Located on the flatlands of the lower West Side, the Stockbridge district is located immediately west of the Grand River and Center City. The area is known for its working-class attitude, rich European traditions and, above all, resilience. The construction of the US 131 highway and Interstate 196 in the 1960's destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in the area. It also scarred the heart and soul of a community. But today the Stockbridge district is emerging as a much stronger and vibrant place than it was before the bulldozers. With a growing selection of pubs, restaurants, and locally-owned specialty shops, as well as aggressive investment in unique urban housing ventures, the Stockbridge area now stands on the leading edge of Grand Rapids' evolution into a thriving 21st century city.
Few people disagree that good mass transit is a key to the vitality of a metropolitan area, and The Rapid is sponsoring a series of articles and videos that promotes conversation about what will serve metro Grand Rapids best.
These modern-day storytellers use floodlights and digital editing in their craft, but John Evans and Corey Niemchick can be as arresting as an old scoutmaster around a campfire when it comes to their images and narrative. Learn more about Storytelling Pictures.
The mastermind of Elevator Up, Aaron Scaap questions whether the old concepts of competition remain true for local software developers who do work nationally, or even globally
Like a beacon, Alexander Calder’s La Grande Vitesse sculpture calls hundreds of volunteers to take part in Festival, a West Michigan tradition in celebrating the arts
Marie-Claire Camp and others in the metro Grand Rapids region hope to level the playing field for the disadvantaged by providing them with computers -- the new necessity for daily living
Paul Stansbie thinks the Grand Rapids metro area is more than holding its own when it comes to hosting visitors: it's taking on larger cities in the hospitality industry
Jim Osterhaven says it was worthwhile to build a $1.5 million addition to Superior Foods' refrigerated facility if it means getting fresh produce from area farms to local restaurants. Here's what Superior Foods Co. and other local businesses are doing to keep the fresh food flowing
Tracey Brame juggles a number of roles as an assistant dean at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, but her favorite: Serving as a model for minority law school students
A bevy of local organizations are targetting Baby Boomers boost the quality of life in metro Grand Rapids. See what's ahead for the over 50 crowd
With some everday items like a computer, digital camera, and checkbook -- and a heavy dose of love for apparel -- you too can start your own fashion design house in Grand Rapids
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