Cathedral Square Project

[GRDadof3]

I believe it's part of ICCF's Wealthy Jefferson Initiative. Linky

I was wondering if there were any immediate plans to start developing it piecemeal? Or will that corner sit vacant like a lot of the house lots Southeast of there. I can't see ICCF throwing up a whole block of development at once.

[joeDowntown]

Some news on Cathedral Square:

http://www.woodtv.com/global/story.asp?s=7231830

Joe

[GR_Urbanist]

Ugh!

Looks like that plaza is just going to be a few yards long and sandwiched between the street and a parking lot. No fountains, sculpture, or a reason to even set foot there.

And neither building looks like they will have a good design.

Also looks like a large parking lot to the east too.

of course this is all "screened" by gigantic, mutant, architecture software trees that will pretty all of this up.

[GRDadof3]

Here's a larger image. It doesn't look that bad (looks like the plans that have been laid out all along on this project ) That lot to the East is a parking ramp.

[joeDowntown]

If nothing else, the plaza looks like it has plenty of space to urinate in.

I can't quite figure out the building they are re-skinning. I'll just have to wait and see. Man is that building a beast. No wonder why they say "they don't build em like they used to".

Joe

[AlexPKeaton]

The little park would be fine except for the surface lot on half of it. If they're building a ramp to the east why put a surface lot in?

[GRguy]

Great. Knock down an streamlined "jewel in the rough" and replace it with a parking lot along Division. That is great city planning. That is a great testiment to all the groups that approved this. Another 30 years of no synergy on this part of Division, just blacktop.

[Allison Slater]

Great. Knock down an streamlined "jewel in the rough" and replace it with a parking lot along Division. That is great city planning. That is a great testiment to all the groups that approved this. Another 30 years of no synergy on this part of Division, just blacktop.

I do believe it was torn down due to contamination. It wouldn't have been usable if they had kept it.

[GRDadof3]

I do believe it was torn down due to contamination. It wouldn't have been usable if they had kept it.

Yeah, isn't that part of the reason it sat empty for about a decade? Because the whole site there on the corner is so contaminated from the Uptown Cleaners operations?

[Allison Slater]

I think I remember reasing something to that effect, yes. I also remember that's why it will be a plaza/parking lot, they can't even build there.

[tamias6]

At least the surface lot next to the plaza will be screened somewhat by street trees. But anyhow, pretty or ugly, at least positive investment is going into a part of the city that is quite honestly pretty blighted IMO.

[ArsEcclesiae]

This is from the Diocesan Website concerning the new "Cathedral Square"

http://dioceseofgrandrapids.org/bishop/oct18final.pdf

Not sure if any of this was in the Press article or not. One interesting thing that I noticed was that they are trying to get LEED certification for one of the buildings (not sure which one...but I am guessing the one to the south of the property).

Also...I just want to say that just because there is no Fountain/Statue at this stage, doesn't mean that there won't be one in the future. Churches tend to be pretty permanant places and while they build as cheaply as possible to get things off the ground...over the years Church properties tend to just get lovlier and lovlier when people donate additions...so a statue or fountain feature is a very strong possibility in that square in future years...if not many sculptures.

okay...done with the soap-box...who needs it next?

[GRDadof3]

Looks like the Diocese has sold their property on Burton:

Pastor has big plans for Catholic property

GRAND RAPIDS -- The Rev. Marvin Sapp, whose church was running out of space, often drove past the Grand Rapids Catholic Diocese property on Burton Street and dreamed of the programs he could offer there.

On Tuesday, Sapp's Lighthouse Full Life Center Church agreed to buy the nearly 17-acre campus, where it plans to offer religious and educational activities.

It's great that the property is not going to sit vacant very long, and that the main building will stay intact. It's a beautiful old building.

[twoshort]

Perhaps I missed it somewhere, but how is it that UP doesn't have a high-res rendering of the reskinned building at Wealthy and Division?

[GRDadof3]

Have to have a picture of the Cathedral Square project with the cathedral in the background:

Anyone know why they're laying an asphalt "trail" all along Wealthy?

[Grandrapidsne]

Doesn't that have to do with the utilities i know they will have to be moved over to widen the road in through there.

[GRguy]

Do I see tumbleweeds blowing through that huge vacant space?

[GRDadof3]

Excavation has started for the parking ramp at this site:

[Floyd Z]

How tall will the parking ramp be?

[wyoming_mi]

That parking ramp is going to be quite the improvement on the parking situation. As a CC alum, that used to be the senior lot where you literally parked your car wherever you could- parking lines need not apply. Give Catholic credit for sticking it out through many years in what was always a rough area. There was serious talks in the early 1990's about moving the school up to where their athletic fields are now at Knapp and Leffingwell, but they stayed committed to the neighborhood.

[ArsEcclesiae]

How tall will the parking ramp be?

Not sure. Judging by what I can see in the picture of the project, it doesn't look very tall (in fact I thought it was just a parking lot at first sight). My guess would be 1-2 floors?

[Sailor]

That parking ramp is going to be quite the improvement on the parking situation. As a CC alum, that used to be the senior lot where you literally parked your car wherever you could- parking lines need not apply. Give Catholic credit for sticking it out through many years in what was always a rough area. There was serious talks in the early 1990's about moving the school up to where their athletic fields are now at Knapp and Leffingwell, but they stayed committed to the neighborhood.

I remember that. Parking was a free-for-all. It's great to see development around the school! When I was there we had a security guard, not to keep the kids from doing anything stupid, but to protect the students from some of the neighbors. Yet I also remember volunteering at God's Kitchen many hours, and doing Christmas deliveries, all organized by the school. The diocese is very involved with the neighborhood.

According to a recent letter from the Bishop, they're looking to have the big conference center building done by late spring so St. Mary's can move in. Wonder how feasible that really is?

[Allison Slater]

I must say this area is really starting to look promising with all the construction going on there.

[GRDadof3]

The main building is looking pretty nice. They went with a light-colored brick instead of panels, and the window pattern adds a little different dimension to it. I like it!

[joeDowntown]

I'm still scratching my head on this. I think I need to see more windows in. What side is the main entrance on?

Joe