^ The Promise has definitely helped this area, especially since they have opened up the tuition reimbursement to be for
any higher education school in the state, public or private. Some of my friends have children who constitute the first "graduating" class of this program - in other words, they have gone through all 12 - 13 years in the program and now in their 1st or 2nd year of free college. It seems to have worked well for them, freeing up funds for other things like debt reduction, home investments, vacations, retirement, etc.
But the K-12 system their kids had to go through is definitely not the best, especially the high school program, which still has higher-than-usual instances of truancy, violence, drop-outs, student homelessness, etc. School Choice helps, because folks can pick and choose which school buildings their child(ren) attend(s) within the district, for the most part. But you basically only have two high schools to choose from, and both have been riddled with challenges. The Promise is great, and it definitely attracts and retains people, but it is not a magic button for curing other systemic issues within the district and the city. The more rural districts that surround Kzoo (in particular Portage, Mattawan, and Gull Lake) are all very highly ranked districts in the state, and they compete with each other for families, students, funding, etc. who may otherwise be attracted back to the urban core. These districts tend to be building and refurbishing facilities at a much quicker rate than Kzoo.
Anyway, interesting article. And some quick updates from Friday.
Rose Street Market / Future Hilton Garden Inn - still not much to see, but a perimeter fence is up. I want to find out what the timeline for this redevelopment is, and especially for the adjacent Home 2 Suites, proposed at 8 stories (which would go right in the area that the fence encloses)
100 E Water St / Catalyst
Bronson Cancer Pavilion - foundations and below-grade work moving along.
Bronson Labs Building, aka 400 John St - I like the way this is turning out. Since we haven't seen a public rendering yet, it's been a bit of an unfolding surprise. Judging by that cornice line, they are going for a more traditional style to blend with the downtown mall architecture on the public side.
(from behind)
Masonry brick face going up at 400 Rose. It looks like a thin brick product, but still true masonry / joinery. Still impressed with the speed of this development.
