Did you know John Green is from Belding, MI? Okay, not that John Green. This one lived there in 1838. But the town was named after his family, the Beldings, who were among the original settlers in the area.
Located some 24 miles to the east of Grand Rapids, the city of Belding, with its population of just less than 6,000 inhabitants, was at one time the home to the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
Did you know John Green is from Belding, MI? Okay, not that John Green. This one lived there in 1838. But the town was named after his family, the Beldings, who were among the original settlers in the area.
Located some 24 miles to the east of Grand Rapids, the city of Belding, with its population of just less than 6,000 inhabitants, was at one time the home to the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. During this time, the populace would soar to around 100,000 temporary "residents" while the tournament was being played. These days, however, it's a far more placid affair in Belding. The little city hugs the banks of Flat River as it slowly meanders on its journey towards its' final destination at Grand River in Lowell, which serves to make the city an even more attractive location as far as renting property is concerned.
It's no longer the case that folks who are looking to relocate to Belding must compete with the fans of the Macker 3 Basketball Tournament for accommodation, which will of course come as some relief. In fact, there's a buoyant property rental market in the city these days and it should not take you long to find what it is that you've set your sights on.
How Long to Find Your Dream Property?
There's a healthy demand for rental property in Belding from those who prefer to commute to Grand Rapids each day for work. Nevertheless, the turnover remains healthy, and as such, you should consider allowing yourself at least five weeks to locate an apartment or housing for rent in Belding.
What to Bring With You
There's little difference when renting property in Belding as there is when renting property elsewhere within the country. You'll be expected to bring a few items to make the process of adding your squiggle to the contract something of a formality. The prospective landlord or representing realtor will want to see some proof of your ID and also proof of your income. There's a likelihood that you'll also have to provide some character references, and you may be asked to undergo a credit check. Furthermore, you'll probably be expected to pay a months' rental in advance, and the chances are that you'll also be asked to pay the equivalent of a months' rent as a form of deposit against the property in case you have a sudden bout of vandalism come over you.
Properties in Belding frequently come with wonderful views over various waterways or golf courses, which help to make it an even more popular destination for those who wish to rent homes in the area, and then commute westwards for work in the Grand Rapids area. If it's a spectacular vista you're after, you've certainly come to the right place!
Pearl St: Not far from downtown and with easy access to Highway 44, Pearl St is a good location to begin a search for rental apartments. There's a Leppink's Food Center grocery and a pizza restaurant located very close by, which help to make Pearl St something of a high quality gemstone within the city.
Woodland Park Drive NE: If you're searching for a house rental that provides stunning views over Big Pine Island Lake, then you've just found the right location! There are two elementary schools and one middle school within a five mile radius of Woodland Park Drive NE.
Iron Horse Drive: With beautiful views out over Iron Horse Golf Course, Iron Horse Drive offers splendid tranquility as well as easy access to the 19th hole when you're in need of a pick-me-up.
West Washington St: Offering magnificent views over Flat River, and easy access to a couple of restaurants -- the Chee Peng Chinese on West Belding Rd and Your House of Pizza on West State Street -- West Washington St could very well be your next port of call!
Getting Around
Michigan Highway 44 connects Belding to Grand Rapids, which is a 40 minute drive (31 miles) to the west. The north-south Michigan Highway 91 runs along the western border of the small city and travels northwards to Greenville.
Things to Do in Belding
The Belrockton Museum on Hanover Street, or Bel as it's referred to locally, represents the last remaining Belding-built boarding house. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the city was referred to as the "Silk City of the World" on account of its intensive silk manufacturing exploits. The Bel was one of three women-only boarding houses of the time and now hosts memorabilia related to Belding and the surrounding areas. The Alvah N. Belding Memorial Library on East Main St. was established in 1917 as the city's second public library after the first was razed to the ground in a fire. The library is worth a visit, not merely to enjoy the publications on offer, but also to witness and experience its historic preserve.
Central Riverside Park in central Belding beside Flat River offers plenty of publicly available amenities including basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer fields, a volleyball court, a skate park bowl, a roller hockey area, picnic tables, and walking trails. When it's time to eat, Belding has its fair share of restaurants from which to choose. Millies Family Restaurant on West Main St. cooks up a variety of homemade cuisines including dishes such as goulash, home crafted burgers, potato soup, macaroni salad, and a whole host of desserts that will have you drooling like a lunatic. The Water Tower Grille on Storey Rd is in fact the Candlestone Golf Course restaurant. You may think that because of its' sports bar appearance, the food ain't gonna be up to much, but it is! The cuisine, which is American-style, is extremely tasty, and the service is prompt and friendly. The Grattan Bar and Restaurant on Old Belding Road NE offers American cuisine, as well as a plentiful beer supplies, of course.
