A number of residents neighboring Grand Rapids’ John Ball Zoo are upset over the zoo’s plans to expand parking by paving surrounding park greenspace. In an attempt to preserve the park’s grass fields, residents asked the city to form a Historic Preservation Study Committee in the hopes that the zoo and park would be designated as a historic district.
Ultimately, the city commission voted unanimously declining a preservation committee. Commissioner Drew Robbins explains why.
“My preference would be to see the continued engagement between the zoo and between the surrounding neighbors to find a solution that works for everybody and for those reasons I will not be supporting this either.”
Commissioners cited such a designation would limit city power to make changes to the property, leaving much of that power with the state.
“There would be very minimal modifications that could be done by city staff, but for the most part, a property once designated has to comply with state guidelines for historic preservation.”
According to a letter Kent County Administrator Alan Vanderberg wrote to City Manager Mark Washington in January opposing the formation of the study committee, the same process was done back in 2002 and the city did not establish a historic district at that time. The letter goes on to state that this new proposal is “not substantially different.”
