Wow I had not seen this. About 14 stories, it would be the tallest in East Lansing. It looks like a nicer version of The Hub. I understand that the market for student housing is higher than apartments for the general public, but I do hope they include mixed housing. Having year-round residents is a real help for local businesses, providing foot traffic, sales, and just people in the neighborhood when the students "tourist" are not here. This year our neighbors the student and their non-student young friends who come to EL's entrainment district have seemed louder [way more modified load mufflers] more drunk and more aggressive with a lot fights EL puts up spot lights for crowd control, "great for business". That coupled with the group of street people, [I don't know their housing statice] who show up every day, while not all, many seem to be mentally ill, or alcoholics, often drugged sleeping on the benches, and around the "fireplace", guys soliciting money and shop lifting, all this hurts local business. The students and the street people piss and throw up anywhere they like. The sidewalks are filthy and unsanitary. They litter and vandalize, brake windows and tagging buildings while they wait in line for the clubs. I am sure these problems are common in urban environments, but I think adding even more students to the downtown population would not really help attract non-student patrons to the area.
@gbdinlansing , by the way, per your comment there, I did actually talk to the director of the Downtown Development Authority about the problem of vagrancy in downtown East Lansing. He seemed to be quite sympathetic and desirous to do something, was not sure what the city could do (sort of "it's a public square" issue). I've seen some behaviors that certainly break the law, and I suspect aggressively enforcing relatively minor infractions would help.
I can't say it's the most exciting thing, but I'll take it as a sign that 127 construction is ending, which is a good thing. I'd bet the timing of their opening had at least a little to do with that. Looks nice, in that modern corporate franchise sort of way.
One is a new proposal for the Bailey parking lot on Albert St. 200 units in 12 stories with 80 parking spaces. If the neighbors helped kill the last proposal due to parking I am sure they will love this one. But very cool they actually included the site plan in the reporting.
One is the previously announced 'Howard' where the old Student Book Store and Starbucks was. 361 bedrooms and 274 parking spaces in 15 stories. This project would require a revision to the City's 25% diverse housing requirement. I definitely support a payment in-lieu setup to keep developments rolling in this expensive time. I don't think it was previously reported so another note I thought is cool is that it would utilize mass timber construction which MSU has been working on a lot. I believe this would be the first major building in the Mid-Michigan area for that construction type.
Yes, I find myself now against any sort of mandated diversity to the downtown housing stock... though it is ironic that the senior housing on Albert Avenue has helped impel the city council to act on downtown crime, because seniors actually complain when their street is noisy. So I'm grateful for that!
Very happy with these proposals overall. Sure, if I could wave a magic wand I'd maybe have some buildings will smaller footprints and more diversity of heights & architecture... But I don't have a magic wand and there's plenty of opportunity in EL's future for buildings like that.
The only other mass timber building I'm aware of in the Lansing area is MSU's STEM teaching facility, so kind of 'major' but this new building will be by far the tallest. One of, if not the tallest in Michigan I'd bet. I love when they do exposed structural elements for mass timber and it should be cool to watch go up.
Comments
Maybe y'all already knew that. News to me.
More good news for EL: it appears the DDA's Evergreen property has sold. It doesn't look like there's a specific plan at the moment, at least not publicly available, but I'd be surprised if this lingers too long without a more solid plan.
https://eastlansinginfo.news/dda-announces-sale-of-long-held-evergreen-properties/
"You're not literally going to attach a photo of the inside of a fast food restaurant, are you?" But I am.
One is a new proposal for the Bailey parking lot on Albert St. 200 units in 12 stories with 80 parking spaces. If the neighbors helped kill the last proposal due to parking I am sure they will love this one. But very cool they actually included the site plan in the reporting.
One is the previously announced 'Howard' where the old Student Book Store and Starbucks was. 361 bedrooms and 274 parking spaces in 15 stories. This project would require a revision to the City's 25% diverse housing requirement. I definitely support a payment in-lieu setup to keep developments rolling in this expensive time. I don't think it was previously reported so another note I thought is cool is that it would utilize mass timber construction which MSU has been working on a lot. I believe this would be the first major building in the Mid-Michigan area for that construction type.
The only other mass timber building I'm aware of in the Lansing area is MSU's STEM teaching facility, so kind of 'major' but this new building will be by far the tallest. One of, if not the tallest in Michigan I'd bet. I love when they do exposed structural elements for mass timber and it should be cool to watch go up.