Remember a time, not long ago, when many people were afraid to even drive down Wealthy Street, let alone live, work and shop in the district?
Now, it seems like announcements come monthly regarding another building being rehabbed, and those buildings are filling up with great eateries, coffee shops, galleries, community organizations, offices, apartments and people! Much of this revitalization can be traced back to a major catalyst project in the neighborhood: the renovation of
Wealthy Theatre in 1999, a project that took nearly a decade of hard work, sweat and determination to come to fruition.
On September 8, Rapid Growth Media takes on its 6th Speaker Series of 2010, highlighting the history, the fall and rise, and the importance of Wealthy Street to Grand Rapids' viability as a city. The event features an all-star panel, each collectively deserving credit for the rebirth of the Wealthy Street Corridor. Panelists include architects from Paradigm Design and Quinn Evans, who painstakingly designed and oversaw the historic renovations of the Wealthy Theatre in the early 1990's, historic preservationists Rebecca Smith-Hoffman and Dotti Clune, and community activists Carol Moore, Rachel Lee and Craig Nobbelin.
From Madison to Fuller, Wealthy Street has become a dream fulfilled - a miracle of grassroots organization and forward thinking. The speaker series will, through words and images, visit the past, present and future of the street from the early 1900s to 2010 and beyond. The event will conclude with the premiere of a Wealthy Theatre Historic District retrospective video, in production for three years, and the official launch of the Wealthy Theatre Centennial Campaign. There will be many surprises debuted at this event, as well as recollections and discussions involving "the people who were the boots on the ground" in the tough times during the 1980s-1990s. Come hear why historic preservation and urban revitalization is many times characterized with words like "war" and "battle."
Join us Wednesday, September 8th from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy Street. Admission, beverages and concessions are free. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. for pre-event networking.
Please RSVP below if you plan to attend, or at our
Facebook Event PagePhotos courtesy of Wealthy Theatre and the Community Media Center
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