Tag Archives: 28th Street

Metro Cruise is coming to 28th Street Aug. 25 and 26 with old favorites and new features

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Business, Recreation, West Michigan, Woodland Mall, , , , , ,
WKTV’s DreamWheels red carpet classic car show is always a Metro Cruise premiere event. (WKTV)

By Deborah Reed

deborah@wktv.org

The 28th Street Metro Cruise takes place annually in Wyoming and Kentwood. (Courtesy, Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

Buckle up for the 18th annual 28th Street Metro Cruise this weekend!

15,000+ collector/sports/antique cars, two days, 17 hours, five cities, 13 miles, and hundreds of public and private events will descend upon 28th Street and the surrounding areas on Aug. 25 and 26.

An estimated 200,000 people participate in Metro Cruise related events during this annual two day event.

Since its inception in 2005, Metro Cruise has been a consistent celebration of cars, local business, great food, and family and friends while also continuing the car culture known in the Grand Rapids area.

A new era

Previously owned by the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, Metro Cruise has recently come under new ownership through a privately owned entity.

Despite the change in proprietorship, Wyoming Police Lt. Andrew Koeller said, “The Wyoming Police and the City of Wyoming are providing the same services we have traditionally provided.”

Rogers Plaza mall parking lot in Wyoming is always a focal point for the 28th Street Metro Cruise. (WKACC)

Wyoming Police Department is staffing Metro Cruise with assistance from the Michigan State Police, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Grandville Police, Walker Police, Kentwood Police, and Wyoming Fire Department.

Eventgoers can expect to see WYPD in marked police vehicles, police motorcycles, on bicycles, and on foot.

“The Wyoming Police Department is committed to providing a safe environment during the event for all to enjoy,” said Koeller.

Take a quick Pit Stop

“We are very excited to announce a feature of Metro Cruise we know you’ll love,” the Metro Cruise website states. “There are now more ways than ever to enjoy your favorite auto event.”

Three Pit Stop sites have been added to Metro Cruise. These sites will be smaller, more specialized, and offer easier access than the Main Event sites at Woodland Mall and Rogers Plaza.

Hosting a minimum of four key features – collector car club(s), food vendor(s), official Metro Cruise merchandise, and an entertainment feature – each Pit Stop site will be open to the public with space for free parking.

Popular events

The Metro Cruise Dust Off kicks off the event series each year (WKTV)

Official event times are 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26. The Official Cruise time down 28th Street at 4 p.m. on Saturday. However, it is not unusual to see classic cars cruising along 28th Street all weekend long.

The Woodland Mall Main Event location will offer several family-friendly activities such as live music, Car Smash, RC Car building and racing, a climbing wall, a scavenger hunt, and much more.

Also featured at the Woodland Mall will be the annual DreamWheels Red Carpet Classic Car Show on Saturday from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This premiere event allows audience members to gather along a 135 foot red carpet as beautiful classic cars are revealed and roll by.

Rogers Plaza is the second Main Event location and will also provide live music, various family-friendly activities, the DYNO area, Miss Metro Cruise Finale competition, and the Wyoming High School Color Guard and Drumline.

Plan your visit

Metro Cruise Information Tents at the Main Event sites will have free, full color, printed programs. A full list of events and times can also be found here.

Learn more about Metro Cruise at 28thstreetmetrocruise.org.

Share your photos with us!

Gene Billings and daughter Cathe DeLaney, Metro Cruise 2022 (WKTV)

We want see how much fun you had at Metro Cruise!

Submit your photos from wherever you are at Metro Cruise to general@wktv.org by Monday, Aug. 28 for a chance to have them included in WKTV Journal’s photo gallery.

28th Street Metro Cruise revs in for the weekend

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

The 17th annual Metro Cruise gets underway today with participants able to visit two locations that bookend the 28th Street experience.

The main stage remains at Rogers Plaza, which will be a buzz of activity for both days. This year, Woodland Mall in Kentwood will be the second location, which will be packed with activities and classic cars.

Of course, the best way to check out the action, is to snag a 28th Street Metro Cruise Official Program, which is available online or purchase a hardcopy at the event. Activities at both locations start on Friday and run through 9 p.m. and then

To help you make plans, here are some highlights you won’t want to miss.

At the Rogers Plaza Main Event, there will be free shuttle service provided by The Rapid. Attendees can park at the Wyoming High School, 1350 Prairie Parkway SW, or the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW, to catch a ride to the main stage.

On Friday, the Wyoming High School marching band will perform at 5:30 p.m. Of course, classic car corridor official opens as well.

On Saturday, there will be several events taking place. The final 10 contests for the Miss Metro Cruise will compete for the 2022 title at 3 p.m.

The popular DreamWheels production, produced by WKTV, will be filming at 7 p.m. at the east end of the Rogers Plaza parking lot.

Also, while in the area, make sure to head down to the GM Components Holding, LLC, 2100 Burlingame Ave. SW, where there will be a car show featuring the Futurliner, children’s activities, plant tours and a job fair.

At the Woodland Mall stage, the largest West Michigan Antique Fire Truck Display will be taking place most of Friday along with music, children’s activities and classic car corridor.

Saturday, the music and fun continues at the Woodland Mall with the official cruise time set for 4 p.m.

Near Woodland Mall, Berger Chevrolet will be hosting an all GM show from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit the 28th Street Metro Cruise website or the event’s Facebook page for updates and details.

Photo of the Week: Studio 28

Citizen Journalism, ,

It was an iconic fixture on 28 Street for almost forty years and a big part of the City of Wyoming’s history. Studio 28 opened on Christmas Day in 1965 with a single 1,000-seat theatre ultimately expanded to become one of the largest movie theaters in the area, and the nation, featuring 20 screens by 1988. Studio 28 closed on Nov. 23, 2008, just a month short of its 41st birthday.  The building was demolished in 2014.

It is just one of the many places included in the new book “The Miracle Mile,” which follows the growth of 28th Street from Beals Road to becoming a major thoroughfare for the Greater Grand Rapids area. The book, released by Wyoming Historical Commission, is now available at the Wyoming History Room located at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. The History Room’s normal hours are 9:30 a.m. – noon Tuesdays and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month. The book also will be available during Metro Cruise Aug. 26 and 27. 

MDOT plans move forward on 28th Street resurfacing for 2022

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , ,
MDOT plans to resurface and sidewalk upgrades along 28th Street. (Wikipedia)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

If 28th Street is your major route through the City of Wyoming, over the next five months you might want to start looking for some alternate routes.

