I am sure they do have planning boards and zoning laws, but all of W. Saginaw is a unattractive suburban mess. This is not unique to Lansing or anywhere in the country. So I guess maybe rather than pointing out the obvious, what is wrong. Delta could look toward streetscape, providing sidewalks,more trees, better and nice lighting, perhaps turn outs for bus stops so to be out of the traffic lane. Making Saginaw a boulevard with Michigan Ave. type lefts could work. That would calm traffic make if safer and easier to take in the business signs that are on the right while giving a safe way to reverse direction to go the businesses on the other side. A big rotary at the Lansing Mall and Meijer's would move traffic more smoothly than the detected traffic lights. Those lights take a long time to go through each direction and lefts, this backs up traffic into large packs, also makes people race to beat the light. Build new buildings fronting the sidewalk and street, parking lots behind. I have been through small towns like Hale and Gladwin that have new street scapes why not Delta?
Thank you answering my questions, I am glad to hear they do recover the valuable parts of the houses and got to the effort toward making the lots attractive and safe. It is nice to hear when they do it right.
I was very much looking forward to going to the City Market when I moved back here in May.I thought the people there were nice but it felt kind of desperate. Short of knocking the whole thing down, [I think architecturally it fails in many ways, why metal clad pole barn?] they could replace the metal with wood, if it wants to be a barn then why not a nice barn? Living downtown it is nice to hear they may put in an "urban grocer", out east there are many such small footprint markets. If it is done right it can feel kind of European. I don't know if I like the idea of a national chain going in there. It seems like someone like Horrock's could go in there maybe Roma Bakery. I was also thinking they could start having push cart businesses in the plaza and river walk by the Lansing Center. This would allow small businesses to part of the scene down there. There could be people selling local goods maybe souvenirs for tourist. Maybe have a Holiday or Christmas Market in the same area outside the City Market. Many cities with similar weather have really nice outdoor markets were they set up temporary shops selling food and holiday arts and crafts, and retail goods as well. The shops are really often just a small area behind a nice facade made of logs or some kind of holiday thyme. It is fun to eat and drink hot food and beverages outside in a Holiday atmosphere. There are people in the area all the time but they don't seem to have a lot to do or places to spend money, make the market itself a destination. In Mass they have these stores called The Christmas Tree Shops, and for instance the one by the Sagamore Bridge is in a thatch roofed old English Windmill, a reproduction of course, and inside it is just a discount store. The building makes people want to go in there.
They did attempt a weekly farmers market out on the plaza area a month or so ago. However it was quickly canned because they didn't have the vendors (they had two vendors and both left early) or the shoppers to support it. They should loop the riverwalk in the downtown area. I feel like that could bring in some shoppers or diners during the lunch hours.
If they do add the urban grocer, I would love that but I would hope that they would run with extended hours so that I can stop there after work. Biggest gripe about living downtown is there are not many places to get groceries without having to hop in the car and head over to Meijer.
I made a nice country drive by starting on Turner Street in Old Town and going north all the way to Dewitt and over to Sleepy Hallow and back down to East Lansing. In the area that is suppose to welcome people to Dewitt at least five houses had Confederate battle flags flying out front. I know that they are privet property but all the trees and grass will be quickly forgotten when you turn down a road with so many stars and bars on display. Maybe Dewitt could hold town meetings to discus the Civil War and Michigan's roll in stopping the Southern rebellion. I have direct ancestors who fought in that war,they were fighting for The United States which sought to abolish slavery and preserve the Union. Those flags represent traitors and racist. I don't think I would like to have an auto break down and have to walk up to one of those houses looking for help. I think a bit of education along with grass and trees would help make Dewitt welcoming to everyone.
In the city market area there is that awful pedestrian bridge that looks like something from an old Soviet airport. What if they rebuilt it with a bridge the was beautiful, a bridge that people could use to get the city market or just for a stroll to look over the river. It could be an ultra modern like in London over the Thames, or maybe something a bit fanciful like a covered wooden pedestrian span that could be a tourist attraction in it self. Frankenmuth they built a covered old fashion bridge that is part of the tourist must see list there. It's just a bridge but people love to look at it and walk over it.
Regarding Clinton County/Dewitt, I've never had anything other than poor experiences with the people and police up that way. I used to have a friend that lived in Dewitt Township and I dreaded going up there. I don't like to generalize, but my dislike for that area is strong enough that I would actively avoid living there and I do avoid doing business there. On a side note I also find northerners who fly the Confederate flag hilarious (often under the guise of patriotism??? lol), they're supporting an enemy who their ancestors may have very well died fighting against. I truly don't understand some people.
At some point in the last several years there was some mention of rebuilding that pedestrian bridge to the Lansing Center. I can't remember when it was or the circumstances though.
Thank you for your interesting thoughts on the subjects I have brought up. Like you said the drive up Turner is really nice, the landscape is nice rolling fields, big old oak trees covering the roads lots of real farm houses on real farms. The flag issue has been in the news so perhaps that is why we happened to see so many. I just returned to Michigan so maybe it is not that strange, I know there are roads you could dive up in Mass. that would have a few of those flags flying. Poverty and ignorance are the enemy of peace and happiness everywhere. They whole township system around Lansing were set up so those places would be apart from Lansing and still are in some cases. Many people who live there have told me out right that is the reason they live there where they don't have to pay taxes for or send "those people's" children to school. Here in Lansing I have found people are pretty much about getting along. That was been a happy surprise for me and I think this will help Lansing to become an even more successful 21st century city, people are nice here!
I can't wait to hear about the next big thing!
That location at Cedar and Mt Hope could be really good for someone. I wonder what the timeline is on the Walter French redevelopment, that could make the corner much more valuable.
Comments
Thank you answering my questions, I am glad to hear they do recover the valuable parts of the houses and got to the effort toward making the lots attractive and safe. It is nice to hear when they do it right.
If they do add the urban grocer, I would love that but I would hope that they would run with extended hours so that I can stop there after work. Biggest gripe about living downtown is there are not many places to get groceries without having to hop in the car and head over to Meijer.
In the city market area there is that awful pedestrian bridge that looks like something from an old Soviet airport. What if they rebuilt it with a bridge the was beautiful, a bridge that people could use to get the city market or just for a stroll to look over the river. It could be an ultra modern like in London over the Thames, or maybe something a bit fanciful like a covered wooden pedestrian span that could be a tourist attraction in it self. Frankenmuth they built a covered old fashion bridge that is part of the tourist must see list there. It's just a bridge but people love to look at it and walk over it.
At some point in the last several years there was some mention of rebuilding that pedestrian bridge to the Lansing Center. I can't remember when it was or the circumstances though.
I can't wait to hear about the next big thing!