Heritage Hill
While it was not yet called Heritage Hill, this neighborhood bordered my working-class neighborhood on the south. It was for the RICH, very RICH families. A regular who's who. Of course, as a child I didn't really KNOW anyone there but I walked past the houses many, many times. I do remember Mrs. Booth, a little old lady with gray hair, who lived in a house with a garage that had a little turret on top. She owned the Grand Rapids Press. She rode around in a big old car driven by a chauffer something like Driving Miss Daisy. The rich began moving out in the 1930's for East Grand Rapids and by the 1950's many of these houses had been turned into apartments and were starting to get run down.
While the City Commission was busy destroying downtown, the Board of Education was busy destroying these beautiful old homes to build a new super school. And why would anyone think you would even need a school after you destroyed the students' homes? When the City Commission tore down old City Hall in a deceitful manner against the wishes of just about everyone, they inadvertently violated their long used system of instigating unpopular changes one ward at a time and united the WHOLE City behind the 2nd ward's attempt to stop the Board of Ed from destroying their homes. The highest turnout in the board of education primary booted out every incumbent. Although it was too late for downtown, it resulted in Heritage Hill.
I just happened to find a new book on Heritage Hill written by someone who thinks like me. He uses maps! .
Almost Lost by Thomas H. Logan
Yes Heritage Hill is a great achievement. I do not begrudge them their success. But they saved their neighborhood by destroying mine.
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info