Jane Jacobs Group 1
Okay, I really hope this is the right place for my contribution here. The BBoard announcement placed me (Ron Kersey)in Group 2, but at the Civic Studio I was in the group that DEALT with area 1 of Grand Rapids. But anyways, I put my name here so I hope my group (Cooke and Conens) can find this and add to it. I apologize if this is in the wrong area.
Anyways, moving right along.... we were given the task of figuring out what to do with section 1. The biggest problem we had to confront was the fact that an off-ramp divided our area in half (between a lowground parking lot and then the domish factory building and area next to the river on the other side). The land that led down from the off-ramp to the parking lot was at a very steep angle, so we decided the best way to "connect" our two sections and make them accesible while keeping the off-ramp intact was to raise the land on the side with the parking lot and levelining it flush with the off ramp so that it would be possible to build a walkable tunnel under the off-ramp to connect the parking lot with the factory area with the dome building. This would eliminate the frusteration and danger of having to cross the street. One could simply walk under it. We thought the dome building by the river could be turned into a Grand Rapids welcome center with information on the city, maps, history, business exploits...etc. Aside from this, we thought that putting a few express restaurants and/or cafes inside (encircling the inside of the building)like subway, starbucks, taco bell (or maybe better, locally owned restaurants and cafes)would be a good "drawing-in" factor. This would attract people coming off of the bus station who are in GR for the first time. We also had the idea of giving this particular info center a novelty "attraction" if you will, by placing a spiral staircase in the center of the floor of the domed building and have it go straight up to the top of the dome where we'd place one of those in-built high quality city telescopes that kids and tourists pay a quarter to view for about 5 minutes. The top of the dome has a fantastic view of GR's cityscape, and the quarters would bring in extra income to the city, as would the restaurants inside especially if they were locally owned restaurants and cafes.
The building structures next to the dome building could be used (at least ONE of them) as a public restroom with water drinking fountains, vending machines...etc. The rest of the land and buildings we thought should be bulldozed over and the cement broken up as to make room for fresh soil, grass, trees, benches, outdoor picnic tables with umbrellas so that the people buying food from the info center can come out and eat and walk on the grass, Essentially the rest of the land would be excellent as a green park area. Since this "park" area would be right next to the river, we thought that a trail should be put right next to the river (especially if AREAS 3 and 6 would permit it)so that a River-Walk could be put in for those who wanted to stratch their legs after getting off the bus and read info pamphlets they got from the info center, or walk after eating there as well. The river-walk would just be a paved walking trail right next to the river that would extend from Area 1 to 3 and then 6.
Finally, the other big problem with having a "park" area here is that it is right next to the highway and divided by the off ramp so that there would be contant noise affecting the potential peaceful atmoshere. We decided that building one of those noise killing walls (that can be seen on many highways near residentail areas) on the north/north-east side of the domed building info center would help this immensely. The wall would extend across the river along Highway 131 to the end of Area one and stop at Market street. This would also be a great opportunity for GR artists to paint a mural on the sound killing wall because this wall would be right under the viweing area with the telescope at the top of the domed info center. This would mean that kids and/or tourists could take a spiral staircase to the top of the dome look below them and see art on the sound wall and then use the telescope to look above the wall out unto the cityscape for two aesthetically pleasing views.
Our ideas were thought out as a way to not only bring in income and tourists for the city, but to also provide a relaxing, peaceful haven with green grass, food, a walking area, a bathroom, and novely to an otherwise drab, derelict section of Grand Rapids. Locals and visiters would make this area a landmark to come see and experience while bringing more business and spendable capital to our city.
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