Planting the seeds to make south Division Avenue thrive
Division United is a joint project with The Rapid and the Cities of Grand Rapids, Kentwood, and Wyoming. It’s a coordinated effort to examine Silver Line investments previous and future investments. With the help of community members, we'll work to understand how we can make the corridor more walkable and better connected. Our goal is to make sure future investments benefit the people of south Division Avenue. This plan will deliver a sustainable vision and equitable growth plan for Division Avenue. This means:
- Housing stays affordable
- Jobs are accessible by bus, biking and walking
- Businesses flourish
This is a citizen-driven project, and there is a seat at the table for everyone, including you! We're engaging with diverse community members to collect various perspectives. We know community voices are critical to creating the best plan for the people, neighborhoods, and businesses of South Division.
Have questions? Contact our City Planner Nicole Hofert at hofertn@wyomingmi.gov or 616.530.3170.
Virtual Town Hall Meetings
Hear from the Division United team about the draft plan and projects like safe streets, simplified zoning, arts, and culture. Ask questions about future projects and learn about how to stay involved. Join representatives from Division United, The Rapid, and the cities of Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming for an update on the project. We will be broadcasting on Zoom and Facebook Live at The Rapid’s Facebook page to discuss plans for exciting improvements along the Division Avenue corridor.
Build a Better Block Events
In October, three events gave a glimpse of a more vibrant, inclusive, and accessible South Division Avenue. The Rapid, in partnership with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. and the cities of Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming, hosted three community events in early October as part of the Division United project. The events highlighted three locations along South Division Avenue that will be temporarily transformed into safer, more active and vibrant spaces.
The spaces were transformed with help from Better Block, a national nonprofit that specializes in activating underutilized urban spaces with temporary installations such as pedestrian safety elements, landscaping and outdoor gathering spaces.
Small Scale Neighborhood Development
View the recorded Incremental Development Alliance lecture with Monte Anderson. You'll learn about neighborhood-based development that can help you analyze what makes a good project, how a building makes money, and how small developers interact with the broader ecosystem of professionals in the built environment.