In the spring of 2022, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) plans to resurface about five miles of the roadway from Church Avenue in Grandville (just east of the I-196 interchange) to the U.S. 131 interchange in Wyoming.

According to John Richards, MDOT Communications for the Grand region, the project will include upgrading the sidewalks to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and resurfacing of 28th Street.

“Resurfacing will make 28th Street really nice,” Richards said. “It will make it ride and look like a brand new road.”

Tentatively plans call for the sidewalk upgrades to be done from about mid-April to June with there being single-lane closures during the day. From about mid-July to October will be the resurfacing project which will include single-lane closures and double-lane closures at night.

“28th Street has great drainage which allows for it to be only resurfacing,” Richards said.

 

At its Monday night meeting, the City of Wyoming authorized its portion of the project, which was around $114,000. Federal funds will cover about $3 million of the project. According to Richards, engineers estimated the project at $3.9 million with Rieth-Riley Construction, which has a facility in Wyoming, the lowest bidder at $4.4 million.

“Like everyone else we have had a ripple effect on personal shortages, supply shortages, and scheduling conflicts,” Richards said, adding that for the 2020 season most of the MDOT projects were not impacted. “In the case of the 28th Street project, which is a resurfacing, it is fairly straight forward and won’t be impacted by those issues.”

Sidewalk upgrades along 28th Street were made in 2009 followed by a resurfacing in 2011. In  2013, MDOT did crack-sealing maintenance on the road.

 

The work along 28th Street is scheduled to continue in 2023 with resurfacing on 28th Street from Division to Kalamazoo avenues. 

Photo of the Week: Keep it green

Citizen Journalism, ,
Sign in front of City Hall (Wyoming Historical Commission)

We are estimating that sometime in the 1950s, the City of Wyoming had its own “weather ball” system of informing residents about the number of traffic deaths. 28th Street was at its height of usage back then with the Wyoming Fraternal Order of Police sponsored this sign to encourage people to be safe on the road. Located on the northeast corner of DeHoop Avenue and 28th Street, red was for a traffic death, yellow was for traffic injury and green was for no death or injury. The goal “Keep the Green Light going.”

The image is supplied by the Wyoming Historical Commission. The commission operates the Wyoming Mich. Historical Room at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. The history room is open every Tuesday from 9:30 – noon. For more about the Wyoming Historical Commission, visit the organization’s Facebook page.

Large crowds expected at this year’s Metro Cruise

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Metro Cruise takes place Aug. 27 and 28. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

With the attendance at the Metro Cruise Dust Off and at the Miss Metro Cruise preliminaries almost double in past years, Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce President Bob O’Callaghan is pretty confident that this year’s Metro Cruise will also have an increase in attendance.

Set for Aug. 27 and 28, the annual car show has previously drawn about 250,000 people city-wide to dozens of events along 28th Street. Because 2020 had no events due to the COVID pandemic, O’Callaghan said he has seen a huge interest in people wanting to get out and do something this summer. Not only has that been proven with the Metro Cruise’s earlier events but both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood have reported high attendance for the municipalities summer concert series.

 

“So we know people are ready to get out and show their cars,” O’Callaghan said. “We are hoping for a great weekend.”

In response to post-COVID surges seen at other events, Metro Cruise organizers have made some changes for this year’s event. More portable restrooms and hand wash stations have been added. Multiple stations along the main walkway will have hand sanitizer. Collector car parking areas have been shifted further from walkways. The number of vendors also have been decrease in an effort to increase spacing between attendees.

The event will not operate at reduce numbers, nor will mask wearing or six-foot distancing be enforced, unless any Kent County Healthy Department, state or federal mandates are put back in place before the Metro Cruise weekend. 

“We encourage all attendees to be smart,” said Event Manager Brandon Simmons. “If you’re sick with COVID-like symptoms, or have recently been exposed to someone who tested positive, please plan to visit us next year. If you do attend, wear a mask if desired and keep some space around you.”

As for the event, it is going to be bigger than last year with the addition of a second anchor location, Woodland Mall. which will be open on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.. The Woodland Mall location will feature a wide array collector, sports, and antique cars along with activities.

A preview event is set for Tuesday, Aug. 24, 6 – 8 p.m. at Rivertown Ridge, 3555 Copper River Ave. SW. The main event will take place Aug. 27 and 28 at Rogers Plaza parking lot. Rogers Plaza will feature more than 20 food trucks and concessionaires, 400 collector cars, kids entertainment area, Community Awards ceremony and the Miss Metro Cruise competition finale, area bands, and the Dynamometer car testing area.

At the 2019 event, there was a donut challenge between the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. The mayors of both cities have been encouraging another event this year, so Metro Cruise will be hosting the Duel of the Cities chicken wing challenge between Wyoming’s Brann’s Steakhouse and Kentwood’s Candied Yam, O’Callaghan said. The event is set for 11 a.m. Aug. 28 at Rogers Plaza.


But the main attraction of Metro Cruise is the cars, O’Callaghan said.

“We get [the cars] from all over the place and it is the whole 13 miles of 28th Street, It is not just our two locations,” O’Callaghan said. “A lot of folks are doing different events as the week goes on.”

The most important aspect of the Metro Cruise is having people support the local businesses, he said.

 

“So have a burger or purchase a t-shirt from the businesses that are along 28th Street,” he said. 

Photo of the Week: The Road that Runs through

Citizen Journalism,

The area’s most famous road is 28th Street which runs through both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. This aerial view shows 28th Street heading east from the City of Wyoming. The Woodland Mall is located on the right about midway on the photo. The photo was probably taken in the early 1970s.

If you have have old photos of the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, please contact historical commissions for either of those communities. For Kentwood, click here. For Wyoming, click here.

Woodland Mall to be second main event site for 28th Street Metro Cruise

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The 28th Street Metro Cruise draws nearly 250,000 people to the annual event. This year, the event will have a second location at Woodland Mall. (Supplied)

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The 28th Street Metro Cruise® organizers announced the expansion of the popular summertime event to include a second main event site at Kentwood’s Woodland Mall. 

Rogers Plaza has been the sole “official” site of Metro Cruise® for the past 10 years.  Attracting nearly 100,000 people in two days, the main site has grown significantly during the past few years. It now features more than 25 food vendors, 400 collector cars, kid’s entertainment area, Community Awards ceremony, Miss Metro Cruise® competition finale, five top area bands, and the popular Dynamometer car testing area where cars rev to 160 mph.

