Aug 4, 2003

Copyright Grand Rapids Press Aug 4, 2003

If a picture is worth a thousand words, critics of a plan to raze an older neighborhood near downtown Grand Rapids hope several photographs will be more persuasive than the discussion to date.

Unhappy with efforts to raze about 40 homes, leaders of Grand Rapids' Midtown Neighborhood Association continue to wrangle with developers over the appearance of the combination retail, office and apartment buildings that would replace them.

Plans for the three-block area, between Michigan Street NE and Int. 196, have been the subject of meetings between neighbors and the Chicago developer's local representative, S.J. Wisinski & Co.

The neighborhood organization has provided developers package of photos depicting the sort of structures they would like to see in an effort to help them "get it," said Kelley Otto, community organizer for Midtown.

The neighborhood organization still hasn't seen a proposed version it believe favorably represents an urban mixed-use plan, Otto said. " Thus far, anything we've discussed with them has gone in one ear and out the other,"

George Calder, a Wisinski sales associate handling the project, did not return phone calls for comment.
He has said owners of virtually all of the homes -- many of them rental properties -- have agreed to sell the properties.

Edward Levitt, a retired Chicago businessman, has said the site is a prime spot for medical offices in particular because of its proximity to Spectrum Health's Butterworth Campus and the Van Andel Institute.

Residents affected by the proposed development snapped photos everywhere from Holland to the Grand Valley Pew Campus, hoping to convey their desire to stick with the walkable, urban-community vision they helped work into the city's master plan.

The neighborhood association hopes to see new sketches by Wisinski at their Aug. 11 meeting that yield something closer to their vision. Otto said she has her doubts.

" The (Grand Rapids) Planning Commission has asked them to consider Midtown as more of stake holder (in the process), but for them it's more out of necessity than choice."

Midtown will ask the planning commission to table Wisinski's application at an Aug. 14 public hearing so the two sides have time to work toward an agreement.

Also, Midtown hopes the city will adopt new zoning codes in September.

Midtown representatives said a so-called redevelopment district zoning, up for consideration by the city Sept. 11, would ultimately protect the area.

The zoning would control the redevelopment of sites of existing buildings along design standards of the master plan. It also holds developers to their site specifications so even minor changes need planning commission approval.