The Greater Grand Rapids area is doing better than ever!

Here are a five news updates for the month of July 2016 about and/or from  our wonderful area.

• FIVE NEW TAXI-ONLY ZONES IN DOWN TOWN GR; POSSIBLY ANOTHER NINE WILL BE ADDED!  These newly created areas will allow cab drivers to park and wait for their customers.  Locations include:  Van Andel Arena, Weston at Ionia; East side of Campau, near the JW Marriott; South side of Pearl, NW, at Monroe Center – Rosa Park; Grandville Avenue, near Rapid Central Station & across from Founders Brewing Company; and, West side of Monroe in front of DeVos Place.
• NEW CITY ATTORNEY:  Anita Hitchcock, returning to work in West Michigan from Texas.
• ORNAMENTAL LIGHTING:  The Ottawa Hills neighborhood is getting new ornamental street lighting and 230 property owners will be paying for it via a special assessment.
• GRAND RIVER DAM:  Work has begun, in the Village of Lyon, Michigan, with work crews removing a 160-year-old dam, originally placed in 1857 for a flour mill.  Once workers can shore up the river bank to stop further erosion, our state’s longest and largest river will flow naturally towards Ionia, Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan.
• GRAND CRAFT – HOLLAND:  This mahogany boat building company has purchased the old Chris Craft building near Lake Macatawa and will be building custom runabouts for their high-end clients.  The local company plans to expand to build a new 25-foot Super Sport powerboat.  The company owner is planning to expand his work force carpenters, who will have the knowledge and experience of woodworking with fine furniture as that is what these boats are:  A work of art! Visit their website at: www.grandcraft.com