New Construction and Renovations in the Heartside District

[discgrab21]

4 hours ago, x99 said:

Where is the next-closest liquor store?  That's the real question to be dealt with.  The party store at Franklin and Division?   Is there really an issue though with other areas relocating homeless people to Grand Rapids?  If so, I believe there is a tried and true solution to that:  

Zellar's would be the next-closest I think

[Pattmost20]

16 minutes ago, GRDadof3 said:

Yep. 

The man's got opinions (not that I don't )

[joeDowntown]

9 hours ago, GR_Urbanist said:

The biggest problem is that we attract too many homeless people from outside of GR. Lots of towns will hand Greyhound tickets to their homeless and send them here because they know these services will just not ask questions.

Is this true? If so, proof? Not trying to be snarky. Just trying to see if this is fact or opinion. 

Joe

[GR_Urbanist]

18 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:

Is this true? If so, proof? Not trying to be snarky. Just trying to see if this is fact or opinion. 

Joe

Can Grand Rapids end homelessness?: Part 3, A destination city for homelessness

http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/features/homelesssnesspart3.aspx

Glad I remotely remembered the article! But yeah, a lot of it is confirmation of the stuff I've heard for years.

[joeDowntown]

6 minutes ago, GR_Urbanist said:

Can Grand Rapids end homelessness?: Part 3, A destination city for homelessness

http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/features/homelesssnesspart3.aspx

Glad I remotely remembered the article! But yeah, a lot of it is confirmation of the stuff I've heard for years.

Add this to the top 10 lists GR appears on?  thanks for the link. Interesting article. 

Joe

[RegalTDP]

47 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:

Add this to the top 10 lists GR appears on?  thanks for the link. Interesting article. 

Joe

Yes it is a thing, but it's a little more complex than that and GR is not a uniquely large homeless destination.  The Guardian did a deep dive in 2017 on cities nationwide sending homeless to other cities nationwide.  It's a big network of cities and non-profits working together, and the results are not always bad (though certainly not always good either, as the article examines).  But the point is, there are no homeless people in other cities huddling around saying "Let's go to Grand Rapids. Their Winters are terrible and I hear they have a street with three shelters.  Paradise!"  More like GR is getting bigger, and big cities inherently attract transient people.

The Guardian article didn't provide data by city, but they do show a visual map (they have a cool animation but below is just a screenshot). GR's bubble is pretty commensurate for its size. 

Quote

 

Edited January 9, 2019 by RegalTDP

[GRDadof3]

1 hour ago, RegalTDP said:

Yes it is a thing, but it's a little more complex than that and GR is not a uniquely large homeless destination.  The Guardian did a deep dive in 2017 on cities nationwide sending homeless to other cities nationwide.  It's a big network of cities and non-profits working together, and the results are not always bad (though certainly not always good either, as the article examines).  But the point is, there are no homeless people in other cities huddling around saying "Let's go to Grand Rapids. Their Winters are terrible and I hear they have a street with three shelters.  Paradise!"  More like GR is getting bigger, and big cities inherently attract transient people.

The Guardian article didn't provide data by city, but they do show a visual map (they have a cool animation but below is just a screenshot). GR's bubble is pretty commensurate for its size. 

 

Wow, that's cool. Looks like SLC is a destination (red dot) city? 

[TheLonesomeHobo]

7 hours ago, discgrab21 said:

Zellar's would be the next-closest I think

Zellar’s at least enforces a dress code and monitors who goes in and out, the closest store to Lucky’s is definitely the Franklin Big Save. I’ve lived in that neighborhood for awhile, that store is horrible, plus I’m sure you’re all familiar with the string of murders that occurred in the parking lot over the last 5 - 7 years...

[RegalTDP]

13 hours ago, GRDadof3 said:

Wow, that's cool. Looks like SLC is a destination (red dot) city? 

The screenshot doesn’t clearly indicate, but actually the red dots are the biggest exporters.  The blue bubbles represent how much he city takes in.  So SLC is both a big sender and a big destination.

Edited January 9, 2019 by RegalTDP

[GRLaker]

2 minutes ago, RegalTDP said:

The screenshot doesn’t clearly indicate, but actually the red dots are the biggest exporters.  So SLC is both a big sender and a big destination.

Ahh, alright. That makes sense. I was going say that it seems odd that Key West is a destination for importing. If there's any place to be homeless though, you'd think someone would choose a tropical island over the cold winters of northern cities.

[GVSUChris]

Byeeeeee Lucky’s.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2019/01/grand-rapids-liquor-stores-license-revoked.html

[ZAP!]

4 hours ago, GVSUChris said:

Byeeeeee Lucky’s.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2019/01/grand-rapids-liquor-stores-license-revoked.html

Good riddance.

[ProtoSapien]

10 hours ago, ZAP! said:

Good riddance.

Not so lucky after all.

[GRDadof3]

Not sure where but someone had asked about this strange building on Cherry behind Degage'. Apparently it's being demolished so Degage' can expand. 

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2019/03/grand-rapids-homeless-shelter-plans-building-demolition-6m-expansion.html

Seems to me that the answer to homelessness is not "build more homeless shelters." 

