The S. Washington Sq. building that contained the former Kelly's location and recently had a facade rennovation now has a sign up but is covered with tarp. The sign extends perpendicular from the facade and has writing in neon lights. With the tarp in place I could only make out the bottom word: "Saloon." The interior that is in place currently (what looks like a bar counter) seems to have a western theme to it.

Different strokes for different folks. It's great we have a diverse city center bar scene.

I've also been crazy curious about this park, myself. The City Pulse did an article on it years back, I believe. Imagine what you could do with 189 acres and a lake, no less. I've always been surprised this area of the city wasn't marketed by the Parks department, more, and as a single entity. You've got Fenner and Potter and Shubel and Scott Woods and Hawk Island, and then the cemeteries and Sycamore golf course. I can't think of any other city our size in the state that has that much inteconnected parkland within its city limits and all along a natural creek, no less. It's like a giant nature preserve in the heart of an urban area.

BTW, nearly connected to all of this is Bear Lake Natural Area just north of the Dunckel interchange. Does anyone know from where this area is accessible? I've never even seen any picture of the preserve.

The City Pulse is reporting that the owner of the Temple Building in Old Town has actually secured a full-service restaurant for the building. Earlier, he'd proposed turning it into an office building.

Here's the LSJ's story.

Yeah, I meant Beekman. I didn't think about horseback riding though, that makes sense. Looking closer at the area, is Bear Lake the remnants of a gravel pit? I remember there being one in that area, but I haven't been back there in over 10 years.

Looking closer at the birds eye view, I'm pretty sure the lake is the bottom of a large shallow gravel pit. the edges of the lake look steep and rough. The hospice is near there and I remember that being inside the pit also.

The Sonic is supposed to be open before the end of this year, according to this article:
Lansing restaurant project receives brownfield funds

Gillespie wants to turn the old Marshall Street Armory on the Eastside into a non-profit center. I saw some renderings (computer walk-throughs and traditional renderings) on WLNS this evening, and it looks very nice. I didn't realize how nice the gym was, inside:

Developer eyes armory site as nonprofits' hub

Melissa Domsic • mdomsic@lsj.com • March 29, 2010 • From Lansing State Journal

A historic building in Lansing that housed military weapons, training facilities and hosted war homecoming celebrations since the 1920s could take on a new identity as a hub for nonprofit organizations.

Developer Pat Gillespie wants to renovate the Marshall Street Armory, 300 Elvin Court, into office space for several local and statewide nonprofit organizations.

The roughly $4 million project will involve refurbishing about 37,000 square feet. The nonprofit tenants would have their own offices, but share a central reception area, copy and fax room, and conference rooms.

...

The building was constructed in the early 1920s and served as an armory and training site until the last Michigan Army National Guard field artillery unit moved out in 2005.

After that, employees of the guard and Michigan Department of Military and Veteran Affairs used the facility until 2006, said Capt. Corissa Barton of the Michigan Army National Guard.

...

A picture I took of it a few years back:

Here is the WLNS video report.

Grand Ave. downtown is closing between Ottawa and Shiawassee from now till July for a streetscape project.

http://apps.cityoflansingmi.com:8000/newsevents/releases/Grand%20Ave%20Start%20of%20construction%203-31-1020497.pdf