They cite COVID as a reason, but there was a survey sent out a while back that asked a lot of questions about different branches and really focused on improvements to the Westside branch, so maybe the downtown gym’s days were numbered regardless.
RE: Sidecar Slider Bar - I wish them the best and hope they can succeed in that location. My understanding is that the last tenant was pushed out due to Gillespie increasing the rent significantly, maybe they've softened on that now that it has been vacant for years and we are in the middle of a pandemic? I looked at the menu at the other locations and it strikes me as a slightly pricier Green Dot, but they seem to fluctuate those prices based on area and I'm sure Lansing will have cheaper prices than Birmingham (basically the richest city in the state). I will make sure to check it out once this whole COVID thing is somewhat more under control.
RE: Downtown Y closure - Pre-COVID I had actually considered signing up to the Y and using the downtown location. Problem was that my office building is just too far away to practically use it at lunchtime, so I decided against it. I hope they will be able to find a new tenant to take the place of the Y rather than letting this sit vacant forever. Guess we will see what happens.
This developer already has the grow house on E Kalamazoo and is behind the Love Over Fear billboards. I wonder if the construction on the west side of Cedar across from the John Bean plant is part of his developments?
That is sad to hear about. Pulling down century-old homes that will be replaced with what? is wrong to me. Is this the spot on the edge of downtown they are talking about for the site of a 30 story building? Maybe they are going to actually do something with that land, why else would they start demolition now?
That is interesting. Knock the neighborhood down and someday build a new neighborhood. I was just speculating about the "30 story building". It sure would be great to see something built there. The destruction of this and nearby neighborhoods made a big impression on me when I was a kid. All the years I lived in Mass. I would have this recurring dream about walking through the blocks behind the Capitol and by West Jr., seeing the houses being torn down with just one or two still standing here and there. I don't know if that means anything! I think I am always just trying to get home. I finally made it!:}
The property at 1624 E. Cavanaugh is interesting to me. I feel like it would be a good location for a trail- or park-focused business to purchase, but that obviously never happened. I'm looking forward to the city possibly being able to purchase this land for park purposes. That being said, it is currently listed for sale by the owner, so I'm not sure how this will end.
I thought those houses off Cavanaugh were in the flood plain and scheduled for demolition? I would not want to live there and the other structures nearby there have been squatters.
The small house looks like it may have been a school at one time. It is a strange little edge of town area leftover from when it was the edge of town. I like the idea of the city extending the parkland over there.
The 7 block fiasco continues to disappoint me, has it really only been seven years? It feels like it's been so much longer. I'm not even too sure what I'd like to see here, it'd be nice to see Washtenaw rebuilt all the way through while the seven block area and the state parking lot south of the library ends up as a low to mid rise mixed us district, that's hoping for a lot though. I'd bet Eyde will end up proposing a mundane low slung office building permanently blocking Washtenaw from reaching MLK similar to what they proposed some years ago.
Regarding that grant to buy two buildings across from Cherry Hill Park to expand the park, as a resident and homeowner in that neighborhood, that dumbfounds me. Cherry Hill Park is poorly developed and poorly maintained and they want to buy two properties across from the park for what? I want to see the River Trail continued on that side of the river through the park, there needs to be pathways through the park, a better playground and maybe a sculpture or two. Besides, I like that brick building on the corner and would prefer to see it turned back to commercial use someday.
Regardless of whether it's been formally vacated, I think rebuilding Washtenaw would be best for the neighborhood and best for the development prospects at that site. I hope Eyde or whatever developer ends up with this property at least considers reversing that mistake, as I also hope the state allows the street to be rebuilt through the library's parking lot someday.
Back to Cherry Hill Park, I just don't see why the city wants to bail out the owner of those properties, if he can't sell them on the open market at that price then they're not worth that price. I can say with certainty that $100k for that house is ridiculous, the city should not be overpaying for properties that they have absolutely no use for. I would also love to see that little brick building turned into some sort of cafe/diner or convenience store or River Trail-related business, but I don't think the city makes for a good property owner/manager for those sorts of things. As in all cases, if the owner of those properties wanted to get rid of them he should have to sell them at market price, then maybe someone could economically justify coming in and doing what's necessary to make them useful.
I guess it's a done deal now. I'd suggest that the city raze the house next door to allow the little commercial building to have a parking lot then rezone the parcels to allow commercial use and offer it for sale through a RFP. I'd hate to just see a bigger patch of grass next to the freeway.
Comments
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2020/10/22/downtown-lansing-ymca-permanently-closed-coronavirus-covid-19/3727593001/
They cite COVID as a reason, but there was a survey sent out a while back that asked a lot of questions about different branches and really focused on improvements to the Westside branch, so maybe the downtown gym’s days were numbered regardless.
RE: Downtown Y closure - Pre-COVID I had actually considered signing up to the Y and using the downtown location. Problem was that my office building is just too far away to practically use it at lunchtime, so I decided against it. I hope they will be able to find a new tenant to take the place of the Y rather than letting this sit vacant forever. Guess we will see what happens.
Regarding that grant to buy two buildings across from Cherry Hill Park to expand the park, as a resident and homeowner in that neighborhood, that dumbfounds me. Cherry Hill Park is poorly developed and poorly maintained and they want to buy two properties across from the park for what? I want to see the River Trail continued on that side of the river through the park, there needs to be pathways through the park, a better playground and maybe a sculpture or two. Besides, I like that brick building on the corner and would prefer to see it turned back to commercial use someday.
Back to Cherry Hill Park, I just don't see why the city wants to bail out the owner of those properties, if he can't sell them on the open market at that price then they're not worth that price. I can say with certainty that $100k for that house is ridiculous, the city should not be overpaying for properties that they have absolutely no use for. I would also love to see that little brick building turned into some sort of cafe/diner or convenience store or River Trail-related business, but I don't think the city makes for a good property owner/manager for those sorts of things. As in all cases, if the owner of those properties wanted to get rid of them he should have to sell them at market price, then maybe someone could economically justify coming in and doing what's necessary to make them useful.
I guess it's a done deal now. I'd suggest that the city raze the house next door to allow the little commercial building to have a parking lot then rezone the parcels to allow commercial use and offer it for sale through a RFP. I'd hate to just see a bigger patch of grass next to the freeway.