Great photo find! This is from the 1956 based on the cars and the movie showing, also the 100 Grand River building has not been altered. It is interesting to see the facade's stone work that looks like the theater matched the building next door, but I do not think they were part of the same building. I like the cop writing a ticket, his motorcycle is so cool. You have to wonder why they knocked the theater down so long before any of this started. Also why did they cover up or remove the nice stone arched windows. The [late 60's?] re-hab was so ugly, but people back then thought it was modern and looked new. It's all gone now. It will be sad if it becomes a parking lot however temporary.
I noticed that after demolition, the developers have marked off and planted grass only part of the filled in lots. Perhaps this means that they have new development plans forthcoming, and hope to get started soon?
Temporary parking is a possibility I hadn't considered; I'd have to go back and see whether they topped the lots with gravel or dirt fill. But it seems like they have deliberately marked out the seeded areas, so I'm thinking they probably won't be planting any more grass, but who knows.
I drove by the site this morning and noticed that it looks like they are swapping out the fencing that is currently up for taller fence further in from the road. Perhaps this is a positive sign of things to come?
If anything it's a negative sign as they're putting up a more permanent fence, it will be telling to see how good of quality it is. If it looks really well built with nice gates or anything it may be a sign they don't expect much to happen for awhile.
Definitely wishful thinking (and a lack of patience for moving this project forward...) on my part. I was also encouraged by this tidbit at the bottom of an ELi article about the Center City project:
"At the huddle, Mayor Mark Meadows said the City had looked into renting the now-empty lot at the northwest corner of Abbot Road and Grand River Avenue to provide additional parking while parking downtown is disrupted by construction. A vacated old bank building was demolished at that spot in early October.
But the owners of that property, Meadows said, are not interested in dealing with the liability issues that might ensue, and they might be ready to develop the property relatively soon. At the present time, there are no active plans for that site, which forms part of the area known as “the Park District.”
@ratchetwrench If it's true that the owners aren't interested in using property as a parking lot then I'd think that that is pretty promising, I just wonder how soon "relatively soon" will be.
Comments
Great photo find! This is from the 1956 based on the cars and the movie showing, also the 100 Grand River building has not been altered. It is interesting to see the facade's stone work that looks like the theater matched the building next door, but I do not think they were part of the same building. I like the cop writing a ticket, his motorcycle is so cool. You have to wonder why they knocked the theater down so long before any of this started. Also why did they cover up or remove the nice stone arched windows. The [late 60's?] re-hab was so ugly, but people back then thought it was modern and looked new. It's all gone now. It will be sad if it becomes a parking lot however temporary.
After reading the post the theater was part of the original 20th century building. Very interesting thanks for posting it.
I noticed that after demolition, the developers have marked off and planted grass only part of the filled in lots. Perhaps this means that they have new development plans forthcoming, and hope to get started soon?
Yeah I remember hearing that a gravel parking lot was part of the temporary plan.
Temporary parking is a possibility I hadn't considered; I'd have to go back and see whether they topped the lots with gravel or dirt fill. But it seems like they have deliberately marked out the seeded areas, so I'm thinking they probably won't be planting any more grass, but who knows.
I drove by the site this morning and noticed that it looks like they are swapping out the fencing that is currently up for taller fence further in from the road. Perhaps this is a positive sign of things to come?
If anything it's a negative sign as they're putting up a more permanent fence, it will be telling to see how good of quality it is. If it looks really well built with nice gates or anything it may be a sign they don't expect much to happen for awhile.
Definitely wishful thinking (and a lack of patience for moving this project forward...) on my part. I was also encouraged by this tidbit at the bottom of an ELi article about the Center City project:
http://eastlansinginfo.org/content/center-city-district-financing-complete-construction-begin
"At the huddle, Mayor Mark Meadows said the City had looked into renting the now-empty lot at the northwest corner of Abbot Road and Grand River Avenue to provide additional parking while parking downtown is disrupted by construction. A vacated old bank building was demolished at that spot in early October.
But the owners of that property, Meadows said, are not interested in dealing with the liability issues that might ensue, and they might be ready to develop the property relatively soon. At the present time, there are no active plans for that site, which forms part of the area known as “the Park District.”
Never let them put down a parking lot there! It will take 35 years to remove it! Plant grass!
@ratchetwrench If it's true that the owners aren't interested in using property as a parking lot then I'd think that that is pretty promising, I just wonder how soon "relatively soon" will be.