GR Forward April Public Forum

1. AND THE RIVER CORRIDOR?
Public Forum: 4.16.15

8. WHAT IS A VISION?
A VISION STATEMENT describes a
potential future. It is aspirational and provides guidance in
taking steps to achieve the outcome you want.
GOALS (we talked about these last time) are
statements designed to help achieve the vision. They
should provide a framework for organizing strategies.
STRATEGIES are the specific actions that will
fulfill your goals and the vision. The GR Forward strategies
must describe what should be done, where, when and how
(funding and partners).

11. GRAND RIVER RAPIDS RESTORATION

12. CONCEPT PLAN (upper reach)

13. CONCEPT PLAN (lower reach)

14. RAPIDS RESTORATION PROJECT
GOALS
• Restore the rapids to the Grand River for everyone, with
enhanced access and recreational opportunities
• Improve habitat and connectivity, water quality, riparian functions
and aesthetics
• Create economic opportunities, enhance underserved
communities and instill stewardship ethic

17. THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN AFTER NEGOTIATIONS…

18. PROGRAM
THIS IS HOW WE CAN
DISTRIBUTE THEM

19. PROGRAM
EACH PARK CAN HAVE AN
IDENTITY

20. KEY CONSTRAINTS
oFlood protection
oI-196
oPost office switchback
oCost to relocate Post Office
oScale of the site
oView shed from Trowbridge
Street and nearby uses
oExisting electrical substation

21. FLOOD PARK
PRECEDENTS
BISHAN PARK - SINGAPORE YARDS PARK –
WASHINGTON, DC

28. STRATEGY
POTENTIAL GREEN
CORRIDORS

29. IMPROVE GATEWAYS – MAKE A
STATEMENT
IDEAS:> Improve underpasses – Create Gateways
> Humanize 131

31. EAST - WEST
PROPOSED
HEALTHY PEOPLE –
HEALTHY BUSINESS
STREET
BRIDGE STREET AT
SEWARD AVE
FACING EAST
EXISTING

32. GATEWAYS
BRIDGE STREET UNDER
US-131 –
EXISTING

33. GATEWAYS
BRIDGE STREET –
THE BUSINESS/HEALTH
STREET

34. BANDWIDTH
EXISTING CONDITIONS

35. NO TRAIL
EXISTING CONDITION

36. TRAIL TYPE
XLEAST COST
UPGRADE EXISTING
TRAIL

37. TRAIL TYPE
XLEAST COST
UPGRADE EXISTING
TRAIL

38. TRAIL TYPE
1MINIMUM COST
WITHIN SITE ON
EASEMENT (ON
GRADE)

39. TRAIL TYPE
2MEDIUM COST –
CANTILEVER

40. TRAIL TYPE
3HIGH COST –
ON STRUCTURE

41. TRAIL TYPE
4MAXIMUM COST –
LAND ACQUISITION
PROGRAM AND
REDEVELOP

46. TRAIL TYPES
OPTION 1

48. Rental & For-Sale Lofts/Apartments
Downtown can support approximately 2,000 new housing
units over the next 5-7 years. Units like:
For-Sale Townhouses
For-Sale Urban Houses
both reuse of existing building and new ones

51. KEY CONSTRAINTS
oFlood protection
oExisting sewer lines
oCost to relocate / demolish
existing uses
oView corridors from nearby streets
oExisting 131 off ramp
oNearby uses and look of Market
Street

54. GREEN LIVING
ROOMPRECEDENTS
BRYANT PARK – NEW YORK, NY MILLENIUM PARK – CHICAGO, IL

62. GOAL 3:

64. Support a car-lite lifestyle
Bike SHARE
Car SHARE
Technology
Accessibility
&
improvements
for all users
Pedestrian enhancements

70. NORTH - SOUTH
IONIA + DIVISON –
EXISTING
FACING NORTH

71. NORTH - SOUTH
IONIA + DIVISON –
PROPOSED
FACING NORTH

72. MANAGE TODAY AND TOMORROW’S
PARKING DEMAND/SUPPLY
IDEAS:

73. GOAL 4:

74. > Identify opportunities for inexpensive, flexible work space close
to downtown
> Protect suitable existing and potential work space from
conversion to other uses: Potential Production Development and
Space Modernization fund
IDEAS: space

75. Map of opportunity areas coming soon

76. IDEAS: programs
> Create university apprenticeships / co-ops
> Leverage/expand programs to address the trailing
spouse issue – tailor for small businesses
> Targeted Recruitment Strategy for Relocation to
Downtown

78. IDEAS:
Temporary Programming
>
Parklet
s
> Outdoor dining /
food truck rally, etc

80. STRATEGY:
> Create active / healthy landscape for Calder
Plaza, government center, medical mile
Section of Michigan?
Drawing showing trail
and programming in
Calder? Rendering /
diagram showing trail
coming down to Monroe?

81. WHAT IF…

82. STRATEGY:

83. STRATEGY:

84. STRATEGY:

86. NEXT STEPS:
> Refine the ideas: edit / add / change
> Implementation: identify priorities &
funding
> Draft Plan: May / June

87. YOUR TURN TO TALK:

89. THANK YOU!