Season Alley
Inspiration images collected from other sources
Have you been to the West Side of Grand Rapids lately? It’s beautiful! And we have ideas to make it even better.
Over the past few years, the area of Bridge Street around our Grand Rapids office has developed into a thriving, vibrant neighborhood of breweries, restaurants, shops and businesses.
While it has created some challenges, there are plenty of options for lunch! With all of this reinvigoration, the alleys behind buildings are the next opportunity.
It is a functional, necessary space - connecting Winter and Summer Streets on the back side of the buildings that front this block of Bridge Street. It provides a place for utilities and mechanical units, dumpsters and recycling receptacles, service doors, loading, deliveries, and downspouts. All of the requisite, but unattractive components that keep a building and a business running smoothly. It's the shortest route from our office to the parking lot, so many of us walk it daily despite the rutted gravel drive, the puddles, the restaurant staff on their smoke breaks, and the odor emanating from the dumpsters.
Inspired by cities around the world that are improving and activating their alleys, we have proposed some changes that could make this passageway more attractive to pedestrians, reduce storm water runoff, and serve as overflow space for the adjacent businesses while still providing necessary back-of-house services. Season Alley (so named because it links Winter and Summer Streets, as Autumn and Spring connect the corresponding seasons) could improve:
Utilizing rain gardens, permeable pavers, and sub-surface water retention, could resolve poor drainage.
Adding dark-sky compliant lighting and windows to increase visibility from businesses would enhance safety.
Adding crosswalks, retractable bollards to limit vehicular traffic during the day, and seating options could benefit pedestrian traffic.
Including murals, sculptures, landscaping, and façade improvements could enhance aesthetics.
Establishing gateways and business signage could establish identity.
Creating additional storefronts, take-out windows, overflow seating for restaurants, and special events could activate the space.
Challenges would still exist in terms of existing utilities and refuse disposal, but in learning from other cities we can find ways to minimize the impact of the undesirable features to increase the appearance and utilization of this overlooked opportunity. With participation of the businesses, the city, and anonymous benefactors—it can happen!