The new second main event site which will be located in the large southwest parking lot of the Woodland Mall, 3195 28thSt. SE, will be open Aug. 22 from 11 a.m to 8 p.m.  The Woodland Mall location will feature a wide array of collector, sports, and antique cars. It will also have multiple food vendors including popular local food trucks, entertainment for kid’s, and three local bands. A new feature unique to this site will be the Safe City elements – which will include an impaired driving course, jaws of life demonstration, and a distracted driving simulator.

Overall, Metro Cruise® draws nearly 250,000 people city-wide to dozens of events along 28thSt. With the expansion on the east side, those numbers are expected to be exceeded this year.

“We are very excited to increase the reach and footprint of Metro Cruise®”, said Bob O’Callaghan, President and CEO of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our group has been researching this expansion for the past couple years, and the time is now right. This move allows us to have an official presence on the east side of 28th Street, while easing the very high attendance at the Rogers Plaza location.”

The partnership with the immediately recognizable location of the Woodland Mall was a major factor in this new partnership. “Our top choice for a site was the Woodland Mall,” O’Callagha said. “They are a major player along 28th Street.”

The Rogers Plaza site will remain the largest site of Metro Cruise®, with all elements returning for this year’s event, including a free shuttle service courtesy of the Rapid partnership. The famous Collector Car Row, the lineup of 200-plus show cars along 28th Street, will be featured each day. The Main Event at Rogers Plaza (972 28thStreet SW) will be Friday, Aug. 21 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 22 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The next big event for the Metro Cruise will be the annual Dust-Off which will take place May 4 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Wyoming Moose Lodge, 2630 Burlingame Ave. SW.

 

For more information and schedule of events visit www.28thstreetmetrocruise.com.  Follow the Metro Cruise on Facebook (f/metrocruise) and Instagram (@metrocruise). The 28th Street Metro Cruise® is owned and managed by the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

Saying good-bye: Studio 28 Flea Market closes after 50 years

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, ,
Marti and Bruce Johns have been the managers at the Studio 28 Flea Market. Bruce has been with the market for 35 years and Marti has been with the market for 33. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org


As Bruce and Marti Johns sit in the little white booth at the Studio 28 Flea Market, they swap more than just money and spaces, they share the stories that make up the 50-year history of the market.

The original permit to open the Studio 28 Flea Market. (Supplied)

“He’s been doing it for 35 and I’ve been doing this for 33,” Marti said and with a laugh adds. “I just knew if I wanted to spend my weekends with him that I was going to have to do this.”

“It’s always been about family,” Bruce Johns said. “For 35 years, we have seen these people every weekend, sharing their stories, their lives from wedding announcements to babies coming to everything that happens from one weekend to another.”

Started 50 years ago when the East Beltline Drive-In was still located at 1400 28th St. SW, the flea market will have its last weekend this Saturday and Sunday. The 13 acres along the back side of the property along Prairie Avenue, and where the market is located, is in the final stages of being sold. The lot is owned by Studio C, which owns and operates Celebration! Cinema.

“It is not a money maker and over the past several years it has made enough to cover the taxes,” said Emily Loeks, public relations and community affairs for Studio C. For most of its history, it has cost 50 cents for attendees. Vendors pay a separate fee to get a spot.

“In reality, you are not going to keep such a prime piece of property vacant forever,” Loeks said. The entire property is 20 acres with seven acres along 28th Street still available.

In fact many of the vendors and attendees said they knew the market could end some day. 

“I think for the past 10 years, there has been a rumor that this is going to be the last one,” Bruce Johns said. “Well, this year, it really is the last one.”

There have been some efforts to try and relocate the market to another location, but with one option falling through, it does not appear that anything will happen this year. So instead, vendors and attendees are spending the last weekend celebrating the market’s history.

  • Produce has always been available at the market. (WKTV)
  • Shoppers make their way from booth to booth. (WKTV)
  • Clothing items for sale at the Studio 28 Flea Market. (WKTV)
  • Vendors sold all kinds of things at the market. (WKTV)
  • An attendee looks over the toys. (WKTV)
  • Boxes of treasures await discovery. (WKTV)
  • Bedding and house items were common at the market. (WKTV)
  • A vendor offers meals and food items. (WKTV)
  • Handmade crafts we’re also at the Studio 29 Flea Market. (WKTV)
  • Unique and hard-to-find speciality food items. (WKTV)
  • Produce items at the market. (WKTV)
  • Canned jellies and honey at the Studio 28 Flea Market. (WKTV)

Officially started on May 20, 1970, the market was the idea of John D. Loeks, the founder to Celebration! Cinemas. Loeks already operated the East Beltline Drive-In on the site.

“My grandfather was an entrepreneur,” Loeks said. “He started many things. He had a trampoline park, a putt-putt golf and succeed with many ventures, one that became Showspan, which brings in all the sports expos and other shows.”

“According to my understanding, [John D.] Loeks went to California and saw a market like this and decided to bring it here,” Johns said.

Loeks said that the drive-in at the time was empty for parts of the week, so it was set up that vendors could have a space between each post on the drive-in lot.

In the early years, vendors would wait in line and then race once the doors were open to stake out their spot. After the drive-in was closed and the lot was paved for Studio 28, lines were added to indicate spots with vendors being able to rent a designated spot for the day, weekend, or month.

The market has 457 booths. On its biggest weekend in the summer, there might be 300 vendors and about 4,000 customers, Loeks said. More recently, the market is usually half to three-fourths full, mostly depending on the weather, she said. The market has been impacted by other local markets opening but the closest one similar the Studio 28 Flea Market it is in Paw Paw, according to attendees.

Sharon and Alex Cardosa, of Dorr, have been visiting the Studio 28 Street Market for many years. (WKTV)

“There is something about the feel to this particular market,” said Alex Cardosa, of Dorr, who has attended various flea markets for about 30 years. Cardosa said he spends about every weekend from April to October, when the market is usually open, with his wife, walking and looking for deals on a variety of items such as tools, antiques, artifacts, collectibles or “just the unusual.”

“Wet a certain amount of farm choirs done in the morning and then come here to get our exercise in,” said Cardosa’s wife Sharon, with Cardosa adding “the folks here just really make it work.”

Longtime vendor Lynn Baker with Studio 28 Flea Market Operations Manager Bruce Johns. (WKTV)

Grand Rapids resident Lynn Baker agreed as she has been a vendor at the market since it opened 50 years ago.

“I’m low income and so this has been a way for me to supplement my income,” said Baker, who said she attends other markets in the summer as well. Baker sells home goods, clothing, and accessories. “I love coming. I love the people. I love what I do.”

