From our media partners at WOOD TV:
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A plan to spur development along South Division Avenue in Grand Rapids is complete after nearly two years and input from hundreds of community members.
The question now is whether the plan will actually deliver restoration in an area that has suffered from years of neglect.
“Division is a challenging corridor for a number of reasons. It used to be the primary corridor before US-131 was developed,” said Suzanne Schulz, Grand Rapids city planner.
The corridor between Wealthy and 28th streets suffered from the urban flight of businesses in the last half of the 20th century, some of them self-inflicted.
“Part of it was redlined, which means it was difficult if you’re a homeowner to get a mortgage to fix up your property, to fix up your business,” Schulz said.
The new plan is not the first to tackle the problem of decay along South Division, but the city says this one was designed with the people who live and work there.
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