Recently several members of the Valorous Circle team had the honor of touring one of Grand Rapids’ historical landmarks – The Waters Building at 161 Ottawa Avenue NW. Originally built in 1898-1899, this six-story building is in the midst of an extensive makeover, which will boast a new hotel on the south side and apartments on the north side.
We began our tour in the main foyer along Ottawa Avenue at the building’s management offices. Soon these offices will likely be transformed into a coffee shop, and the building entrance will have a canopy, inset curb, and valet parking. Since the bus line also passes by this point, I expect the changes will be welcomed by all visitors, especially on cold winter days like today.
Our host, Paul Simon, Project Manager at Edmark Development Company, showed us the renovated office and retail space in the Mezz West and Lyon Street areas of the Waters Building (which will be opening within the next week or so), as well the next areas slated for reconstruction. Elevators will be changing and whole hallways disappearing as separate towers are constructed with an atrium dividing them.
The tour was an exciting one, as we visualized the process moving forward. However, the “oohs” and “aahs” became especially notable when Paul led us into the bowels of this beautiful building. This is an area that has not seen the same level of change over the years as the rest of the building. The original construction and historical “leftovers” were apparent. Seeing the thin wood planks used in the flooring, the short wooden doors, and the coal chute, which was active as recently as a generation ago, seemed a bit surreal.
However, the hidden treasure that topped them all was an underground passage to the original store front. Shortly after the Waters Building was completed, the street layout was changed, effectively concealing a sub level of shops and such. Now, more than one hundred years later, the doors and trim of this store front seem quite well preserved in what I’m assuming was the original green paint. The window by where I stood was intact. I was able to see some details in the darkness (lit only by the flashlight on my iPhone), and one of them – a partial hand railing – brought my imagination to life. How many people walked by these windows and viewed the merchandise proprietors were peddling? How many people touched this railing to steady themselves as they descended down the now missing steps? What were their lives like? What did they concern themselves with? What did they think about the newly born 20th century and the changing landscape of life?
After conversing a bit in awe of it all, our party squeezed back out the door from which we came, and headed to first floor and sunlight. Now we were back in the hustle and bustle of the present construction, full circle from where we began this tour only an hour before.
I want to thank our host, Paul Simons, for the memorable tour, and Edmark Development Co. and Visser Brothers Inc. for being willing to invest in our community and the history of Grand Rapids. We look forward to following the renovations of this Grand Rapids icon!
History of the Waters BuildingAs of March 19, you too will be able to follow the renovations and learn more about the history of the Waters Building at watersbuilding.com.