Grand Rapids resident and Studio 28 Flea Market vendor Tami Eisenhuth was introduced to the Studio 28 Street. Market by her mother, Lorene, who also was a vendor. (WKTV)

“It’s the people,” said Grand Rapids resident Tami Eisenhuth. Eisenhuth said she had been coming to the market since she was a little girl with her mother Lorene, who was known as the cookie lady. 

“She would bring tins of cookies with her and hand them out to people,” Eisenhuth said. “She would tell people not to wash the tins because she was afraid they would not let them air property and then the tins would rust.”

Bruce Johns said he remember those cookies and this past week, as a tribute to her mother, Eisenhuth handed out cookies to her Studio 28 Flea Market “family.”

“When my mother died,” Eisenhuth said with a tear in her eye, “we put her stuff out to sell. People were like ‘Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!’ because there were a lot of lions and bears. People bought something to remember her.”

Longtime vendor Allie Henning, pictured with granddaughters Alyssa Armano and Kaleigh Blakeslee, said when the market closes, he will be retiring. (WKTV)

“When it closes next weekend, it will be the end for me,” said Allie Henning who started his business after his plant shutdown 20 years ago. “I have been to other markets and this is the one I do. In fact, it is now the only one I do and I have a clientele that follows me. But when its done, I’m done too.”

Last weekend also will be the last for the Johns as well. 

“I would do this for another 50 years,” Bruce Johns said. “But things do have to come to an end. So instead, I am going to look forward to having my weekends free, play with grandchildren and do a little traveling.”

The Studio 28 Flea Market is open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Some vendors are there as early as 6 a.m. While the address is listed as 28th Street, the main entrance is off of Prairie Avenue across from the Wyoming High School. For more information, visit the Facebook page, Studio 28 Flea Market. 

Metro Cruise Dust-Off, deadline for Miss Metro Cruise contest this Saturday

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , ,
1956 Corvette

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Saturday’s weather is predicted to be a nice 67 degrees, a perfect day to bring those classic cars out of storage.

The Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 6th Annual 28th Street Metro Cruise Dust Off Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, 2630 Burlingame Ave. SW. It is the first official event of the 15th annual Metro Cruise, which this year will take place on Aug. 23 and 24.

The annual Dust-Off has become a tradition and a kick-off to the summer car shows with car owners finally being able to show off what has been stored under those tarps.

The event, according to Bob O’Callaghan, president/CEO of the Chamber, usually brings in a 100 to 150 cars, depending on the weather. The first 50 collector car owners to the Dust-Off will receive a free Dust-Off shirt, which has become a collector’s item. 

To learn more about the Metro Cruise, visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com.

The Metro Cruise Dust-Off is Saturday, May 4

This year’s Dust-Off also will featured contestants for the Miss Metro Cruise contest (formerly the Pin Up Girl contest.) The annual contest features women dressing in eras from the 1920s, 1960s, to modern-day in full hair, makeup, and costume to present their best rockability look. Miss Metro Cruise has become a popular facet to the Metro Cruise program, according O’Callgahan.

“We are always pleased to see how the women take their time to showcase their professional and classy self-expressions,” he said. “It is a true artistry they present and has become a staple in the event.”

Deadline to submit for the Miss Metro Cruise contest is Saturday, May 4, at noon. Contestants must submit a headshot along with a full body shot at the time of entry. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. To enter, visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com/2019MissMetroCruise. 

Currently there is about 30 participants all ready registered for the contest. Participants will attend the preliminary contest set for July 13 at 110:30 a.m. at the Wyoming Moose Lodge #736 located at 2630 Burlingame Ave. SW. They will be competing for an opportunity to win a spot within the top 10 finalists. Each finalist will receive a personalized trading cards and appear on the 28th Street Metro Cruise Contest main stage on Saturday, Aug. 24, for a change to be named Miss Metro Cruise 2019. The top three finalists will receive a cash prize.

Two neighborhood clean ups set for tomorrow, depending on weather

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , , , ,

The Annual Division Avenue Clean up is set for Saturday from 7:45 – 10 a.m.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Two neighborhood groups plan to hit the streets Saturday, April 14, for annual clean ups along Division Avenue and 28th Street.

 

At 7:45 a.m., community members are invited to meet at Godwin Heights High School, 50 35th St. SW, for the Division Avenue Annual Clean-Up hosted by the Division Avenue Business Association (DABA). Work will be along Division Avenue from 28th Street to 44th Street. The event is from 7:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.

 

Abundant Life Church is hosting the Team Up to Clean Up event for 28th Street. Volunteers are asked to meet at 10 a.m. at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW. Volunteers will be working along 28th Street from Burlingame Avenue to Byron Center Avenue. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. with lunch provided.

 

Of course with the National Weather Service having placed the Kent County under a winter storm watch, organizers of the event advise residents to double check that events are taking place before heading out.

 

For the Division Avenue clean up, visit the Facebook page by clicking here.

 

For the 28th Street event, visit the event page by clicking here or got to the Abundant Life Church of God Facebook page.

Metro Cruise hits the teens as it marks its 13th year this weekend

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , , , ,

The Pin Up Contest takes place at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Main Stage at Rogers Plaza.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

It’s gonna be cars, cars and more cars this weekend as the 13th Annual Metro Cruise takes place this Friday and Saturday along 28th Street.

 

Once again, the epicenter of it all will be Rogers Plaza with cars, vendors and food along with WKTV on site to record the two-day event.

 

“It has grown into quite a large event,” said Bob O’Callaghan, the president of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, which ha hosted the annual event. “The original thought process was to get a few cars and a couple thousand people at Rogers Plaza to highlight 28th Street and last year we have about 250,000 people and about 16,000 collector cars.”

 

New to this year’s event is the Blessing of the Cars which takes place Thursday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. at Wesley Park United Methodist Church, 1120 32nd St. SW. The lot will open for cars starting at 6 p.m. Cars should enter off of 32nd Street or Michael Avenue.

 

On the east end of 28th Street will be the Cascade’s Metro Cruise Warm Up from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Thornapple Center, 6797 Cascade Rd SE. (near the Cascade Road and 28th Street intersection.) Along with lots of cars, there will be food trucks, live music from the band Decades, kids’ activities, and a dunk tank to benefit the Kent County Sheriff’s Department’s K9 Unit. The event is sponsored by the Cascade DDA, Cascade Community Foundation and the Forest Hills Business Association.

 

Other new additions to this year is expand hours for the event with it running from 4 – 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, and 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, said O’Callaghan, noting the closing times are about an hour later than in previous years.

