I'll let the LSJ article speak for itself: Riverfront may get $30 million tower

We have all been waiting for something like this, 12-20 floors of condos on the river. Now I'll just be biting my tongue for next year or two until construction (hopefully) begins. However, the good thing is that Council is required to act on selling the S Grand Ramp within two weeks to get it on the August ballot. So IF this project comes together I expect it to happen very quickly.

Here is the artists rendering from the printed LSJ story:


The photo page on Flickr

Surprise, Surprise! Really, I almost did a double-take this morning, when I saw this in the paper. Even being an optimist I thought Lansing was still a few years off from getting a legitimate high-rise condo proposal.

The design is EXCELLENT. In fact, one of the better I've seen of the condo towers currently going up or planned in Michigan. I hope they take this thing the full 20-stories and beyond. The 20 story one would be measurably taller than the neighboring Grand Tower, and putting a shot in the arm for a skyline that's remained largely unchanged for decades. Sure, you have the Legislative Building, and such, but they aren't in prominent enough spots to really make a difference.

BTW, this is being done by Studio Intrigue down in REO Town who also did the Stadium District. This up-and-coming architect really believes in the city, and are willing to get beyond bland designs to make for a visually interesting streetscape.

I really do wish that the developers didn't insist that the garage is needed. I wish they'd just get the city to build one across the street on the many surface lots along the westside of Grand. The one in the Grand River, no matter how you spruce it up, is still literally built INTO the Grand River, and can never really be a good function for that particular site no matter how much lip-stick they put on it.

Jared, I created a project page for this, so if you can add it to the list that would be great.

Good call, my mistake: (From the article)

"The developers also said they would open up the riverfront of the property for a public trail and access to the Grand River.

"We want to bring the river into downtown," Elliott said. "We want to build a community down here.""

Speaking of the area behind the triangle lot, I wonder if a large scale condo development like this will impact any current redesigns going on for the MSP headquarters. My limited knowledge/experience says it won't, but it would be nice.

Thanks hood, I've added the link to it on the Project Pages. For anybody who would like to see some general information about the project, click on Project Pages at the top of the site, and you should see links to different projects happening in the MetroLansing area (now including the South Grand Condos).

The city council will vote Monday night to decide to sell the parking ramp.

Here are some photos of the sites that will be effected I took Sunday, and some general areas around the site. The commentary is for a few other sites if it seems strange.

Off along Grand Avenue, which paralells the Grand River, removed from the core lies a district populated by parking lots and office buildings. Along this route lies the former Lansing City Club building, constructed in 1861, which is to be demolished for a 12 to 20 story condo tower known as 219 Grand. It, and its historic neighbor, are wedged between the Brustalist South Grand Parking Structure and the 15-story Grand Tower, a state office building.



Here, you can see the two over a series of parking lots. The building on the right (name unknown) was constructed in 1915, but updated so many times since then you may as well refer to its as a new building.



Behind all of these buildings and structures lies the westbank of the Grand River in an embarrassing state. You'd never know the river was behind, here, if you didn't know anything about the city. The area is used as a backhouse for each of these structures, and includes strange trails. Some of these structures overhang the river, at parts, and the homeless leave beneath these, along with an assorment of river animals (i.e. beavers, muskrats, ....)





A strange area behind the City Club of unknown usage.



The back of the South Grand Parking Structure built into and overhanging the Grand River.



Looking back southward the unremarkable Kalamazoo Street Bridge, currently be used as a stage for the sewer seperation project going on along Kalamazoo Street, west of the bridge.



Behind the Grandview Plaza Office Building, also built directly into the bank of the river. A now closed boardwalk behind it offered a path to the neighboring parking garage.



The boardwalk below offered access to the river for fishermen. Now, it's used mostly as a summertime sleeping spot for the homeless who live along the river.



Along the east bank, and what I believe to be a former warehouse, the River Plaza Building was constructed in 1918, and renovated many times after that. Most recently, it's major tenant was the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, which is scheduled to move to the Stadium District just down the road when it is completed.



The River Trail and 'modernized' Michigan Avenue Bridge. I'd love to see this reconstructed to make it more visually appealing.



The Riverwalk Theatre lies to the south.

I didn't think it sounded that quick, personally, but that's because I forgot, when this was announced, that the city has to vote on selling the land.

I found this quote very interesting:

"One idea the two developers are toying with is opening up the parking ramp where Allegan meets Grand Avenue and lowering the grade so people on the street can see into the river, which sits about 15 feet below the riverbank.

That steep bank is what makes incorporating the river into the life of downtown Lansing so difficult, Johnson says. It’s a real issue because the steepness removes the river from view."

I doubt it will happen, but it would be great if it did. That would be one way of appeasing the developers and still opening up the sightlines.

Greetings, I'm new to the board and a long-time resident. I'm amazed at the rate of new development in Lansing and East Lansing, this is good news especially in these times. Stadium District, Sparrow Town, East Lansing - East Village, East Lansing - Valley Court, what have I missed?

Yes, the BWL monolith is not viable for developing, and if a plan ever surfaces to re-develop the land it should come down. With enough new people living downtown (and some luck) a Borders or a movie theatre could follow.