What Ever Happened to the Pedestrian Bridge Over Monroe Downtown?

Did you know there was once a bridge over Monroe downtown?

It was in the late 1970s and early 80s when Grand Rapids was going through a major revitalization and things were changing quickly.

PANTLIND HOTEL 1960S

The Pantlind Hotel, and mainstay of downtown Grand Rapids since 1914, became the Amway Grand Plaza.

AMWAY GRAND PLAZA

DeVos Performance Hall was being built.

DE VOS PERFORMANCE HALL

And a new convention center opened, The Grand Center, and there was a pedestrian bridge over Monroe!

It was a busy time in downtown Grand Rapids and parking was a problem around the area. People used the upper and lower level of the Old Kent Bank/Calder Plaza lot across Monroe with it's entrance on Ottawa when attending shows. You had to cross busy Monroe to get the the Grand Center and DeVos, so they built the pedestrian bridge. It made a lot of sense and made it easier and safer to cross Monroe to get to shows and exhibitions.

MONROE STREET DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS

But it's gone now and long forgotten. What happened to it?

More progress. Eventually it was torn down when they began building a newer convention center, DeVos Place. The new center was a massive undertaking and not only replaced the old Grand Center, but the Civic/Welsh Auditorium as well.

That is, all but the classic Art Deco facade.....

GRAND RAPIDS CIVIC AUSITORIUM/WELSH AUDITORIUM

CIVIC AUDITORIUM LOBBY

and the classic Art Deco lobby of the old auditorium.

But behind the lobby of the old Civic/Welsh, the beautiful new Steelcase Ballroom spring up along with the huge new convention center and exhibition halls of DeVos Place.

DE VOS PLACE CONVENTION CENTER

So what about crossing Monroe for concerts and exhibitions?

Now we have an sort of mini pedestrian island, and cross walks to help you across the street.

MONROE STREET CROSS WALKS

Not quite the same, but it sort of works. But don't forget you are now able to park underneath DeVos Place and the Performance Hall, so you never have to walk through the elements or cross a street to get to a show, exhibition or meeting.

Progress for sure. Grand Rapids keep growing and expanding in the right direction.