If this were anywhere outside of the downtown core I'd be disappointed, the only other locations I'd even find somewhat acceptable would be the Frandor/Red Cedar Renaissance area or the Eckert site. It's hard to say what specific locations would really be appropriate as there's not enough information on what they're proposing but I can't imagine any scenario in which a 30 floor building far from the core would be desirable. I'm still not for moving City Hall under virtually any realistic circumstances, there's just too many undeveloped/underdeveloped plots of land downtown to justify that.
This proposal seems a little weird but assuming what they say is true, that there's a reasonably large real estate investment firm with a Lansing native involved who wants the opportunity to do something in his hometown, then it's actually plausible and pretty exciting. I will not be holding my breath though.
@MichMatters Zoning variances can be made and a large entertainment complex is the kind of thing I could almost see the city accommodating in some farther flung location. That being said, I don't think that would be at all desirable and I'd expect the mayor and economic development people to push for a downtown location, or possibly the Eckert site which was apparently being tossed around as a potential site for some sort of entertainment complex by the economic development people during Bernero's time.
It certainly could be a big deal. If you look up the guys name he's the managing partner of that firm and manages over $4 billion dollars in assets. Without a location or renderings or any solid idea of the overall size, uses or cost, I have no idea what to think. That firm certainly seems to have the money to pull something special off and Lansing is the guys hometown so who knows?
I hope what we wait to see is a cool 30 story building standing out above our skyline. I am always too optimistic when I hear about this sort of "big plan" but this fellow seems to be well connected to Lansing and to money. I have never understood why people come out and present plans they have no way of producing, maybe it is an ego thing. It sounds like this guy could be for real, wouldn't that be something to have the billionaire we have always needed [like GR] developing downtown! It might be too small but the corner of S Washington and Malcolm X [the REOTOWN sign lot] sounds like a spot next to the freeway and just outside downtown. I would really rather see a building of this size built on the whole block of Grand Ave at Michigan Ave which is only about six blocks from 496.
The owners of that eyesore building on that block should be fined until they fix and secure that building, it has been months since the vandalism took place and now there are even more broken windows and graffiti [poor depictions of Geroge Floyd can not be forever unlike the real artwork memorial to him under 496]. The best thing would be to tear that building down.
Good news! That neighborhood is actually pretty nice with lots of trees, some blocks are better than others but for the most part, there are a lot of well-kept homes in a fairly dense old fashion subdivision. You can see signs that before 496 this was a nicer neighborhood. Turning this eyesore building into housing will be a big positive change for this area. If I were a resident of the neighborhood I would except the bigger development plans, if this developer passes on the project it may be a long time before another comes along.
I will hope for a positive reaction to the new plan, I think any improvement would be welcome over there but people do have to get their two cents in that is for sure. The open space is really just an old playground field with no park-like features, what's there to protect?
I noticed the pine poles[why?] being installed the other day. The design is OK looking but seems, as I have said before, dated. It's almost 2021 let's get some new intriguing ideas! It is good to see a building fill that empty space.
I have to say that a shuffleboard club! was not on my list of ideas for the City Market. Are young people taking up shuffleboard? I am a member of the "disco generation" and we don't shuffleboard [or at least I don't!!]. It could be fun I guess, but they will really need to makeover that awful pole barn to create a space that will draw people in. If the vendor's spaces are the same as before with the sort of temporary looking booths set up on the cement warehouse floor I would not hold much hope of success. I really wish that Lansing would create a city-owned facility/attraction there and not be providing a public space for a privately owned business to set up shop in the middle of downtown[like the bar they just kicked out], or just take down the pole barn and expand the Rotary Park. I will cross my fingers on this one and hope it is a wild success! and draws thousands of shuffleboard players from all over the state!
I could look at this two ways, one may be that Lansing is not ashamed of its charity and homeless people there it is right on our main street. The Mission dates from a time when this was kind of skid row and is perhaps the last remnant of that time on that block, they were there first. The other view is there may be a better place to build another male shelter, the Mission might better renovate these two buildings into market-rate apartments collect high rents to help their cause, and find another building at a less prominent location for the shelter. If it were me I would rather have my shelter away from the main street for a little privacy and dignity. I hope the day comes soon that we will not need another homeless shelter in Lansing.
I'm not a fan of this at all. There's no reason further concentrate the homeless population of the whole area into one of the most important business districts in the area, especially one that's struggling to get over the hump and reach sustained growth. I'd like to see the homeless shelters in the area more spread out and preferably in as small of facilities as are practical to operate. I'm assuming this is basically a done deal and that the zoning already allows for this expansion? I really don't think the Rescue Mission cares about the well being of this business district or downtown as a whole, they could get a far better and larger facility for the money their current location would be worth.
Call me a NIMBY all you want but I think expanding the current location is not ideal for the current shelter nor the city as a whole. Like others have said above it seems like it would make more sense to sell or rent the current properties and use that money to build a facility elsewhere. That way you don't have to retrofit old buildings and get it how you want it right away. Just my thoughts.
Yeah, let's hide the homeless and less fortunate. Certainly wouldn't want visitors to think that we have homeless and indigent people in Lansing of all places! We should tuck them away, lest someone think poorly about our glistening city. Sorry, tongue-in-cheek here. As a "Rescuer", working hands on with the mission, I know that we have been duty bound to maintain the facilities, adhere to strict guidelines and save lives, one at a time. Bully that Gillespie decided to build across the street, the LCRM has been in that same spot since the 20's, and was started in the middle of a burgeoning market area without trepidation. This kind of attitude is exactly what is wrong with gentrification. We can all co-exist. Really! Just my thoughts.
Comments
This proposal seems a little weird but assuming what they say is true, that there's a reasonably large real estate investment firm with a Lansing native involved who wants the opportunity to do something in his hometown, then it's actually plausible and pretty exciting. I will not be holding my breath though.
It certainly could be a big deal. If you look up the guys name he's the managing partner of that firm and manages over $4 billion dollars in assets. Without a location or renderings or any solid idea of the overall size, uses or cost, I have no idea what to think. That firm certainly seems to have the money to pull something special off and Lansing is the guys hometown so who knows?
The owners of that eyesore building on that block should be fined until they fix and secure that building, it has been months since the vandalism took place and now there are even more broken windows and graffiti [poor depictions of Geroge Floyd can not be forever unlike the real artwork memorial to him under 496]. The best thing would be to tear that building down.
I have to say that a shuffleboard club! was not on my list of ideas for the City Market. Are young people taking up shuffleboard? I am a member of the "disco generation" and we don't shuffleboard [or at least I don't!!]. It could be fun I guess, but they will really need to makeover that awful pole barn to create a space that will draw people in. If the vendor's spaces are the same as before with the sort of temporary looking booths set up on the cement warehouse floor I would not hold much hope of success. I really wish that Lansing would create a city-owned facility/attraction there and not be providing a public space for a privately owned business to set up shop in the middle of downtown[like the bar they just kicked out], or just take down the pole barn and expand the Rotary Park. I will cross my fingers on this one and hope it is a wild success! and draws thousands of shuffleboard players from all over the state!