By: Deborah Johnson Wood
On March 11, the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority got its first look at a proposed project to renew and revitalize a critical area of the downtown riverfront. The purpose of the proposed “urban intervention,” dubbed Lyon Square, is to create an environment that helps attract and retain young professionals and creates vibrancy in the heart of the city’s convention district.
Jeff Speck, a renowned New Urbanist and city planner based in Washington, D.C., worked with Grand Rapids’ Concept Design Group to research the walkability of downtown and create a preliminary plan for the one-block section of Lyon Street between DeVos Place and the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
Speck noted that, instead of being an inviting gateway between the riverfront and downtown, that portion of Lyon looks more like an alley lined by loading docks.
The heart of the proposed redesign is a dancing fountain, water wall and seating at the river’s edge looking west, where an existing, and rarely used, amphitheater now sits. Visitors would step down into a circle surrounded by trees and flowing water. Five residential-sized wind turbines would provide electricity for the fountain and lighting.
Two decorative arches along the alley, brick pavers, and long awnings would divide the alley visually into two “rooms.”
Overhead, strings of lights would create a ceiling effect, and artistic perforated metal sheets could enliven the visual interest of the Skywalk.
Another key area would be an “urban forest” outside the exhibit hall and a proposed outdoor dining space for Bentham’s restaurant.
“More outdoor river walkabout could be a big selling point to attract conventions,” says Ginny Seyferth of Seyferth and Associates. Seyferth is working with Speck and Concept Design Group as part of a group of downtown business leaders looking to bring more vibrancy to the downtown.
“We will have meetings with the Lyon Street stakeholders to determine how to proceed from here,” says Jay Fowler, executive director of the DDA.
Source: Jeff Speck; Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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