er rip!"

Upon further, more thoughtful consideration, my opinion is the same. As someone upthread said, strip clubs is one of the things that happen when a city grows up. I don't want to live in a community where a mere word on a billboard causes a righteous ruckus, or where a legitimate business has the town prune-faced prudes up in arms. Don't we practically wet our pants in admiration of the entrepreneurial spirit in West Michigan? Well, then.

[Rizzo]

^Hah, a fembot?!

Was it me who brought up morals? Whaaa was I smokin'? Honestly, I'd retract my statement some threads above, I don't know why the hell I was thinking about that, maybe I was in a selfrighteous 'you must do as I say' mood? The real reason why I don't dig porn, nudies, stripping, etc.. is because I get phyically ill, tremble and fall over in convulsions... Anyone have this same problem?

[joeDowntown]

Nope

I honestly think that for all of the talk about bookstores, movie theatre's and jazz clubs downtown, convention center business is partly driven by what people do AFTER the convention. I'm not for strip clubs popping up everywhere in Grand Rapids, but I *GUARANTEE* it is factored in when certain conventions are choosing a location. Conventioneers are crazy people, looking to cut loose (except maybe the needleworkers convention).

Joe

[Rizzo]

Good point. If this fight is to continue, Black Hills better pay for the bill when the lawyers do their bidding...Seriously, I don't feel like paying some of the hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight this. Just thinking the adult industry is a multibillion dollar industry, I'd think that the folks on the other side would have plenty of money to trash the city in court.

[snoogit]

^Hah, a fembot?!

Was it me who brought up morals? Whaaa was I smokin'? Honestly, I'd retract my statement some threads above, I don't know why the hell I was thinking about that, maybe I was in a selfrighteous 'you must do as I say' mood? The real reason why I don't dig porn, nudies, stripping, etc.. is because I get phyically ill, tremble and fall over in convulsions... Anyone have this same problem?

not generally no...