Grand Rapids, Michigan
SperlingViews

Conservative, safe, affordable, great schools, clo - 3/19/2008

I've lived here for 16 years and I find myself complaining about it all Winter long and never complaining all Summer long. For me, it's not so much the cold and clouds in the Winter, it's just that there is so little to do. We've finally resorted to basically vacationing every other week in the Winter and then stay put the rest of the year. As for the economy, the best thing is it is real steady. We don't see huge rises like some places, but we don't see the big crashes either. Real estate is a bargain so if you want to own a big house for nothing, this is the place. Not a great thing however when you go to sell, there is often zero appreciation to even cover real estate fees. the schools are second to none. The community supports the schools with lots of tax money and they pay the teachers well. My kids teachers are simply amazing. No need for private schools here. As for singles and meeting people, again the 25-35 crowd here is pretty lame. I would not want to be hunting for a spouse around here. There is very little money in this town. And the people who do actually have a few bucks, would never do or say anything to let you know it. As I read about places like Scottsdale where it's the first thing on everyones mind or mouth, I guess I kind of like that about GR. And yes, there are a ton of churches and super conservative religious people, but hey, what's the big deal, it's not like they walk around like a cult or something, they're just normal everyday people who happen to stop and pray before they bite into their Big Mac. GR is pushing real hard right now to move the economy more towards medical related industries and they are making great progress. M[more...]

Grand Rapids - 2/19/2008

Grand Rapids.. The people are fairly friendly, but like many midwest cities they do not on the whole like outsiders. The economy is awful. The city is very unappealing looking. The city is very segregated. The winters are pretty severe.[more...]

Grand Rapids isn't so bad... - 10/25/2007

I think a lot of the people who have written about the prevalence of close minded intolerant conservatives in GR are mostly referring to the outlying areas and not urban Grand Rapids. Anyone who has spent a substantial amount of time in the downtown area would know about how diverse, interesting and socially responsible the majority of our downtown citizens are. We have a great community of non profits who offer assistance to those who are homeless, addicted etc. We have a brand new Art Museum, public art pieces by Alexander Calder (the first publically funded public art work in the US), Mia Lin, Di Suvero and others, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, Wealthy Street Theatre, the DAAC… The downtown area has voted Democrat since HW Bush and there is a large and growing liberal community in GR. Heritage Hill is one of the largest historically preserved neighborhoods in the country and includes many beautiful homes. Sure, we probably have more than our fair share of lunk-headed conservatives but because of them our liberal community is close, strong and very vibrant.[more...]

Possible Job Transfer - 9/23/2007

Hello all, I currently live in Wisconsin, was recently transferred there from Phoenix. I have another possible transfer coming up, it would be to Grand Rapids. I was wondering if someone could give me some tips as to daycare, areas to live that are safe, yet close to shopping, entertainment, etc. Also, i would like to find out more about the general crime and what neighborhoods to stay out of. THank you in advance for your reponse... Rick[more...]

Nice if you don't mind the snow - 7/20/2007

I have lived in GR for 10 years and have enjoyed my time here. I particularly like the summer months with all the festivals, concerts & lake activities available. Winter gets a lot of snow & the weather can be quite cloudy so don't move here if you have seasonal affective disorder or are a sun worshipper. I particulary like the fact that cost of living is low, traffic is moderate and the recreational oportunities are good. As others have stated, the economy is weak but GR is stronger than a lot of other midwestern cities that I know of. As for the people, at first, I found them a little cold but they warmed up over time. There is a conservative element of Reformed Dutch here that is clustered mostly in western part of the city and the outlaying areas. However, the city is not entirely conservative & some areas like Easttown are pretty liberal. All in all a decent place to live, I like it better than the other half dozen cities I have lived in.[more...]

Worship - 6/14/2007

There are tons churches everywhere[more...]

BEAUTIFUL CITY - 6/7/2007

Does the one reviewer have Grand Rapids confused with Antarctica? It is definitely not "dark all but a few days in summer". The fact that it goes from winter right into summer is fairly true. I lived in Grand Rapids for around 7 years and enjoyed my stay very much. There's plenty to do for a city of this size. Museums, minor-league baseball, hockey, soccer, arena football, etc. The conservativeness is appealing to many that wish to raise a family. It still offers many cultural events, concerts, etc. Some of the older neighborhoods have gorgeous brick homes. The traffic is very tolerable. It's a half an hour from the beautiful sandy beaches of Lake Michigan. The people are VERY friendly. It boasts some incredible hospitals. All-in-all, a BEAUTIFUL city.[more...]

what to say...Michigan going down hill quick!!!! - 6/4/2007

No jobs, bad weather, 500 cloudy days per year, why live here ....there are 49 other states. Years back I supposed it was ok to live here because there were jobs, but now, forget it !!!!...bye bye ..on this the motor state, no more baby, no more[more...]

Not what it seems - 1/16/2007

Yes this city does have a bit to offer the individual; however, the city cannot hide from the state of Michigan and its despair. If Mr. Devos didn't provide funding for many of the downtown developments, it wouldn't be anything near its present state. On a positive note it is at least not as ugly as most other cities in Michigan (except ann arbor). Mostly blue collar, very conservative and extruded. A lot of people looking for a job in a larger city makes for very difficult times setting foot in this town. The university (grand valley) had a nice campus but mediocre educational opportunities. The city has a lot of opportunities, despite its fate already sealed by the state and its continuous downfall.[more...]

