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Welcome to Grand Rapids Downtown Living

By
Real Estate Agent with Westman Realty, Inc.

GR downtown skyline

Welcome to Grand Rapids, Michigan Downtown Living.  If you are considering relocating here, we intend to shamlessly brag about our community in the hope that you'll decide to join us.   If you already live in the metro area, we hope to entice you back downtown to experience the exciting re birth of your downtown.

I'm John.  The smarter, prettier half of this team is Betsy.  Together we are Westman Realty.  Betsy started the company 25 years ago and I am the newbie having been on board for 15 years. Time flies when you are having fun!

Grand Rapids is home to a world class regional symphony orchestra, opera and ballet companies, live theatre, Rampage arena football, Griffins AHL hockey and Whitecaps baseball. 

We are fortunate to have an excellent concert hall, new arena, one of the greatest minor league ball parks in the country, three beautiful live performance theaters and an exquisite ballet venue.

If you are into hockey and or baseball, the Griffins and Whitecaps are farm teams of the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers.  Not only do we see the talent of tomorrow, but because we are only 2 1/2 hours from Detroit when an injured player needs reconditioning before moving back up, they play here.  (A hint: those announcements are usually made early afternoon and the games sell out quickly.)

I like the picture above. The skyline and riverfront at night are beautiful.  What you don't see are all the construction cranes which dot today's skyline.   They are our downtown future.  The new Helen DeVos Children's hospital, Michigan State University Medical School, Van Andel Institute expansion, and a new residential condominium tower are all under construction.

We live in the city's largest historic district, Heritage Hill, which is within walking distance of downtown.  And in the future, I'll introduce you to our neighborhood.

But, tonight is our company awards party so I'll have to sign off.  I'm excited:  Betsy is getting the Outstanding Sales Person Award for the 25th year!  I'm hoping to keep my string of 14 Most Improved Salesperson awards alive.  Betsy has offered no hints so we'll see.

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi John,  I enjoyed reading your unabashedly proud post.  I am a Michigan transplant ( Muskegon ) and always enjoy hearing the positive news of the area.  Good luck with the awards thing.

Nov 17, 2008 12:13 PM
Bonnie & Terry Westbrook
Westbrook Realty - Ada, MI
Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Hi John!  The awards were handed out while you were in the bathroom.  So sorry, better luck next year, maybe you can lobby for Top Broker with the Best Stories.

Nov 18, 2008 09:43 AM
The Trumm Team Omaha Homes for Sale, Real Estate
Keller Williams Greater Omaha - Omaha, NE

Welcome to ActiveRain!

If you would like a few tips on getting the most out of ActiveRain, please visit my blog Welcome to Active Rain.  It has a few simple steps of what to do now that you have joined.

If you ever have any questions, just let me know.

Troy Trumm

Nov 18, 2008 11:44 PM
Terry & Bonnie Westbrook
Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI
Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

Congratulation on you first post and by now we know the results of the awards party. Better luck next year.

Nov 19, 2008 12:44 AM
Gail Szeluga & JoAnna Siminerio
Coldwell Banker Realty - Manalapan/Marlboro - Manalapan, NJ
Fostering Community Spirit Through Real Estate

Dear John (hey, that's catchy!)

Welcome to Active Rain and congratulations on your first post.

I am a relative "newbie" myself and have been enjoying myself so far!

I'm excited about getting to know you better.

JoAnna

Nov 19, 2008 02:44 AM
Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

Welcome to AR Buddy....tear it up!

Nov 19, 2008 03:04 AM
Sean Dreznin
NAI Tampa Bay - Sarasota, FL
Commercial Investment Real Estate Agent

Welcome to the Rain.

We'll leave the light on for ya!

Sean

Nov 19, 2008 03:07 AM
John Westman
Westman Realty, Inc. - Grand Rapids, MI

Thanks for the welcome all!

Nov 19, 2008 03:23 AM
Pete Jalbert
The Maui Real Estate Team, Inc. - Paia, HI
R(S)

Aloha John,

Welcome to Active Rain. Looks like you are well on your way to being a prolific blogger.

Nov 20, 2008 10:06 AM
Neal Barnes
Starstate Realty - Killeen, TX
Broker, REALTOR, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES, SRS.

Hi John  -  Welcome to Active Rain.  I look forward to networking with you and reading your future post.   Have a great day!!!

Nov 20, 2008 02:15 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

We invite you back to ActiveRain in 2016!

    Much has changed since your last visit to ActiveRain.  I encourage you to take another look at the website. 

    Surf some blogs, leave some comments.  Better yet, post a Blog.

    Best to you!

Aug 12, 2016 11:02 AM