From Skid Row To Hip City

Innovative developers are transforming a formerly seedy part of Grand Rapids into an Avenue of the Arts by, among other things, rehabilitating four decrepit buildings there into attractive, low-rent studio, gallery, living, and retail business space for artists. The project would fit squarely into Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's "Cool Cities" campaign, which hopes to establish state policies and tax incentives to encourage such projects. But the Legislature has rarely cooperated on affordable housing initiatives, so the developers are relying on less efficient ways to finance their drive to attract artists, part of the lifeblood of any cool city.