Bicycle Factory Project

[Veloise]

I hope this serves as an object lesson to the property hoarders:

Don't sit on it. Bring it up to code, get those sprinklers installed, turn it around.

[damn damn damn damn damn]

[john_denver]

Yes, it does seem to be out but the ladder trucks are still dousing the area.

Does anyone know which building may have been next to the Bicycle Factory?

What parcel is due south of it? A scrap yard?

What will the property owners do now? Plow it and make a parking lot?

[Veloise]

Yes, it does seem to be out but the ladder trucks are still dousing the area.

Does anyone know which building may have been next to the Bicycle Factory?

What parcel is due south of it? A scrap yard? ...

[NorthEnder]

Go to grcity.us, click on the Map link, click similar links a few more times. It will show you an aerial with lot lines and buildings. If you click on the Information icon it will show you who owns it, then you can find out details including lot size, year built, and so forth.

[damn!]

[NorthEnder]

Man, this is so sad.

How far had work progressed on the building?

I hope they had insurance to cover the entire building.

Wow.

[GRGridGirl]

Okay, did anyone see the fire icon Fox 17 News used for the weather downtown? It made it look like half the westside was in flames.

It's always a sad day when we lose a historic gem.

Please don't make this a parking lot......

[GR_Urbanist]

With River Grand gone down the drain, and the Bicycle Factory gone up in flames, I think it's safe to say that much of the potential of this area has been hurt badly this week.

I really don't think that they are going to rebuild. I'm keeping my finger crossed though.

[GRDadof3]

Wow, suck!

They just reported in this thread a week or so ago they had finally gotten the New Market Tax Credits and work would start up again.

[Veloise]

According to The Wheelmen (who collect and restore antique bicycles): http://thewheelmen.org/

New Clipper-(Manufacturer) Grand Rapids Cycle Company, Grand Rapids MI, 1895-1896

[rallymatt]

Bummer.

[PRCH]

CONDOLENCES to Paul McGraw and associates. This is a major loss for downtown, for the city, for Urban Planeteers everywhere. Consider tonight the Phoenix- "arise anew from the ashes". Best of luck in this time of tribulation.

[Veloise]

From a GVSU parking lot: still on fire as of 11:30 pm. But those old masonry walls are still standing. Big ladder truck dumping water from above.

On-air talent from Channel 3 (hi Ranji!) said that the 4-story building just towards 131 is storage for, um, stuff you don't want burning and wafting throughout the atmosphere.

Of course he got me to do some background on the building...and of course I was not unemotional in my presentation.

Damn.

[MJLO]

wow, Imagine what will happen with the land now.

[Allison Slater]

A sad loss indeed, but to look towards a more positive note, even if it does become parking, it now holds potential for a tall building in the distant future.

[snoogit]

Step 1) Install a new sign

[]

I'm really looking forward to seeing this converted. Wish we had some artists renderings.

[Nitro]

I drove by the building on the way into work today. Not much left but some of the exterior walls. It was still smoldering and the fire department was still trying to control flare ups.

Very sad indeed. Sorry Paul and Jeff.......it was going to be a great project.

[Prankster]

I drove by the building on the way into work today. Not much left but some of the exterior walls. It was still smoldering and the fire department was still trying to control flare ups.

Very sad indeed. Sorry Paul and Jeff.......it was going to be a great project.

[joeDowntown]

Just heard it on the radio on my way into work. Made me want to pull my steering wheel out and pitch it out the window. A real loss.

Joe

[john_denver]

On-air talent from Channel 3 (hi Ranji!) said that the 4-story building just towards 131 is storage for, um, stuff you don't want burning and wafting throughout the atmosphere.

Of course he got me to do some background on the building...and of course I was not unemotional in my presentation.

Damn.

[joeDowntown]

Another thing that sucks (besides the obvious) is this is the second building in recent memory that has gone up in flames as renovation was starting (the other being the Gilmore property on Fulton that went up as they were dismantling the old equipment in the building).

Have they talked about possible causes?

Joe

[starrfish]

There's ash and debris scattered all over the Cherry/College area...I hadn't heard about the fire, just saw the ash chunks last night and this morning - had to do some investigating to find out where the massive fire was. Sad to lose a building about to realize its potential again!

[GRDadof3]

From the news last night, it looked like the exterior walls were still partially intact. I wonder if the crumbled walls could somehow be saved and incorporated into a new building there? Sort of like the Millcity Museum in Minneapolis. At least it would save some of the exterior design and architectural heritage of the building, and might make for a cool looking project. Just a thought. The walls on the Bicycle Factory looked pretty darned thick.

I'll try and get some pictures of what's left today and maybe someone could throw up some sketchup ideas. It can't hurt.

[GRCentro]

What a loss. And what a blaze! There is ash debris all the way over in Eastown.

[mpchicago]

That sucks! I do hope they were insured.

[NorthEnder]

That sucks! I do hope they were insured.