There’s a new name on the north side of the river, and judging by the mural, it knows how to make an entrance.
The Grand Rapids district formerly known as Monroe North is now River North, a name that puts its most obvious neighbor — the Grand River — right where it belongs: front and center.
The rebrand was celebrated Sept. 1 with the unveiling of a new community mural at the corner of Mason Street NW and Ottawa Avenue NW. The mural, created by artist Mark Serra, provides a colorful new landmark for a neighborhood that has spent the past few decades transforming from an industrial corridor into one of the city’s livelier riverfront districts.
And, naturally, it’s already selfie-worthy.
The celebration was hosted by the River North Business Association and included remarks from former Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, Serra and River North Business Association President Mark Secchia, along with a ceremonial mural reveal and community activities.
The new name is more than a sign change. River North reflects how much the neighborhood has changed since the arrival of Boardwalk Condominiums in the late 1990s helped bring residential life to an area long associated with warehouses and industry. Since then, housing, restaurants, coffee shops, retail and small businesses have continued to fill in the neighborhood.
Public and private investment has also been reshaping the riverfront, with improvements to the riverwalk, 6th Street Park and Canal Street Park, as well as connections toward Belknap Hill.
In other words, Monroe North had a pretty good run. River North feels like the next chapter.
The district’s new identity is intended to emphasize its connection to the Grand River and its evolution into a destination for commerce, culture, community and, increasingly, hanging out by the water.
As for the mural? It may already be making a strong case for itself as one of the city’s best backdrops for a photo.
