Urban Renewal… saving the Downtown.

Urban renewal was not a new thing for most big cities. It has been an ongoing process since the beginning of time. Muskegon was no exception. As we came into the 1950’s industry and the heavy burden it brought to our shoreline began to become an issue. One that would not go away. And there were many possible solutions.  The Muskegon Chronicle published a conceptualized drawing of what Federal Square might look like if Western Avenue were closed off between Second and First streets. 

By this time our city government had begun to see the potential demise of the city center. So plans were discussed and many people were giving input into what to do with out downtown. Still the epicenter of commerce in the whole of Muskegon Country, it was important to not lose businesses to the out laying areas. To help with this effort, L.C. Walker of Shaw-Walker fame pledged $1.5 million dollars to help build a sports arena at the corner of Third Street and Western Avenue, the L.C.Walker Sports Arena opened to much fanfare in 1960.  

By now the days of hustle and bustle, of non stop economic growth were slowing coming to an end in the downtown area. Henry Street and Apple Avenue were becoming the up and coming commercial areas. Meijer's in Norton Shores and Plumbs new store and corporate offices in the Glenside district all drew people from the downtown. And the downtown slowly became grey and dingy and run down. 

Grossman's Department Store, 1970's