"Grand Rapids" She Wrote

[Michi]

Packed up the bike Friday August 31, and trecked it over to Michigan's second largest city: pop. 200,000; 1.3 million Metro. The city is increasingly ranked highly, even among the largest cities, as one of the most proactive "green" and LEED certified communities. Enjoy this up-and-coming, sophisticate-yet-humble little town.

Heritage Hill is one of America's largest designated historic primarily single family neighborhoods.

Division cuts Grand Rapids (relatively) down the middle as a commercial corridor.

Division downtown is pretty gritty but is being cared for with a lot of progressive preservation investment.

Verne Barry Place is new residential for special needs tenants and artist studios.

The Grand Rapids Civic Threatre recently completed a pretty sweet looking renovation of its historic facade.

[Michi]

The dual hotels on the riverfront.

Looking up the edges of the new JW Marriott Hotel; the first in the Midwest.

Grand Rapids' new tallest building. Called Riverhouse, it will be the tallest residential building in Michigan when completed. 34 floors and a height somewhere around 400 feet, though I haven't heard an official number.

The JW opens in a few weeks to much excitement.

John Ball Park.

Just west of downtown.

[Michi]

Grand Rapids is hilly. I think that is the freeway above.

A house in the hills...also just west of downtown.

From the west looking east.

Riverhouse will rise here at Bridgewater Place. The massive booming medical center is under construction on the Michigan hill just to the right.

The medical center is how Grand Rapids is diversifying its economy and is outperforming most other areas in Michigan. New investment is in excess of $1 billion in the center alone.

Working my elementary skills w/ Photoshop.

Amway Grand Hotel (l) and JW Marriott .

Bridge Street NW.

Grand Rapids has a very efficient transportation system and is even planning for light rail transit for the near future.

[Michi]

Not quite sure what it says. :shrug:

Grand Rapids heavily promotes its neighborhood business districts.

[Michi]

Grand Rapids is an historic furniture hub, although it doesn't produce nearly as much as it use to. What's cool though is that there is an abundance of old furniture factories scattered throughout the city that give the area a lot of old, historic charm.

Israel's use to be located downtown, but was demolished to make room for the JW Marriott. It now occupies (and is expanded) at this old complex on the west side.

Basilica of St. Adalbert (1881).

Union Square is an old high school converted into condos on the northwest side of downtown.

[Michi]

I-196 and Medical Hill a.k.a "Pill Hill".

Icon on Bond is another new residential development. It's master plan has another "twin" building kitty-corner to this one.

The fish ladder.

Labor.

The windsock is for the rooftop hellipad.

Grand Rapids on eX.

[Michi]

The new GRAM -- Grand Rapids Art Museum is difficult to photograph. It also opens in the next few weeks/month(s)...soon.

Heartside District (foreground).

Another midrise condo is planned for Heartside in this neighborhood on the right.

The S-Curve slices US-131 through downtown offering some pretty nice views of the cityscape.

Ionia Street, Heartside.

Downtown East Grand Rapids. This little art piece is at the center of the commercial strip. It does a nice job distracting from the 2-level parking garage that lies behind it.

E. GR.

It's a very pleasant, traditional-style community with a nice housing stock.

[Michi]

A funky restaurant in Eastown, Grand Rapids proper.

She almost got away!

Fragel Rock

Didn't have a tripod, but tested my luck at a few night photos.

Well, that about does it. Hope you enjoyed.

[Lone Ranger]

I like, grit & all. Very impressive -- both the photos and the city.

Just out of curiousity, I'm wondering, can you say anything about the way those towers integrate at street level? I couldn't really tell from the pics.

[tamias6]

Very nice set of GR photos. I've lived in the area from 20 some years. Yet GR always has something new to discover.

[Mobuchu]

Wonderful tour, thanks for sharing

[GRDadof3]

Great pics Michi!