Heritage Hill Visiting Guide

People don’t visit Heritage Hill to party and shop. They visit the neighborhood – one of the country’s largest urban historic districts – to stroll quietly down tree-lined streets, appreciate fine architecture, and soak up the history of Grand Rapids’ oldest residential neighborhood.

“This historical neighborhood boasts more than 1,300 remarkable homes that represent some 60 different architectural styles,” said Steve Samson, a realtor and Heritage Hill homeowner.

For this reason alone this vibrant neighborhood is well worth the visit. Heritage Hill does of course offer a handful of select small businesses and food joints. But the district, located immediately east of Center City, clearly was designed to serve as a first-class residential hub for the urban core.

So instead of the over caffeinated café crowd hitting keystrokes on the laptop, or the pulsing late night dub beats on the club scene, visitors to Heritage Hill are more likely to find a place for relaxation and reflection.

A Historic Showcase
Considering that Heritage Hill’s identity and affluent status depends so intimately on its historic structures, it’s bizarre to think the neighborhood once faced the bulldozers. Weakened by race riots, suburban sprawl, and absentee landlords, the district was threatened with demolition in the 1960’s as city leaders, bankers, and developers conspired to raze the area for urban renewal.

But concerned neighbors organized to preserve the historically significant homes and buildings and on March 11, 1971, after extensive study, federal officials listed the entire neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places. At the time, Heritage Hill became the largest urban historic district in the country.

“Without the push for historic designation Heritage Hill likely would be a sea of vacant lots,” said Rebecca Hoffman, a local preservationist.

Today, Heritage Hill is one of the city’s more magnificent residential districts. Homes date from 1848 and include an array of design styles, including but not limited to Dutch Colonial, Italianate, Prairie, as well as Classic, Greek, Gothic, and Georgian Revival. Two premier attractions include the Meyer May House, built in 1908 by Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Voight House, a French Chateau built in 1895, which now serves as the Victorian Museum.

The Meyer May and Voight houses are open to the public year round at regularly scheduled times. But the Heritage Hill Association provides several additional opportunities for visitors to experience the neighborhood’s exceptional styles and history at their own pace.

The annual Heritage Hill Home Tour is perhaps the most popular way to see the grandeur of the neighborhood. During the two-day event, held every October, people line the streets and homeowners open the doors to their prized residences for public viewing. The association also offers private tours by appointment throughout the year for groups of 20 or more. And maps for self-guided walking tours also are available at the association office and on the Internet.

Day Tripping
Heritage Hill is a highly walkable district whose geographical boundaries touch both the vibrant center city and the charm of smaller neighborhoods and business districts like Cherry Hill and Eastown. But Heritage Hill not only provides ready access to the entertainment, arts, and culinary scene of nearby districts. It also offers several specialized shops of its own scattered throughout the neighborhood.

No trip to Heritage Hill is complete without a stop by Martha’s Vineyard, one of Grand Rapids finest food shops. Martha’s offers one of the most extensive wine and beer selections in the city; a gourmet deli with an array of cheeses, desserts, and homemade salads; and a wide selection of cigars.

This highly popular neighborhood stop also recently added the Nantucket Baking Co., which quickly has become the place to go for fresh bread, gourmet pizza, and even brownies. Nantucket uses top notch ingredients and the fare is affordably priced.

Violet North East, a European-style floral business and gift store, is another charming shop tucked back on the hill. Located just a block down from Martha’s, Violet East displays buckets of flowers reminiscent of Parisian shops or street side flower vendors of New York City. Deanna Bomers, a former international style and trend scout for major corporations, owns and operates the store with a unique flare.

“Her great eye for eclectic style and design is one of the reasons why I always enjoy shopping at Violet,” said frequent customer Jacqui Garcia.

Heritage Square, located near the intersection of Cherry and State streets, is a rapidly emerging business district in Heritage Hill. The area includes the Beijing Kitchen, a Chinese take out stop, and Peppino’s, an affordably priced pizza joint that uses fresh ingredients.

Night Moves
With convenient access to Center City, and a handful of luxury Bed and Breakfasts, Heritage Hill provides comfortable lodging for visitors looking to avoid the major hotels and experience the flavor of the city.

Fountain Hill Bed and Breakfast is one of the more popular inns. Located on Fountain Street just west of Lafayette, this well kept B&B is a short walk from the Civic Theatre, St. Cecilia’s music hall, and other downtown hotspots. Due to its close proximity to downtown, Fountain Hill regularly draws business travelers, university speakers, artists, as well as couples seeking a romantic urban getaway.

Innkeeper Carol Durbridge says Fountain Hill is all about “location, location, location,” but it’s also about service, service, service.

“We offer a highly personalized service not common with hotels,” Durbridge said. “Our service is less homogenized.”

Indeed, Fountain Hill is first class. Two rooms include Jacuzzi tubs. All the rooms include private bathrooms, 500-thread count bedding, and over stuffed comforters. And the gourmet breakfasts consists of farm fresh eggs delivered by a local farmer.

“We believe the guest should decide what they want for breakfast, where they want it, and when it should be served,” Durbridge added. “So we will make it fresh and serve it to your room or in the dining room.”

Be sure to make reservations. With only four rooms, Fountain Hill tends to fill up fast. So Durdridge regularly recommends Peaches, another Heritage Hill B&B located around the corner and down the street in an historic Georgian Manor.

Just a short walk from the Van Andel Areana, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, and an array of downtown pubs and eateries, Peaches also provides convenient downtown lodging at a reasonable rate.

Visitors to Heritage Hill won’t find raucous entertainment and extravagant shopping in the district, although such urban amenities are just a short walk from the neighborhood. What they will find is a meticulously maintained and must-see piece of Grand Rapids’ heritage.
 

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Directions to Heritage Hill

From the North:
Take US-131 South toward Grand Rapids and merge onto I-196 East via Exit 86A on the left toward Lansing. Take Exit 78 for College Ave and turn right onto College Ave NE. Arrive in Heritage Hill.

From the East:
Take I-96 West toward Grand Rapids and take I-196 West toward Downtown Grand Rapids/Holland. Take Exit 78 for College Ave and turn left onto College Ave NE. Arrive in Heritage Hill.

From the South:
Take US-131 North toward Grand Rapids and take the Wealthy St exit, Exit 84A on the left. Turn right onto Wealthy St SW. Continue to Lafayette Ave and arrive in Heritage Hill.

From the West:
Take I-196 East toward Grand Rapids. Take Exit 78 for College Ave and turn right onto College Ave NE. Arrive in Heritage Hill.

Take I-96 East toward Grand Rapids and merge onto US-131 South via Exit 31A toward Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo. Merge onto I-196 East via Exit 86A on the left toward Lansing. Take Exit 78 for College Ave and turn right onto College Ave NE. Arrive in Heritage Hill.

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