 

For Friday, Aug. 25, food and vendors will be at Rogers Plaza along with a variety of cars. Main Stage entertainment will feature Big Boss Band at 4 p.m. followed by local country singer Kari Lynch at 7 p.m.

 

While the event starts on Friday, which O’Callaghan noted organizers have seen increase attendance Friday night over the past several years, the official opening ceremonies take place at 9 a.m. Saturday. During the ceremonies, the GM Foundation presents checks to several local charities.

 

At a 11 a.m., about eight ladies will compete in the annual Pin Up contest, which is an era-type contest with the ladies involved dressing according to the era they represent, O’Callaghan said,

 

“The belief before people get to know Pin Up is that it’s just women perpetuating the old school idea that women should be beautiful and something that men should look at,” said Amanda Miehle, who is Victory Belle and will be competing in this year’s contest. That women can’t be more than a pretty face but Pin Up is so much more than that. It is empowering. Women took something with a stigma and a label that was once almost degrading to women and they reclaimed it. These women are amazing. They are strong. They are empowering. They are uplifting to other women. They are not afraid to get on a stage and show the world they are beautiful.

 

“It’s kind of like taking something and making it our own.”

 

There is more music starting at noon on Saturday with blues group Out of Favor Boys followed by country group Stolen Horses at 3:30 p.m. and JetBeats wrapping up the evening with a performance from 7 – 8:45 p.m.

 

Of course there are activities all along 28th Street at various businesses and car dealerships. One such event that takes place through the entire month of August is the Art Cruise. Similar to ArtPrize, local artists are matched with 18 Wyoming businesses where the artists’ work is featured for the month.

 

For a complete list of the businesses — or for more about this year’s Metro Cruise — make sure to pick up a brochure at the event or visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com.

Annual Metro Cruise Dust-Off event helps everyone to cruise into summer

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , , , , , , ,

The deadline for entries for the annual Metro Cruise annual Pin Up Girl Contest is June 23.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

The signs of woodies and rag-tops, steel wagons and coupes. Roadsters running the length of 28th street and big-block V8s growling as they pass by. And of course we can’t forget the chrome, lots and lots of it sparkling in the sun.

 

Believe it or not, but the annual kick off to one of the area’s biggest car cruising events is this weekend. The annual Metro Cruise Dust-Off takes places from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Wyoming Moose Lodge #763 located at 2630 Burlingame Ave. SW.

 

The event has become an annual tradition and a kick off to the summer car shows with car owners finally being able to show off what has been stored under those tarps.

 

“We hope to have 100 – 150 cars at the Dust Off on Saturday,” said Bob O’Callaghan, president/CEO of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the annual event. O’Callaghan added that the first 50 collector car owners get a free Dust-Off shirt, which have become a collector’s item.

 

And while the Metro Cruise itself — which is Aug. 25 and 26 — is still about four months away, planning and preparation for the annual event, which marks its 13th year this year, have been well under way with several deadlines fast approaching.

 

The popular Art Cruise hosted by the Wyoming Business Leaders has already put a call out for artists for this year’s show. Similar to Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize, several Wyoming businesses feature the work of various local artists during the month of August, the same month as the Metro Cruise.

 

Interested artists have until June 1 to sign up to participate. The cost is $10, which is used to help cover marketing materials. For more information or to sign up, contact Donna Kuba, who runs Instant Cash Advance, at 616-261-4500 or email her at artcruisewyoming@gmail.com.

 

Entries for the annual Pin Up Girl contest are also being accepted. The Pin Up Girl contest will take place July 8 at the American Legion Post 154, 2327 Byron Center Ave. SW. The final competition will take place during Metro Cruise on Aug. 26, rain or shine according to O’Callaghan who said this year space has been reserved in Rogers Plaza for the contest if the weather is not cooperating.

 

Application deadline is June 23. All contestants must provide a head shot and full body shot with costume and makeup. Those interested should email the JA PR Group at staff@japrgroup.com.

 

For details and up-to-date information, make sure to visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com or visit the Metro Cruise Facebook page at Facebook.com/metrocruise.

Wyoming police cruiser hit in OWI crash

City of Wyoming, Hard News, , , ,

wyoming police dept signOn Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, at approximately 12:50 a.m., a Wyoming Department of Public Safety cruiser was struck by a vehicle in the intersection of 28th Street and Buchanan Avenue SW.  The crash occurred when a north bound vehicle driven by a 27-year-old male from Comstock Park failed to yield the right of way as it was turning west onto 28th Street.  The cruiser was traveling east bound and had a yellow flashing light.

 

The 29-year-old officer was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries and has since been released.  The driver of the at fault vehicle was arrested at the scene for Operating While Intoxicated and has been lodged in the Kent County Correctional Facility.

 

Wyoming Public Safety personnel continue with their investigation into the crash.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616.530.7300 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.

 

Wyoming police continue investigations into two weekend fatal crashes

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Hard News, , , ,

Wyoming Public Safety Department blocks off northbound Byron Center Avenue at 52nd Street.

Wyoming Department of Public Safety continues its investigation into two fatal crashes which includes reaching the kin of the victim of the second fatal crash which took place on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 24.

 

The Department responded around 10:35 pm. to a a report of a serious traffic crash on 28th Street and S. Division Avenue. The crash occurred when a west bound vehicle driven by a 25-year-old Grand Rapids female struck a male pedestrian that ran south across 28th Street in front of her vehicle. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by the medical examiner. The victim did not have identification at the time of the crash.

 

The victim was described as between 20- to 30-years-old, possibly Hispanic, 5’ 4” – 5’ 5”, 130-140 pounds, dark hair, mustache, wearing blue jeans, blue hooded sweatshirt, blue with orange high-top shoes. He was later identified with the Department working to reach the next of kin and hopes those looking for someone would reach out to the Department at 616-530-7300.

 

At this time it does not appear that alcohol or speed was a factor in the crash. according to a police report.

 

This was the second of two fatal crashes that took place within the city on Saturday.

 

The first took place in morning with the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responding to the report of a serious vehicle crash on Buchanan Avenue and Plaster Creek at 9:45 a.m. The crash occurred when a westbound vehicle driven by a 22-year-old female from Wyoming ran the stop sign and struck a vehicle driven by a 29-year-old male also from Wyoming. This vehicle then rolled over and was struck by a third vehicle in the roof line. The 29-year-old male, identified as Beranado Diaz-Martinez, was pronounced dead at the scene by the medical examiner.

 

The initial investigation indicates that speed may have been a factor in the crash, according to a report from the Wyoming Public Safety Department. At this time, it does not appear that alcohol was a factor, according to the same report.

