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Eastown History Eastown is composed of 70 square blocks. The heart of Eastown is built upon an Indian trail which led the way from Reeds Lake to the Grand River. In the 1830's, European settlers began using the trail. Farmers took advantage of the available land and established small farm operations as early as the 1850's. By 1875, The Grand Rapids/Reeds Lake Railway Company recognized the demands being made by Grand Rapids' growing population for better access to Reeds Lake. As a result, they began running a streetcar from downtown Grand Rapids to Reeds Lake. This route passed through what would become Eastown. With the streetcar route running through the area, Eastown began to be seen as an attractive place for the city's expansion. Before long small farms were giving way to substantial homes. It is estimated that 1/3 of Eastown's homes were built between 1900 and 1910. Another 1/2 were built in the 1920's. The original homeowners of Eastown were doctors, lawyers, and executives. In the first half of the twentieth century, Eastown became known as a well established neighborhood which was relatively affluent and white. At its center, Eastown featured a prosperous commercial district which included grocers, drugs, baked goods, hardware, toys, gas, meats, a laundry, a theatre, and clothing. The business district was also home to several medical and dental offices. In addition, Eastown featured an abundance of educational institutions which included four colleges, two parochial schools and a public elementary school. It is interesting to note that Eastown was not a home to factories or churches. The second half of the twentieth century was very different from the first half. The mid 1960's marked the beginning of a transition towards 'ghettoization' for the neighborhood. Two factors have since been blamed for the transition. First, white people fled the neighborhood in response to fear of racial transition. In 1960, three African Americans lived in Eastown. By 1970, 25 percent of Eastown's residents were African American. Second, the Federal Housing Administration's lending practices placed a large number of people in aging homes who were low income and had inadequate levels of experience with homeownership and maintenance. By 1972 the major system components of the Eastown community, housing, commerce and education were heading for a breakdown. Between 1971 and 1976, lenders reported a 20% foreclosure rate on home loans. In the commercial district, 50 percent of commercial and office space properties were vacant. At schools, white students were withdrawing from public schools, Calvin College had left the neighborhood, and the Catholic schools were feeling budget pressures stemming from increased expenses and decreased enrollment. In 1973, Aquinas College decided to step in. Through the joint efforts of Aquinas College and the community the Eastown Community Association was formed. ECA has been working to improve the neighborhood ever since. Efforts such as the Eastown Street Fair have brought an artisitic flair to the neighborhood and attracted an eclectic and vibrant population, including young professionals, artisans and students. Today, Eastown's entertainment establishments and specialty shops attracts people from all over Kent County. These include the Kava House Coffeehouse, Bombay Cuisine (Indian restaurant), Billy's (Blues bar), Eastown Eight-ball (smokeless billiard hall), and Wolfgang's Restaurant. taken
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