community

St Stephen

As one of the most dense blocks in East Grand Rapids, we enjoy a strong sense of community. And part of that community is allowing our kids to play together with shared oversight. The park and play area around the Church School has always been appreciated as has the way the church community has prioritized

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The playgrounds @ St Stephen are the backbone to our beloved “Glad-wood” community

We moved here from California in 2020. We bought a house on the internet, sight unseen, and parachuted in. Our draw to EGR was first and foremost the schools. As our children were still very young at the time, we were prioritizing a great public school system and proximity to boundless nature, which West Michigan

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St. Stephen’s plan

If the property comes up for sale, I would absolutely love to see the buildings preserved (there is the school, rectory and convent). All are very solid and architecturally pleasing with varied period focal points. Perhaps condos, townhomes, or even a special EGR school (like a lab school). If the buildings are not for sale,

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Keep it community focused

The St. Stephens property, which includes two playgrounds and a basketball court, has long been a gathering place for the neighborhood and surrounding area. I fully support efforts to improve and enrich the area, such as adding more green spaces, parks, sports fields, or repurposing the school as a community center or library. I am

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Resident

My family has lived across from St. Stephen’s for 46 years. I personally grew up in the neighborhood and attended Stephen’s school. I believe and would like to see it remain as such. Some kind of institution for learning or possibly day care. St. Stephen’s has always been family oriented, a place in the neighborhood

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Needed updates

Development in GLV is long overdue and if done correctly will have a significant impact on our community. More Shopping and dining are needed. Using patios, rooftop restaurants and landscaping we can take advantage of the natural beauty of EGR. A spot where people can gather would also be great. The strip mall and D&W

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Great opportunity to enhance community but must retain natural beauty!

I am very supportive of the development but want to ensure it maintains a high quality of natural spaces, trees, grass, perhaps small park/flower spaces for community enjoyment. Gaslight would benefit from a breakfast restaurant – and ideally a donut shop too! We’d love to see places for families and children. A bike shop would

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Future land use

Recently I read the proposal to add hundreds of new rental units and condos into this undeveloped space in EGR. Over the past several years, every open parcel of land has been, or is being developed into more housing, and we’re losing the last reminents of natural beauty outside of Reeds and FIsk Lake. Adding

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Retain St. Stephen’s Greenspace — No Commercial or High Density Residential Development

From living in the St. Stephen neighborhood for almost 20 years, its character is quiet, tightly-knit, outdoorsy, and family/child-friendly. Whatever the future is for the school property, this future needs to retain these dimensions of the site. It should not become a commercial development or high-density residential property, which would diminish the greenspace, community center,

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