That trailer park is a dump though. I rode through there on a test ride when I was shopping for bikes a few years ago. It's half empty, and not in great shape; even for a trailer park.
The Whole Foods will technically be in Meridian Township, as Coral Gables is the first property on the Meridian Township side of Grand River. I know people really wanted a Whole Foods to take the place of the grocery store at Hagadorn and Grand River, so this is close, but I agree that it will be near impossible for the EL Food Coop and Foods For Living to continue with Whole Foods across the street.
I actually think it's pretty hard for a Whole Foods to move in to the Lansing area, as it's already very well serviced by Meijer and Kroger. In fact, I don't know many regions where grocery stores are at such high density. This brings me to think that downtown Lansing and downtown East Lansing as basically the most grocery-store deserted places that the region has. Or could I be wrong? I would have preferred to see some longer term and more structurally safe low-income housing on the site of the trailer park, with some smaller scale retail on the street frontage.
Yeah. It's arguable whether WF counts as East Lansing development, but it will have an EL address. It will also attract more development. I noticed a big condo development was announced (behind the MAC in Meridian Township) right on the heels of Whole Foods.
I'm happy to see WF moving into the area, but I would love to have seen all of this on the former Red Cedar golf course, so it would benefit Lansing more than Okemos. Overall, though, it will add the the outside perception of the metro area and offer up some food items absent from other stores in greater Lansing.
And, I agree about the near West side. I live on the east side, though, so I selfishly want it on the red cedar property. Haha. I don't think red cedar is even close to being ready environmentally, though.
Also, the WILX article about Whole Foods mentions that the developer hopes to open by this time next year. That suggests a late 2014 opening rather than 2015. I think they usually get these things up pretty fast.
With the Capstone development across the street, I think Meridian Township has signaled that they are willing to expedite development in the Hannah Plaza area, most likely to make up for decreased tax revenues in other parts of the township.
Oh, maybe they could have given them the runaround. Most likely they required the installation of the community center and other placemaking adjustments, but overall they let them build on what are basically wetlands and just create some retention ponds to make up for it.
Yeah I had read about it but couldn't find more details on the Bath Township planning commission website. It was confusing to me as to if it was going to be located next to the strip mall on Chandler Road or next to The Beaumont on the piece of land that never got used for the future phases.
All the streets bounding to site are already existing, north is to the left. The plaza currently out there is at the bottom of this rendering and looks like it will be partially razed.
There is another development that has already begun site work near Chandler Crossings in East Lansing. This development is located just south of Coleman Road and is not affiliated with the development discussed in the previous comments.
"NEW BUSINESS: Preliminary Site Plan-Orchards at Michigan State
Mr. Foulds indicated that the property located at 16970 Chandler Road is an 8.2 acre parcel
located south of Tim Hortons. He added that the Board of Trustees approved the first reading of the
rezoning for the property to the D Development Overlay Zoning District. The intent of the proposal
is to develop 62 single family home style cottages that provide 254 beds that range from 3-5
bedroom units. "
This past week there have been tree companies on site that have cleared the land and removed all of the trees. This is on the former site of Quality Landscape.
Comments
I actually think it's pretty hard for a Whole Foods to move in to the Lansing area, as it's already very well serviced by Meijer and Kroger. In fact, I don't know many regions where grocery stores are at such high density. This brings me to think that downtown Lansing and downtown East Lansing as basically the most grocery-store deserted places that the region has. Or could I be wrong? I would have preferred to see some longer term and more structurally safe low-income housing on the site of the trailer park, with some smaller scale retail on the street frontage.
I'm happy to see WF moving into the area, but I would love to have seen all of this on the former Red Cedar golf course, so it would benefit Lansing more than Okemos. Overall, though, it will add the the outside perception of the metro area and offer up some food items absent from other stores in greater Lansing.
Also, the WILX article about Whole Foods mentions that the developer hopes to open by this time next year. That suggests a late 2014 opening rather than 2015. I think they usually get these things up pretty fast.
http://www.wilx.com/topstories/headlines/Land-Owner-Hopes-Whole-Foods-Has-Positive-Impact-218039511.html
I pinned the location here: http://goo.gl/maps/tN8z2