 

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety continues its investigation into both crashes. Anyone with further information on either incident is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.

Wyoming police continue investigation into suspicious fire

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Hard News, , , ,

Wyoming Public Safety Department blocks off northbound Byron Center Avenue at 52nd Street.
Wyoming Public Safety Department blocks off northbound Byron Center Avenue at 52nd Street.

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety continues its investigation into a suspicious fire that happened over the weekend at a dental office on 28th Street.

 

The Public Safety Department responded around 7:50 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, to a report of a suspected arson at Destiny Dental, 1124 28th St. SW. Witnesses reported a white male in his 30s, stocky build, short dark hair,  broke out the front door window and threw a Molotov cocktail inside.

 

The fire was extinguished quickly and caused minimal damage to the business. There was no structural damage reported. No injuries were reported as the business was closed at the time of the incident.

 

Witnesses stated that the white male suspect left the scene in a black Pontiac Grand Prix, with an unknown license plate.

 

Wyoming Department of Public Safety is asking that anyone with information about the incident or that will lead to the identification of the suspect and vehicle contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.

Going Local: Maya Mexican Grill

3-bottom, Food, Going Local, Local Business, WKTV Projects, , , , ,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Mike’s Portion

 

By: Mike DeWitt

Mike.DeWitt@wktv.org

 

With the Metro Cruise filling 28th Street this weekend, we figured it would only be right to pick a restaurant right in the heart of Roger’s Plaza. One restaurant, Maya, jumped out to both Joanne and I as neither of us had been and we were both craving Mexican.

 

Maya is an authentic Mexican restaurant located in Roger’s Plaza where the old Big Boy used to be, but you wouldn’t know it upon entering. When you walk through the restaurant doors you are transported to another world outside of Roger’s Plaza, the City of Wyoming, and the United States. The restaurant is decorated to feel like Playa del Carmen with authentic chairs and themed paintings filling the walls.

 

Talk about setting the mood.

 

Once seated, we were greeted by our wonderful waiter named Reuben and given a basket full of chips and salsa. Reuben was fluent in spanish and quizzed Joanne and I on our own ability to speak to the language… my Spanish teachers from Michigan would’ve been very disappointed in what I’ve retained.

 

Enchilada and a mini burrito, I barely knew the
Enchilada and a mini burrito, I barely knew the

The lunch menu was quite large and very reasonably priced. I ended up choosing lunch item number four – excuse me, numero quatro – which included an enchilada, mini burrito, rice, and refried beans. It was wonderful and quickly filled the hunger building deep inside me. As I finished my last couple of spoonfuls of refried beans, I felt as though my stomach might burst.

 

Then Joanne thought it would be a good idea to order desert. I was suddenly hungry again.

 

Okay, so it didn’t quite go like that. Joanne just didn’t decide desert was necessary, it just kind of happened organically. One second we’re talking about churros with Reuben and the next second he’s bringing us both our own massive servings of Chimi Cheese Cake with vanilla ice cream. Reuben claimed he gave us each a half order. I’m telling you right now, if what we were given was a ‘half order’, I actually fear for the person who orders the Chimi Cheese Cake on their own. May you rest in peace.

 

Maya's Chimi Cheesecake
Maya’s Chimi Cheesecake

The Chimi Cheese Cake was top-notch. It was rich cheesecake folded into a deep-fried tortilla and covered in cinnamon, sugar, and drizzled with chocolate and carmel syrup, and I think some saliva just spilled onto my keyboard as I typed this sentence.

 

Maya had tasty food and a wonderful atmosphere. I will be going back. However, next time it won’t be for work… I hear their margaritas are top-notch.

 

Joanne’s Portion

 

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

The transformed space at Maya Mexican Grill literally made me feel like I had walked right into a restaurant in Old San Diego. Orange walls with wicker-style seating and bold black booths made this a place that I wanted to hang…for a while. And Mike and I kind of did, spending about an hour and half enjoying the atmosphere, the food and the company of our waiter, Reuben.

 

Even though Reuben did mistake Mike as my son, I have to give him a lot of props for making our visit entertaining. He is the kind of waiter you want at any restaurant, funny, informative, attentive and even tried to teach me a little Spanish.

 

Ever the bargain hunter, I once again zeroed in on the daily lunch specials, which are $6.99 (regular lunch specials start at $7.99). Wednesday’s special is either flautas or two min-burritos. Now I love Mexican food but in all my food adventures, I have not tried a flauta, so I decided to be bold and take the risk. That and Mike had a mini burrito coming with his meal. The flautas are rolled-up tortillas with filling — I had chicken — and then fried. It came with refried beans and rice.

 

The Flautas which are the Wednesday special at Maya.
The Flautas which are the Wednesday special at Maya.

The flautas were perfect, fried to be just crispy enough with the chicken — I tried just the filling — being melt in your mouth delicious. If a Mexican restaurant is going to fail it is with the refried beans, which if canned or processed can taste waxy. Maya’s refried beans easily passed the taste test and went perfectly with the tortilla chips.

 

So happy with the meal that I asked about churros, which Reuben sadly told us Maya does not offer. It does however have a Chimi Cheese Cake, which Mike and I split. The cinnamon-encrusted chimi — which was deep-fried and accompanied by a scoop of ice cream with sprinkles and drizzled with syrup — was the perfect substitute and took care of my sweet craving.

 

So Maya has made it to my repeat list mostly because Reuben told us about the restaurant’s “best in town” margaritas. I am all too happy to judge that claim for myself. In fact, Mike and I are planning our return visit to be after the DreamWheels! show Saturday, Aug. 27 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. If you can’t find us, just ask for Reuben’s section as we will be sitting there.

 

Victoria’s condiments

 

Just a quick note here to say that my dear co-workers were kind enough to bring me some takeout from Maya, and YUM! I really scored big! I normally hang back from participating in these in-person taste tests because, let’s face it, somebody has to work here, right?

 

I chose the Maya Rolls and I was really glad I did. The blackened chicken breast was cooked and seasoned to perfection, the spinach, sprouts, tomatoes and other veggies rounded out the presentation, and there were even bits of avocado that surprised my taste buds (in a very good way). Dipped into the cajun sauce… sinfully delicious.

 

And as a tasty bonus, these very same awesome co-workers (who now have a very special place in my heart) had saved me a piece of Chimi Cheese Cake, and I can honestly say that I got high off of that. The high lasted the rest of the afternoon. Well, almost.

 

I will definitely be checking out Maya Mexican Grill. Can’t wait!