[walker]

19 minutes ago, GRDadof3 said:

Not sure where but someone had asked about this strange building on Cherry behind Degage'. Apparently it's being demolished so Degage' can expand. 

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2019/03/grand-rapids-homeless-shelter-plans-building-demolition-6m-expansion.html

Seems to me that the answer to homelessness is not "build more homeless shelters." 

ZAP asked about it in the "Hey, what's that?" thread:

On 12/5/2018 at 10:23 PM, ZAP! said:

Does anyone know the story with this Victorian holdout on Cherry?

 

[GRDadof3]

Just now, walker said:

ZAP asked about it in the "Hey, what's that?" thread:

 

You're like the designated UP Librarian. Nice. 

[joeDowntown]

That sucks  </endmessage>

Joe

 

[GR_Urbanist]

Where to even start.

WHERE did these people get 6 million dollars? And why the living heck are they being allowed to expand this operation at this corner? This organization has acted for years like they barely had money to keep the lights on.  Where did this cash come from?

Degege has been notorious for being an absolute suck on the surrounding area. Poor security, a bunch of their clientele loitering around on the surrounding sidewalks, in doorways, and making the park across the street all but an outdoor patio/waiting room for that place! Degege has never been held responsible for any of this. They constantly play innocent or stupid of the situation. And look at all of the businesses the people that frequent that place have driven out. Millions of dollars wasted in renovations. An entire corridor shoved almost back to its 1990s state with zero sign that it will ever turn around now that these guys are going to cement this operation  even harder on that corner. One of the most inappropriate areas to serve so many people without it negatively affecting other entities, as it is clear that it has.

How did the city approve of this?! What on earth do the properties around it get out of this ill-informed move? The Mlive article seems to show that Degege had nothing but a nice greased skid the whole way if they are going to start in the spring, including the HPC just letting them off another building in an area that seems to eaisly lose buildings in exchange for truly low-class developments or parking lots! Did the city asked for ANY concessions at all? Degege has 6 million dollars to not rebuild their operations down the street in a brand-new facility that would better accommodate and serve their clients with better security and with less disturbance to neighbors, but to demolish an existing 19th century building, to build a new addition on that land, and to retrofit it to an existing historic structure? That isnt a Mickey Mouse thing to do as we've seen with other such projects let alone a non-profit that acts like it is barely exists on a shoestring budget.

Quote

The nonprofit plans to move its dining room to the renovated portion of 139 Sheldon, a move that will expand seating by 50 percent to 200 people.

Because this is what that are needs? More people loitering around this intersection? More people to hang out in doorways of the now empty storefronts, or to just lay out on the sidewalk? And again, what responsibility is this place expected to take for all of these people on top of the existing clientele they are attracting to this tight intersection?

They paid $620,000 for this place 2 years ago. They could have eaisly landed an easy million for it today on top of the 6 million they apparently have, and built a far better facility on some of the empty land north of Franklin ( by Grant and S. Division) or this building that is even closer https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9538663,-85.6675726,3a,75y,271.38h,85.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-GKUITdHVIYh1ict-mzyuw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656, and worked out a deal with the ITP for anyone coming and going there to be able to use the Silverline or the DASH bus for free!

But Nooooooooooo, this is what we end up with, and the city apparently just goes right along with it, no questions asked?

If I owned anything close to this place, I would honestly consider bringing a lawsuit to force Degege to provide better assurances for security and a more transparent plan as to how they are going to deal with the increased numbers of people that are now going to camped out around this expanded facility.

 

Ok. Rant over.

 

[Pattmost20]

I know in the scheme of things, $6 million isn't a ton in the way of housing, but imagine how many people Well House could have housed for that money.

[GRDadof3]

3 hours ago, Pattmost20 said:

I know in the scheme of things, $6 million isn't a ton in the way of housing, but imagine how many people Well House could have housed for that money.

Can I give you a "boom?" I wish there was a "boom" emoticon. 

[Guest]

So I posted this in "hey what's that?", but not sure anyone saw it.  It looks like there is work going on in the retail space of  240 Ionia.  Anyone have the scoop?

[GRDadof3]

Where is 240 Ionia?

[thebeerqueer]

1 minute ago, GRDadof3 said:

Where is 240 Ionia?

Building to the north of Purple East, with the 'Your Wine Bar Here' sign in the window. 

[wingbert]

20 hours ago, GR_Urbanist said:

...including the HPC just letting them off another building in an area that seems to eaisly lose buildings in exchange for truly low-class developments or parking lots! 

WTF is with the HPC?  Honestly, after all the whoop-de-doo with getting all up in the design of 10 Ionia, to just wave their hands and say, “oh sure, no problem.  Go ahead and knock down that brick Victorian built in the 1800’s.  No historical significance to that building whatsoever.”  Kind of makes you wonder about the actual agenda of that entity.

Edited March 5, 2019 by wingbert

[sclay]

2 hours ago, wingbert said:

WTF is with the HPC?  Honestly, after all the whoop-de-doo with getting all up in the design of 10 Ionia, to just wave their hands and say, “oh sure, no problem.  Go ahead and knock down that brick Victorian built in the 1800’s.  No historical significance to that building whatsoever.”  Kind of makes you wonder about the actual agenda of that entity.

Found this: