I'm so glad to hear about this. I can see why this was originally a charter in the provision. East Lansing from very early on has been all about very slow growth, so to have one of the most restrictive provisions for selling city land isn't surprising. That said, East Lansing's attempts to stay "small town" have failed, stiffling growth where it should happen and directly contributing to some of the worst sprawl in the region. I hope this passes.
EAST LANSING – Efforts to sell city-owned property in East Lansing have been rejected by voters four times since 2006. Over the same period, Lansing voters have OK'd the sale of two former municipal golf courses, a small parcel to a local company, a community center and a park, among other properties.
East Lansing has one of the most restrictive charter provisions in Michigan regarding city property sales, in large part because the city's charter hasn't been updated since Michigan abolished or changed laws decades ago that outlined the requirements cities have to meet to sell property.
While Lansing officials expect major developments to rise on the sites of the former Red Cedar and Waverly golf courses, East Lansing's hope for the same for a blighted downtown area near the intersection of Abbot and Grand River skidded to a halt in November when about 57 percent of voters agreed with the proposal to sell three downtown parking lots. The proposal failed however, because in East Lansing, 60 percent of voters have to approve most property sales.
City officials hope to change that later this year. The city council Tuesday is expected to decide on one or more of four charter revisions that would each make it easier for the city to rid itself of property. Should they move forward, the proposal must still pass by a simple majority of those voting. It would join an already-busy May 5 ballot.
Regarding 927 E Grand River, I saw an elevation in the council packet or somewhere and it looked pretty bad. I hope they deny this request, I don't care if they develop that block as a large building or individual properties, but there should be maximum setback and minimum height requirements along with a requirement for first floor commercial space. I'd hate to see a short sighted addition or renovation stifle future development of that parcel or block.
I was around East Lansing, yesterday. The Element near the intersection of Gradn River and Bogue is coming together very well. They already have the elevator tower constructed. I was kind of surprised how much just a little height increase has on this area. If that entire row is eventually redeveloped, it'll make a great western bookend to downtown.
Drove by the new Amtrak station on Harrison. I guess I didn't realize how far back the new building was set back from the road, though, it certainly makes more sense given the length of trains. Still, the building was not nearly as large as I expected (even though I knew the project, overall, had been downsized), and looks barely larger than the current station building. Speaking of which, I was surprised to see the current building still standing. I was under the impression that was the first thing they were going to tear down, but now that I think of it, I think I vaguely remember them saying plans had changed and that they'd keep up the old building for use during the entire project. Hopefully, the station is designed with expansion in mind, because there is no way it could handle a significant increase in usage.
Trowbridge Plaza is also coming along well, though, I'm still pissed that Goodrich is gone, and the new storefronts, while shiny and new, can be found in any upscale suburbam community across the country.
I thought this had it's own thread, but, anyway, the LSJ has a story this morning concerning the Gateway project on the west end of downtown off of Grand River and Valley Court Park. Seems that it's been downsized after neighborhood opposition, and appears that it won't stretch across Delta Street, thus saving the historic Bigby Coffee:
Nearly two years after floating the idea, DTN says it has dropped Biggby from its plans because the project — called Gateway, at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Delta Street — would have been too big and cut off public views to neighboring Valley Court Park.
Instead, DTN will focus on a vacant lot across Delta Street from Biggby. Plans now call for a four-story building with retail on the first floor, underground parking and 39 two-bedroom apartments on upper floors, said Colin Cronin, a vice president for the Lansing Township-based rental housing developer.
The smaller size of the project will mean higher rents for the development, though.
OKEMOS – Developers want to turn an old industrial yard in Okemos into a sprawling upscale apartment complex that they hope would appeal to young workers.
The $50 million project, proposed by Okemos real estate management firm T.A. Forsberg Inc., calls for 450 one- to three-bedroom apartment units and townhomes off Jolly Road, near the corner of Okemos Road.
If it's approved, developers hope to break ground this fall, with the first units possibly ready to be leased by 2016. The bulk of the project could be finished in 2017.
It's looking like Metro Lansing is going to post some pretty serious growth at the next Census considering all of what has been built and proposed since 2010.
Looking at the Notice of Public Hearings in the City Pulse, this morning. What stuck out to me is the developers of Stonehouse Village wanting to construct a 5-story building with ground floor retail and apartments at 565 E. Grand River. That address is literally mid block west of the old Taco Bell in what is a very active retail strip. Is this something already proposed or is this new?
565 is the old Taco Bell, Google Maps is off. The property info site says that it's now owned by Stonehouse Village LLC, which makes sense. Hopefully whatever gets built is at least the quality of their other buildings.
Wow that's great news! The Stonehouse Village property on Grand River is a good mixed-use development. Having another one of it's kind right across the street and especially at the same height as the other Stonehouse Villages will create a nice dense block there.
Even as someone who more than did my part to keep that Taco Bell open during college, just about anything would be better at that corner. Hope it works out.
Comments
Drove by the new Amtrak station on Harrison. I guess I didn't realize how far back the new building was set back from the road, though, it certainly makes more sense given the length of trains. Still, the building was not nearly as large as I expected (even though I knew the project, overall, had been downsized), and looks barely larger than the current station building. Speaking of which, I was surprised to see the current building still standing. I was under the impression that was the first thing they were going to tear down, but now that I think of it, I think I vaguely remember them saying plans had changed and that they'd keep up the old building for use during the entire project. Hopefully, the station is designed with expansion in mind, because there is no way it could handle a significant increase in usage.
Trowbridge Plaza is also coming along well, though, I'm still pissed that Goodrich is gone, and the new storefronts, while shiny and new, can be found in any upscale suburbam community across the country.
The smaller size of the project will mean higher rents for the development, though.
It's looking like Metro Lansing is going to post some pretty serious growth at the next Census considering all of what has been built and proposed since 2010.