GR is pretty nice - 12/14/2006

Grand Rapids is a great city to live in. It's fairly afforable. I'm a recent college graduate and I have a job that allows me to have my own place, car and a little extra at the end. You can find anything at either end of the spectrum, from fancy to affordable.[more...]

im 29 and...... - 9/19/2006

i have been in this small minded town for 29years, and i have never had a pleasant experience here. the city itself is not that bad but people, black, white, hispanic, or whatever can be stupid. the city of detroit is dying more and more each day which makes jobs here suck even worst than before. it is very conservative here, if u have issues with your kids other mate, i would NOT MOVE HERE. the court systems takes the sid eof the gaurdian, so child support can be up to 50% of your take home amount. it is very segregated here, i do not have a diverse set of friends like i did when i lived in chicago for 2 years. it is the middle of september now, and flakes of snow is already starting to fall. if you are between the ages of 22-35, i would not chosse this as a state or city to move to. i would really have to think long and hard about it if i was over 35 if i wanted to deal with it. real talk![more...]

Too Many Religious Conservatives Here - 8/8/2006

This is a religiously conservative area. If you have progressive modern attitudes, you'd feel better living somewhere else. The economy is bad, and local news and weather is worthless. It is remarkable to notice in everyday life, the overwhelming percentage of stupid people here compared to other areas.[more...]

economy - 7/21/2006

The economy here is not so great at the moment.[more...]

In comparison, It's okay! - 7/19/2006

Many call it the 20-minute city, for one can get to Holland, Lansing, Grand Haven, and Muskegon Michigan in, well, a short amount of time (not necessarily 20-minutes). However, like other cities, Grand Rapids, Michigan does have it problems, but overall there is plenty to see and do close by and the four seasons makes the next season worth waiting for.[more...]

Good Lifestyle - 7/12/2006

After living in San Diego, Baltimore, Columbus (OH), Princeton (NJ) and other locales, we CHOSE to move to Grand Rapids. We were a little hesistant at first because it seems a little conservative (and definitely too high a proportion of Republicans!) but it really does offer a good lifestyle. There are some decent urban amenities -- good restaurants, lots of art galleries, pretty interesting local wineries (they produce Pinot Grigio that is soooo much better than anything produced in California, as well as an abundance of outdoor activities (at Lake Michigan, on the many bike paths, etc.) The weather isn't any more severe (or the days gloomier or darker) than any place else we've lived or traveled. It's pretty typical "midwest" weather and if you don't like the weather one minute, wait 15 minutes and chances are it will have changed anyway. On the job front, manufacturing and other blue collar jobs are disappearing but that's the way of the US economy in general. The city is on the cusp of a boom in medical/healthcare/biotech that will likely spur other professional services jobs and entrepreneurial activity. There's also a lot of building going on -- always a good sign. There seem to be more people moving in from other areas, thinning out the conservative, Christian Reformed and solid white masses -- there's a sizable Hispanic population which isn't well integrated but go to their neck of the words to get some great authentic Mexican food. Shopping leaves a lot to be desired but you can always make a road trip to Chicago. Housing prices are good; houses are fairly well constructed (even though they tend to be very traditional). We've found people to be very friendly and welcoming (but maybe that's because they feel for us for having lived in New Jersey!) Final thoughts -- any where you live is what you make it. We think GR has what it takes to provide a good foundation upon which we can build a good lifestyle.[more...]

Every thing here blows - 7/6/2006

The economy has been dumping for about 6 years with no end in sight. The up side is doctors are in demand due to the large medical bases here and health care for the same reason - if you can afford it. It is down right cold in winter, and summer is way too short. Most jobd do not pay over $10 an hour. It jobs pay very low unless you get into a national company. Heat is expensive, wifi is limited, roads are terrible, businesses just keep leaving, companies expect a bachelors degree with 5 years experience to be worth about $30k - you cant live on that. As I said. Every thing blows here!![more...]

Spring Market - 5/13/2006

The market is finally picking up![more...]

Still a Conservative Town - 5/8/2006

17% of the population of Kent and Ottawa Counties are Christian Reformed; a very conservative, some might say victorian religion. While the majority of the population are Catholic, you'd never know it, as the CRC's walk around like they own the joint. Most young progressive college grads get out of town asap. Also, you must remember that Grand Rapids averages 74 inches of snow per season. [more...]

Too conservative - 5/4/2006

The majority of people with any political persuasion are very rich and very conservative. Because of this, the core "creative youth" tend to leave for larger, more progressive cities shortly after college. There is a large gap of politically liberal people over 30 years of age.[more...]

Totally agree with lack of tolerance - 4/8/2006

GR and mostly surrounding towns are highly intolerant of other people from other places. You are totally correct. Of course, in the eight years I lived here, I met some very nice people, too. However, that CRC stuff is insane and the Dutch who formed it even have a saying, "If you ain't Dutch, you ain't much." Wow, made me feel welcome! GR is HIGHLY segregated and there is a HUGE "white flight" to East GR. If you want to be amazed, go check the population of African Americans in this area! Next to nothing. As far as weather is concerned, there is NO SPRING whatsoever (okay maybe two weeks), and it is dark almost every day except maybe a few days in the summer. The dreariest and darkest place I have ever lived (I've lived in eight states). Lots of women I have met want to leave because it is depressingly dark most days. On a scale of one to ten, I give GR and surrounding areas, i.e. Hudsonville, Jenison, Zeeland a 3 out of 10 in happiness and livability. p.s. I do have many friends here but am leaving this state for good! Thank you![more...]