Being Divisive

I'm not sure what it was that inspired me -- the idea of taking my life in my own hands, or the opportunity to roll down the windows, crank up the radio, and jam to Ryan Seacrest in the afternoon. Both are equally exciting. Either way, I decided to jump in the car, head west on 60th Street, and then hang a right on Division Avenue to enjoy the views and take in the latest scenery.

I was debating the value of South Division Avenue as an entity and as a quick and direct route into the heart of downtown with some friends yesterday. The arguments against South Division street were mainly centered around the fact that it was at the center of the big shooting several weeks ago. No one can seem to let go of the fact that several dozen bullet shells were shed at the corner of Division and Fulton, just in front of the Grand Rapids Police Department Headquarters. Among other complaints -- I can't remember any others because there weren't any. I, on the other hand, see many positive aspects of Division. For starters, it is a highly diverse area: racially, economically, culturally, scenery. The last one might not be obvious. But as scenery goes, start in Cutlerville, at 68th Street. Division has been done up real nice there, with new sidewalks, street lighting, and flower pots. Nothing to do, but a nice walk. As you approach 60th Street and north of 60th, you will encounter more used car lots than you can number on fingers and toes. I count these in the scenery because I don't think any do any active selling. I have never seen customers at any of them, but they make for an enchanting scene.

Many significant shops maintain a steady flow of business on South Division. Just south of Kellogg Woods Drive / 54th Street, there is the architecturally significant Sweet Retreat on the West side of the avenue, the steeply slanting roof of which, my adventurous niece has attempted to climb more than once, like Heidi's goats in the Alps. Just passing 44th street, on the same side of the avenue, is the Grand Rapids staple Brann's Steakhouse, and less than 1-1/2 miles beyond that (same side of the street), is the ever-popular Young's Army Navy Surplus Store. For the adventurous, there are at least 3 Asian markets, and for the more timid, there are at least 3 dollar discount stores along the stretch of Division Avenue between 68th Street in Gaines Township, and Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids.

As South Division crosses the Grand Rapids city limits at 28th Street, a newly painted railroad bridge; shiney, squiggly brick wall sign; and a set of five flags greets the visitor. This is Grand Rapids! It does get a little better. Still countless vacant, weed overgrown lots on either side of the road. But the Grand Rapids portion of South Division has many thrift shops and centers for the homeless and down-and-out. The southernmost is Salvation Army -- a favorite of mine because it stocks lots of good furniture, some of which stocked my first apartment located on the far west side of Champaign, IL, just seconds off University Avenue exit of I-57. North of that is St Vincent DePaul. Then countless homeless shelters that serve all sorts of needs. Its mission row from here on up. My favorite of them, Mel Trotter, is just one street over from Division, on Commerce Avenue. In passing, there is lots to be done at all these places if anyone's looking for something to do to pass the time.

Now, after driving from 60th Street, 7.5 miles north to Fulton Street, then on past Michigan Street, I approached the more intriguing and challenging North Divison -- intriguing, in that I rarely get a glance at it, and challenging in that it's a speedy throughway with nowhere to turn off. I took it on foot. I parked at Newberry, took a chance, and trekked up the rugged staircase that leads up to Lookout Park and Fairview Avenue -- a park that does offer a fair view of the city from the Belknap Lookout neighborhood. I then hiked south to the more legitimate and less hazardous staircase at Fairbanks Street. Both the up and down hike were extreme altitude adjustments and dizzying. These are fantastic staircases and should be experienced.

To conclude my trip, I followed North Division by foot to the new medical developments at Michigan Street. My complaint about the new development is that no one considered pedestrian traffic from Division wanting access to Michigan Street. These two roads do now intersect on the same plane. Thus a small stairway should have been built between the two levels to accommodate the growing amount of foot traffic.

Division Avenue, North and South, has a lot to offer as far as exploration goes, if only because it is a street that has been long neglected by most Grand Rapids residents. It's that has-been street. It had it's heyday in the first-half of the 20th Century when it proudly carried the US-131 signage. It's glory days soon faded with the development of the limited access freeway less than a mile to the west carrying all but the most local traffic speedily above the city streets. Division Street remains a practical alternative to the freeway for getting into the city in a reasonable time, but the neighboring lots on either side could use some attention, care, and upkeep.