Massive Riverfront Project

[BigPlayJ]

No idea on Rivertown, but according to Wikipedia, the Mall of America employs 12,000. I believe the Bellagio (my favorite in Vegas ) employs about 10,000.

A casino to me would be very, very surprising given the opposition to the Gun Lake project.

I'd also be surprised at another entertainment district, especially of that size, but you are right, the desire to tie up both sides of Market seems to point in that direction.

[GRDadof3]

I just hope this development isn't SO massive that it sucks the life out of the rest of downtown...I hope they provide some good connectivity across 131 somehow. And being near the rail station for our very first TOD would be awesome! I need to take some tums

[GR_Urbanist]

My mom will love a casino in GR for sure. However, with the opposition to the Gun Lake project, do you think a casino in DT will even stand a chance?

I wouldnt be too woried about the current DT entertainment district losing air to this project. I think what will happen is that a massive infill project will take place between Iona and Grandville that will connect the two districts and form a monster entertainment machine!

I will say a special prayer that this goes through. Please dont let this one go under!!!!!

[ericnmu]

Do they plan on moving the Amtrak station?

[NorthCoast]

Do they plan on moving the Amtrak station?

If this development goes through and is as big as it sounds it may make sense for Amtrack to get on the ball and either relocate or improve their existing station. With the vibrancy this area is prospectively due to receive it would be neat if Amtrack considered putting in a really nice new and expanded station. Something in the area of better than what they have now and Grand Central ought to do nicely.

Maybe an economic spur like this could help in Lansing with the push for an additional need for the transit study....(light rail!)

[NorthCoast]

Call me skeptical, but 10K jobs sounds like an exaggeration.

A marina sounds cool. Is it a straight shot from there to the big lake? No dams or anything like to the North? A water taxi from Allendale/Jenison/Grandville to downtown would be sweet. A marina there would provide excellent access to Central Station... and the world...

That would be amazing and heck why stop at Allendale....Grand Haven here we come! Something like that would not only really enhance Grand Rapids but those other communities as well. The river is a huge reason why places like Grandville and Jenison existed in the first place and it would be great to see it once again invigorate these areas with new life.

[evac311]

I would be excited to hear about a development that takes advantage of the riverfront location. Is the Grand River deep enough to allow for a marina? I also wonder whether they would fill in Ney ave in order to gain more cohiesion throughout the property.

[Prankster]

That would be amazing and heck why stop at Allendale....Grand Haven here we come! Something like that would not only really enhance Grand Rapids but those other communities as well. The river is a huge reason why places like Grandville and Jenison existed in the first place and it would be great to see it once again invigorate these areas with new life.

About 10 years ago, someone proposed using hydroboats to serve as water taxis between Grand Haven and downtown Grand Rapids. It fell through because they didn't see a huge demand for this service.

With the climate in downtown changing, wonder if the time would be right to try it again? They must have done their homework before it was proposed, so it is obviously feasible for boats to make the trip.

[GRDadof3]

If this development goes through and is as big as it sounds it may make sense for Amtrack to get on the ball and either relocate or improve their existing station. With the vibrancy this area is prospectively due to receive it would be neat if Amtrack considered putting in a really nice new and expanded station. Something in the area of better than what they have now and Grand Central ought to do nicely.

Maybe an economic spur like this could help in Lansing with the push for an additional need for the transit study....(light rail!)

Amtrak is already in process of making a move to the ITP Station:

http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.ph...18081&hl=amtrak

[torgo]

Wow...very exciting! And Gary, that purple block is owned by ITP (not the city) and I would be surprised if they moved, what with the new transit station and all being right there.

10,000 new jobs? It would have to be truly HUUUGE, like a mall or a casino or some combination. Very cool!

[GRDadof3]

Here's the article, and no, I can't give you the login

I'm going to stop speculating what this might be. Something this big is going to be a HUGE undertaking to make it happen, and I don't want to ruin it or make it more difficult, hint hint

[snoogit]

Fast river ferries on the Grand River would be sweet!

[Prankster]

Here's the article, and no, I can't give you the login

I'm going to stop speculating what this might be. Something this big is going to be a HUGE undertaking to make it happen, and I don't want to ruin it or make it more difficult, hint hint

Also, this isn't going to be an overnight undertaking. Putting out a complete Scientific Wild @ss Guess, I would say it wouldn't be complete for another 10 years. Imagine the government assistance that will probably be needed. It would take years to get that alone approved.

[GRDadof3]

Plus, we've seen how a company like Toyota can get spooked by one lone UAW guy with a picket sign. Leaking too much might bring out the trolls from under the bridge that might scare away a big investor. In the article, it says the city has already started working with the MEDC on helping with the riverfront portion.

[GaryP]

Here's the article, and no, I can't give you the login

I'm going to stop speculating what this might be. Something this big is going to be a HUGE undertaking to make it happen, and I don't want to ruin it or make it more difficult, hint hint

Argh! I definitely don't want to throw this deal under the bus, but its gonna be nearly impossible to keep my keyboard silent and not do any speculating!

Also, those job numbers always include construction jobs that will be working on the site. So Id guess there's probably at least 3,000 jobs right there.

[snoogit]

Well if its Simon Property Group, then this is going to be special.

[Prankster]

Well if its Simon Property Group, then this is going to be special.

Just got back from Indianapolis. Loved what they did with Circle Center, it is a magnet from which the rest of the city is built around.

[GaryP]

this quote from London

"I will not hold up the city from developing whatever they want to develop," he said. "I'm hearing this is a property of national significance.

[GRDadof3]

I think the Bricktown development in Oklahoma City is probably the closest to what I would like to see. It contains a series of man-made canals like we had proposed for the city property:

There are more pictures here.

[HolidayInnExpress]

Argh! I definitely don't want to throw this deal under the bus, but its gonna be nearly impossible to keep my keyboard silent and not do any speculating!

Also, those job numbers always include construction jobs that will be working on the site. So Id guess there's probably at least 3,000 jobs right there.

I agree. I think that those numbers include spin off jobs that will provide services to the establishment and or new retail or restaurant jobs created from the income provided by the new jobs circulating locally through the metropolitan economy. Good News for GR.

[DSchoon]

Hey guys, thought this might help.

Here's the London quote as printed.

[Rizzo]

I go away for a couple of days and this is what I get!?

[JimInGR]

I can't stop drooling thinking about the possibilities of this project. 10,000 jobs does seem exaggerated, but even if you cut that half, it's still a lot of jobs. I can't wait to see what happens with this. I know if it's actually realized it will take a long time to complete, but just think how exciting it will be to watch downtown transform.

[GaryP]

A second point of potential confusion is the map. It's a best guess, could be bigger, could be smaller. We included the owners who admitted to being contacted, not necessarily those who were under contract. And we erred on the side of caution.

You'll notice that Custer is included, although he said he doesn't plan to sell. Since our fellow UPers at Terra Firma are definitely on board, it would have been hard to leave out Custer, since one way or another, it would have to be integrated.

Also, reference Israels former Pearl Street location and the Michigan Street Burger King. If someone wants to build something bad enough, it's all a matter of price.

DSchoon, I guess you'd be the person to ask about the map. In our first crack at the 19 acre city front property we forgot to add the land south of the railroad tracks, but later we added it. Did you guys exclude it intentionally?

[Rizzo]

Highrises? Wow this is going to put the profile of the city pretty far back, and maybe with Jack's cool thing he might have going this will really extend the skyline...