DreamWheels!: Rev up for Metro Cruise by taking in some local art

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

 

It seems logical that an artist like David Reinbold would be interested in participating in Wyoming’s Art Cruise. After all Reinbold has built a reputation out of creating stained glass sculpture replicas of peoples’ cars and Art Cruise is part of West Michigan’s biggest car event, Metro Cruise.

 

Art Cruise is an annual art event similar to Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize in that several Wyoming businesses feature the work of various local artists during August, the same month as Metro Cruise, which is Aug. 26 and 27. In a way, Art Cruise helps people get revved up for the big event, said Art Cruise Coordinator Donna Kuba, who runs Instant Cash Advance and is part of the West End Business Group that founded Art Cruise.

 

This year, more than 25 artists will display their work in 17 Wyoming businesses with a list of business locations available at 28thstreetmetrocruise.com.

 

“It’s really just a way to support the community,” said Jerry DeGood, who owns Auto Finance/J’s Motor Sales, at 2939 Division Ave. DeGood said his place has a nice open space for an artist and is excited about featuring the work of former General Motors employee David Townsend.

 

“I’ve always painted as a hobby,” Townsend said. After the 36th Street GM plant shutdown, Townsend said he decided to paint on a more regular basis. This is Townsend’s first year participating with his work showing at two locations, Auto Finance/J’s Motor Sales and The Chiropractic Doctors at 4415 Byron Center Ave. SW.

 

Outsider Artist Dirk W. Hughes said he loves the grassroots feel of the event. “It’s just people coming together with no alternative motive other than to support each other,” said Hughes, whose work will be at Edward Jones, 185 44th St. SW.

 

This also is why artist and Grand Rapids Public Schools fourth-grade teacher Holly Peterman decided to participate as well.

 

“I grew up in Grandville and I saw the flyer for Art Cruise where you could display for a whole month and thought, ‘I want to do that,’” said Peterman who’s prints and etchings will be at El Informador, 2000 28th St. SW and Maya Mexican Grill, 1020 28th St. SW.

 

“It’s an opportunity where people can see a lot of art,” Peterman said. “It’s a great opportunity for both the artist and the business owner. The business owner has people coming in to view the work and the artist is able to get the word out about what they do.”

 

And that is the main reason Reinbold has been participating in Art Cruise since almost its inception.

 

“I really got to know and meet a lot of different people last year,” Reinbold said. During the event, “I pretty much show what I can do. People can give me a picture of their car or motorcycle – I can even do an airplane – and I create 3-D sculpture out of glass.”

 

It’s also not about making money either, but about the experience as Hopkins High School student Madalyn Hatfield can attest. Three years ago, Art Cruise gave her the opportunity to get her “feet wet” in the art world and now she is looking to pursue a career in animation. She once again will be showing at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW.

 

For details about the artists and businesses participating in this year’s Art Cruise, visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com.

 

Make sure to check out the “DreamWheels” show which will be broadcasting live Saturday, Aug. 27 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Pal’s Diner, 6503 28th St. SE, and Rogers Plaza, 972 28th St. SW. The show will air Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on WKTV Channel 25.

DreamWheels!: History of Metro Cruise

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, WKTV Projects, , , , , ,

As the sun sits high in the sky, radiating down on the blacktop of 28th Street, hundreds of thousands of people bustle up and down the road taking in the sights. More than 15,000 cars waxed, shined, and ready for primetime cover the street and parking lots as spectators take in the grandeur of these classic beauties.

 

For the past 11 years, the 28th Street Metro Cruise has brought together generations of people by allowing them to a trip through memory lane by cruising down 28th Street in a classic car. While the event is now ingrained into the fabric of 28th Street and the communities that participate, not everyone was initially onboard.

 

“When the idea [for the Metro Cruise] came up, I was thinking, ‘this is not going to work,’” Bob O’Callaghan said with a laugh. Callahan, who now serves as the president of the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, was a Chamber board member during the creation of Metro Cruise. “But I turned out to be wrong.”

 

With the completion of the M-6 highway in 2004, there was concern that traffic would dissipate from 28th Street and turn a street that was once the second busiest in Michigan into an afterthought. The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce set out to find a way to continue to drive traffic down 28th Street and to the local businesses in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood. The Chamber saw a problem, and the solution would hinge on the local car culture.

 

Metro Cruise“The idea for the Metro Cruise came from the Woodward Dream Cruise” said Charlie Steen, one of the main think tanks behind Metro Cruise. “We were looking for promotion for 28th Street and the businesses on the strip, and we felt it was an opportunity for merchants to benefit from the event.”

 

Steen, the former Economic Development Director for the City of Wyoming, approached then Chamber President John Crawford with the idea for the Metro Cruise. With the help of Dan Van Dyke from Fruit Basket Flowerland and Todd Duncan from Consumers Energy, the Chamber went all in to make the event a reality.

 

“We were very fortunate with the help of the city mayors, councils and governments, and the Chamber of Commerce,” said Steen. “We had to work with Wyoming, Kentwood, Grandville, Grand Rapids, and Cascade Township to make the Metro Cruise a reality.”

 

With everyone on board, it came down to one thing: Would anyone show up?

 

“During the early planning stages for year one, we actually hoped that we might get a couple of thousand people to show up and hoped to have a couple hundred cars,” stated Todd Duncan in an interview in 2014 reflecting back on the 10th Anniversary of Metro Cruise.

 

Turns out, the initial estimates didn’t quite comprehend West Michigan’s love for cars. The Metro Cruise went live in 2005 and 85,000 people came to see what it was all about.

 

“Without the car crazies from West Michigan, the Metro Cruise wouldn’t happen,” said Steen.

 

Metro CruiseWhile the participation was better than expected, and getting the inaugural event to make it from concept to reality was a success in itself, the first year of Metro Cruise didn’t accomplish its primary task.

 

“It was not a success with the Chamber, we lost money that first year,” explained O’Callaghan. “We thought we’d go in all the way with 16 different locations around 28th Street. It was too much and we scaled it back the second year with the Chamber staying in and focusing on Roger’s Plaza.”

 

The Chamber saw the potential of Metro Cruise, and instead of dumping the idea after losing money in year one, they adapted and continued to build the event. Since 2005, Metro Cruise has grown from 85,000 participants to more than 250,000, and well over 15,000 vehicles as well. The increase in event traffic has led directly to an influx in commerce for the local businesses.

 

“The Chamber did a survey three years ago and found out that $3.3 million was spent on the 28th Street corridor on the weekend of Metro Cruise,” said O’Callaghan. “It’s doing what it’s supposed to do as far as the financial side and the awareness.”

