I don't get the impression that the MDA building will go to anything, but rather it would be tore down and replaced. It is very poor building in a number of ways. It s set back from the street and only three floors, it also has very poor design. But I do agree that if somebody were to take a chance with residenial on N Washington it could be huge.
I just don't see that building being used for residential, or for decent quality commercial in it's current state. If it were completely gutted and reskinned I suppose it could be dcent, but at that point it may as well just be razed. The building is among the ugliest downtown, in case anyone can't picture the building here it is:
I watched the city council meeting today and they were saying that the Boji's would actually add three floors to Capitol View, two floors would be for the MDA and would likely be sold to the MDA as an office condo. The Boji's would retain the other floor and lease it out. It would be nice to hear if this project becomes official.
Just out of curiousity, whos the soutce and do you consider them reliable? My main interest in this project right now is a timeline, I would even be happy to know when renderings will be released.
Given the name I wonder if this will be a mini-complex of state buildings, you have the Capitol Complex, the Secondary complex and now the "third tier?" Just a possibility...
My friend Tom (the manager of Clem's) heard from his landlord about this last week. They tore the metal facade down on Saturday, to see what was underneath. From what I've heard, the building owner is planning on renovating the front of the building in the spring, in anticipation of converting the upstairs into a loft (or lofts).
And believe me, my friend is probably just as relieved as you guys. He gets comments from people all the time about it, but he himself was powerless to do anything.
Nope. I'm not sure who the owner is, but Clem's leases the ground floor level (and possibly the basement). My friend Tom is just the manager of the Clem's store. Which, incidentally, is a satellite location of the original Clem's in Fort Wayne, IN.
The store is making some progress, and seems to be making a name for itself around town. It's been featured in NOISE a couple of times. You'd be surprised how many well dressed businessmen buy comic books...
In order to make the MDA building decent it would take a rennovation/addition about as extensive as the MEDC building, but it could work. Also an LSJ article reminded me the other day, Washington Sq is going to be reopened through Shiawassee next year, that will be GREAT.
I seen that Clems facade, and it appears that it could be one of the nicest small facades on the street if restored right.
With the Third Tier, Association project, Cooley Auditorium and whatever the Boji's are planning, that gives us several MAJOR projects in the works. Not to mention, Stadium District, Capitol View's expansion, Abrams Landing, RiverNorth, Blind School, Ottawa Power Station, Accident Fund expansion, University Center and the other the proposed LCC building. Sometimes I just have to list all the projects to grasp how many there truly are, most are still on the drawing board but the next year will be exciting. And to think this is all the first wave, we have yet to see even a hint of high-rise residential, downtown Lansing's office market is doing suprisingly well, I'd bet we have more office construction on the table than most any city our size.
One thing I hope the Boji's aren't planning is that addition to Michigan National, that would be terrible. I would suspect that their "big Project" will either be on the site of the Tower Ramp or next to the the 5/3 building, if not razing the building.
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And believe me, my friend is probably just as relieved as you guys. He gets comments from people all the time about it, but he himself was powerless to do anything.
The store is making some progress, and seems to be making a name for itself around town. It's been featured in NOISE a couple of times. You'd be surprised how many well dressed businessmen buy comic books...
I seen that Clems facade, and it appears that it could be one of the nicest small facades on the street if restored right.
One thing I hope the Boji's aren't planning is that addition to Michigan National, that would be terrible. I would suspect that their "big Project" will either be on the site of the Tower Ramp or next to the the 5/3 building, if not razing the building.