I am more dismayed by the lack of progressive policy. This is not limited to just East Lansing. I have had limited discussions with several council members and they suggest several mass transit or bicycle relate changes, which seem to sputter out at the start. More effort to change is necessary then it is to delay or build obstacles to change.
I drove down Grand River Ave from the east for the first time since they tore down the buildings on the 100 block, and I found the open space so pleasant. I could see the whole church building next door, and it was like the campus had expanded across the street. I know and hope it's only temporary but it sure is nice to see those dark old buildings gone.
I think folks in E.L. think of themselves as "doing the right thing" people, not really, "not in my backyard" people, as they appear to be to most. Believing you are doing right is not always true if your action is based on something, an idea, an opinion that is dated or no longer true. The old saying goes they can't the forest for the trees, sometimes they need to take a different approach to these projects. Does every apartment need two parking spaces, issues like that need to be re-evaluated?
This one seems like kind of a wild card as to how much they get hassled by the EL City Council. I could see this project moving fairly quickly. I don't remember reading anything about them requesting incentives (are they?) and this doesn't involve public land or money so if they can get over the height and the parking there's no other obstacles I can think of. This is right in line with the vision for East Village, if they were logical at all it'd be hard to oppose this project. On the other hand the height and lack of parking make for easy targets, especially in East Lansing, it could go either way.
The new building will house 347 apartments and 585 beds. Its site plan and special use permit were unanimously approved by the East Lansing City Council in a special meeting Tuesday evening.
Parking was discussed during the meeting, as there will be 158 parking spaces for residents and people visiting the retail space.
However, councilmembers said they did not view parking as a potential barrier.
According to Pierson and the Core Spaces development team, now that the proposal has been approved, they hope to move quickly in getting building permits in place, ideally beginning demolition in February with construction beginning sometime in Spring 2018.
When asked by ELi if they anticipate any problems with the environmental remediation, Core Spaces’ representative responded that, due to plans for subterranean parking in the project, they would be removing the contaminated material anyway, so the environmental cleanup should cause no delay in the construction schedule.
That would be a great sight to see, East Grand River lined with cranes. If it went on to the Red Cedar project we'd look like a boom town around here. Is the Park District project totally dead?
Comments
I am more dismayed by the lack of progressive policy. This is not limited to just East Lansing. I have had limited discussions with several council members and they suggest several mass transit or bicycle relate changes, which seem to sputter out at the start. More effort to change is necessary then it is to delay or build obstacles to change.
Well, there also is the history of Lansing, and Michigan, really, as being culturally car centered due to the regional economy.
I drove down Grand River Ave from the east for the first time since they tore down the buildings on the 100 block, and I found the open space so pleasant. I could see the whole church building next door, and it was like the campus had expanded across the street. I know and hope it's only temporary but it sure is nice to see those dark old buildings gone.
I think folks in E.L. think of themselves as "doing the right thing" people, not really, "not in my backyard" people, as they appear to be to most. Believing you are doing right is not always true if your action is based on something, an idea, an opinion that is dated or no longer true. The old saying goes they can't the forest for the trees, sometimes they need to take a different approach to these projects. Does every apartment need two parking spaces, issues like that need to be re-evaluated?
add "see"!
This one seems like kind of a wild card as to how much they get hassled by the EL City Council. I could see this project moving fairly quickly. I don't remember reading anything about them requesting incentives (are they?) and this doesn't involve public land or money so if they can get over the height and the parking there's no other obstacles I can think of. This is right in line with the vision for East Village, if they were logical at all it'd be hard to oppose this project. On the other hand the height and lack of parking make for easy targets, especially in East Lansing, it could go either way.
The site plan was approved for this project.
http://statenews.com/article/2017/12/new-apartment-building
From ELi,
http://eastlansinginfo.org/content/council-approves-hub-5-0-vote
I think they were also very happy that no TIF money is involved here. It makes them look good and doesn't directly cost the city any money.
That would be a great sight to see, East Grand River lined with cranes. If it went on to the Red Cedar project we'd look like a boom town around here. Is the Park District project totally dead?
I don't think Park District is totally dead. I think they're working on a new approach, maybe scaled down.
If Red Cedar also were under construction you would see construction all along CATA Route 1
Very good news, and a great step forward in redeveloping what is probably one of the ugliest major intersections on Grand River in East Lansing.