 

As the cruise prepares for its 12th year, car lovers from all over the state, and the country, will pour onto 28th Street to enjoy automobiles from generation to generation.

 

Make sure to check out the “DreamWheels” show which will be broadcasting live Saturday, Aug. 27 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Pal’s Diner, 6503 28th St. SE, and Rogers Plaza, 972 28th St. SW. The show will air Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on WKTV Channel 25.

Wyoming’s 28 West moving from concept to reality

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Hard News, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

 

The City of Wyoming took a giant step forward on its 28 West project by entering into a development agreement with Wyoming Mall Monday night.

 

The 28 West sign located in front of the former Studio 28 property. Construction for the 28 West project will actually start just east on the Wyoming Mall property.
The 28 West sign located in front of the former Studio 28 property. Construction for the 28 West project will actually start just east on the Wyoming Mall property. Above is the original 28 West marketing video.

In a unanimous vote, the Wyoming City Council accepted a $1.6 million agreement with Wyoming Mall, LLC, to facilitate the mall owner’s construction and demolition projects, and the relocation of city water, sewer and storm water lines and construction of a new public street. The actual cost to the city will be about $1.2 million for the relocation of city services and construction of the road. The developer’s costs is around $113,000 with there being a 25 percent contingency, around $322,000, for the entire project.

 

“The Wyoming Mall approached us about doing some major reconstruction/demolition on their property,” said Mayor Jack Poll during Monday night’s council meeting. Mall officials indicated they were ready to allow the city to put in a public road since they were planning to teardown the north end of the mall where Once Upon A Child is located and add a new structure along the northwest side of the building, Poll said.

 

City Manager Curtis Holt said the city is in active discussions with Loeks Theatre Inc. which owns the Studio 28 property just to the west of the Wyoming Mall. It is the goal of the city to acquire property for the proposed road to continue through with an egress across from Hook Avenue located on the north side of 28th Street between Applebee’s and Anzah Sands West. Proposed land acquisition and construction of the road on the Studio 28 lot is estimated about around $708,000. The entire project from Michael Avenue to Hook Avenue is estimated to be around $2.2 million.

 

Holt said the city plans to put the project out to bid with the goal of completing the entire road project from Michael to Hook within the next few months.

 

Because of the Wyoming Mall owners’ decision to move forward with construction, it gave the city an opportunity to officially start its 28 West concept which is a reimagining of the south side of 28th Street between Clyde Park and Burlingame into a mixed-use town center with new complete streets and compact blocks. Part of that plan features a curving slip street to be the center’s new “main street.” That street is proposed to start on the south side of 28th Street across from Hook Avenue to Jenkins Avenue, which runs next to the former Klingman/Rogers Department Store building. A portion of the road runs straight through the Wyoming Mall property which is bordered by the former Studio 28 site on the west side and Michael Avenue on the east.

 

Adopted in December of 2013, the 28 West plan has a form-based code, which is a land development regulation that fosters predictable built results and a high-quality public realm by using physical form rather than separation of uses. Form-based codes address the relationship between building facades and the public realm, the form and mass of buildings in relation to one another, and the scale and types of streets and blocks. 28 West calls for an increase in retail space with a mix of office and residential space.

 

City officials have been working on the 28 West concept for the past couple of years acknowledging that they knew it would take several years for the plan to materialize. With Wyoming Mall officials’ announcement that they had decided to remodel its facility at 28th Street and Michael Avenue construction of the first part of the 28 West could begin, Poll said.

Plans for Wyoming Mall include removing the north end of the mall and adding a new building to the northwest side of the current facility.
Plans for Wyoming Mall include removing the north end of the mall and adding a new building to the northwest side of the current facility.

 

City officials said this is a first good step on the project and they hope it will help encourage growth along the corridor and future development of the 28 West project.

 

Construction on the site should start soon, Holt said, adding that the city can not begin the road until the demolition at Wyoming Mall is completed . In fact, mall officials want construction to start on the new building so quickly that they are willing to build on top of existing utilities instead of waiting for the city to move those utilities. The council approved a second agreement with Wyoming Mall Monday night that mall officials assume any risk for doing this so that the mall could begin construction.

28th Street Metro Cruise Celebrates Cruisin’ Back to the 20th Century

Local Business, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, WKTV Projects, , ,

Metro CruiseThe Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce and the Grand Rapids New Car Dealers Association will present the 28th Street Metro Cruise® on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22, 2015, along 15 miles of 28th Street. This marks the 11th year the annual celebration of classic cars has descended on 28th Street, in what has become West Michigan’s premiere auto show and cruise, attracting car lovers with unique vehicles from throughout the United States.

Additions to this year’s official Metro Cruise festivities at Roger’s Plaza include: a blood drive hosted by Michigan Blood Center from 2 to 6 pm; a seminar for lady cruisers presented by Kandi Blaze, lady gearhead and professional pin up model Friday from 4 to 5 pm; and an appearance by Pete Chapouris of So-Cal Speed Shop.

Metro Cruise The ConcourseChapouris is best known for his creation of “The California Kid” car and will be available for autographs both Friday and Saturday courtesy of Steve’s Antique Auto Repair and sponsored by J&H Family Stores, Marge’s Donut Den, Top Stitch Trim & Upholstery, Pinkies Ice Cream & Desserts, Travis Truck & Auto Collision, Inc., Vanguard Fire & Security Systems, Inc. and Wade & Jane Jennings.

The food court and vendors officially open at 4 pm Friday. At 6 pm, Cruise goers can cheer on their favorite Pinup Girl as 20 lovely ladies vie for the title of Miss Metro Cruise 2015. Across the street, WKTV will host its one-of-kind, red carpet event “DreamWheels” from 8 to 10 pm, featuring rarely seen automobiles on a live TV show. This is the only show of this kind in the nation.

On Saturday morning, the Metro Cruise re-opens at 9 am. Throughout the day there will be prize giveaways, performances by Sneaky Pete Blues Band of Kalamazoo and, of course, thousands of cars of every variety to enjoy.

The event has grown through the years to average more than 250K visitors and more than 15,000 vehicles each year. There has been momentum within the 28th Street merchants’ community to increase event participation. Being the premiere classic car attraction in Western Michigan, the 28th Street Metro Cthruise® generates a welcomed injection of tourist dollars into our community and represents a huge marketing / promotional opportunity for local and regional businesses.

Go to the Metro Cruise® website (www.28thstreetmetrocruise.com) and Facebook page for the latest information.