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Rowe Hotel- Olds Manor

ericdriver

By ericdriver
in Grand Rapids

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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On 4/15/2016 at 1:04 PM, RegalTDP said:

I don't get it either. I think the headline is written poorly; it makes one think the article is a hit piece, but it's not really.  It's just a profile of the owner written with some dramatic flourish.  The writer points out the superficiality in the brand's marketing, but it doesn't even really read as a denunciation.  And why would it be?  It's just savvy marketing.  She probably didn't write the headline.  If you separate the headline from the article, most of its negative connotation is removed.

If anything, having read that, I probably have more respect for the brand now, just from learning so much about it ;)

I would love to see a Shinola retail store in downtown GR.

Agreed. I saw that article pop up a few months ago and actually didn't finish it because it felt a lot like sour grapes toward the owner for some unknown reason. 

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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On 4/15/2016 at 1:23 PM, thebeerqueer said:

Its not a denunciation or a 'fraud alert' just a clarification that Shinola isn't an old-timey, Detroit-rivial brand. Its a fabricated story, a well executed fabricated story. That being said, it seems like a good company, that treats their employees well. 

IMHO the brand smacks of in-authenticity and isn't something I would want. 

I think there's a marked increase of provincialism/territorialism going on in Detroit, as to who's authentic Detroit and who isn't. The rough survivalist "come back from the dead" brand that Detroit has begun to establish was hard fought, so I certainly don't blame them if they're feeling like interlopers are hijacking it. I'm still not sure that Shinola is one of those though. Who knows. 

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mpchicago Burg

mpchicago

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WOW - They are moving along!  It looks nice.  Transforming from one of the worst corners downtown to a great, active downtown corner (with the help of MSU too).   Now on to fixing that awful Vandenberg Center stone wall across the street.....It's a shame DeVos place's "Butt" end is at the corner. -_-

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Veloise City

Veloise

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On 7/26/2016 at 3:16 PM, ctpgr34 said:

Pics from their Facebook page

...Screen Shot 2016-07-26 at 3.10.59 PM.png

 

Rode by last night. All the jersey wall and barricading (formerly along the street corners) has been removed, and there were workers just leaving site at 9 pm.

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Morris Unincorporated Area

Morris

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Only $799,900 for a condo....how much are the rents? 

Just think, you can go home on a elevator from the brew pub.....Is there something like drunken elevator driving????? Better have someone sober pushing those up buttons!

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Chester Cheeto Whistle-Stop

Chester Cheeto

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0cf157a4ef13fe6c2b53e533d06f1616.jpg

I walk by this building fairly regularly and each time I think "just wait for the finished product," but something to me just feels like the original building and the new addition don't mesh well together. Maybe it's the color of the metal panels, I don't know.

I am getting pretty excited about having another restaurant nearby for those of us in Belknap to be able to walk to quickly though.

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joeDowntown Metropolis

joeDowntown

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I kind of agree. Maybe something a little darker (like 38 Commerce) would have worked better?

With that being said, the facade of the old portion is absolutely fantastic. This has always been one of my favorites (I like the ominous faces staring down at you). I remember when they floated the idea of possibly knocking it down. My heart sank. 

So glad to see the level of detail they took to restore everything on the facade. Sounds like it was quite a process. Kudos!

Joe

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GRLaker Hamlet

GRLaker

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I almost think the color of the new addition was intentional based on the color of DeVos Place across the street. They are virtually identical shades of metal. If that is the case - it makes perfect sense. But I agree that maybe a little darker color to go with the dark brick would have been more appropriate. Oh well...I don't hate it by any means. It's a big step up from what it was just a year ago.

What I would love to see now is the post office getting the heck out of there and a tower taking its place. Maybe even a 90 degree angled tower that allows for a square parking structure between the two buildings. 

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Chester Cheeto Whistle-Stop

Chester Cheeto

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I don't hate it either, just something seems a bit off.  This is a great start to the Michigan/Monroe intersection, and depending on what they do with the additional areas of land on the MSU site, it could be the beginning of a nice like gateway between downtown and Monroe North.

39 minutes ago, GRLaker said:

What I would love to see now is the post office getting the heck out of there and a tower taking its place. Maybe even a 90 degree angled tower that allows for a square parking structure between the two buildings. 

Maybe we should start sending pieces of 'junk' mail to the post office at that corner with the first paragraph of the attached article printed off:

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/grand-rapids-south/grbj-airport-continues-renovations-eyes-new-revenue-sources/290228000

Maybe they will get the hint.

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x99 Burg

x99

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The reason all of the additions feel off is because they are. They are badly designed and do not mesh well at all with the original structure.  For spending as much as they did, I would have expected better.  Still, the restoration work on the original structure was very much needed and will improve things greatly.  It's just a shame the finished project is marred by what looks like a cheap and out of place tack-on.  

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ironyisadeadscene Hamlet

ironyisadeadscene

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On 8/11/2016 at 3:51 PM, x99 said:

The reason all of the additions feel off is because they are. They are badly designed and do not mesh well at all with the original structure.  For spending as much as they did, I would have expected better.  Still, the restoration work on the original structure was very much needed and will improve things greatly.  It's just a shame the finished project is marred by what looks like a cheap and out of place tack-on.  

Do you like ANYTHING?

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x99 Burg

x99

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1 hour ago, wingbert said:

Now now.  He also likes narrowly defined architectural renderings of buildings that don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of being built.

I like all sorts of stuff, but I have a weird moral opposition to ugly.  I know ugly architecture is sort of in vogue.  I just don't like it. :)   And yes, I love me some castle.  River House is pretty nice, too.  And the new building they're putting in Eastown.  And if it weren't imposing itself on a historic district, I actually would like Electric Cheetah, too.  And don't forget the old Concept Design drawing for Pearl/Ottawa.  That was pretty amazing.  This weird metal skin on a brick building though?  Not so much.

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