There is an interesting artical about the "Lansing Shuffle" in the City Pulse this week. I think I will check it out myself this weekend. It looks like this may be the thing that gets folks down to the riverside year-round and perhaps the best use for the pole barn that one could hope for, [minus tearing it down]!
I stopped by the Shuffle after an LSO concert last Sunday. It was a fun atmosphere and what we ordered was delicious. That said, most places have some pretty steep prices for Lansing. Hope that doesn't affect its chance of surviving. It's nice to have so many new restaurants in one place, I just hope it's enough to keep people coming back. I definitely want to try each one despite the prices.
I am thinking that because these places are "store front restaurants" making finer food to order the prices are higher than "fast food" chains. Plus, it looks like most of the businesses are not part of a large chain that would mean they pay high prices for their smaller orders from wholesale venders. Unlike a sit-down restaurant where tipping ads a lot to the total, perhaps people will like the counter service style where one would generally tip less as no one is waiting on you. I am going to check it out myself!
The city needs to do a better job of letting people know that parking is free after 5 or 6pm and on weekends. It would be a good idea to offer free parking all the time. I was shopping downtown several times during the holidays and the free parking was such a pleasure, although the rates are not so high when in effect, that is the bad rap about going downtown "I gotta pay to park!", ever since the 50's!
I think the people complaining to park are just ridiculous. Like you said, rates aren't bad and Lansing has much more free parking that a lot of other cities. Many charge later into the night and on weekends. The complaint that it's hard to find parking is also ridiculous. I've never had a problem finding street parking within a block or two of my destination.
I found the parking app made it a lot easier to pay for parking.
I do agree, they could do a better job letting people know when its free though. I used to work downtown for years, so I've got it down, but I know many don't that aren't there all the time. The free parking on Fridays that they had around the holidays was always a surprise. It was hardly noted anywhere. The parking app is how I always found out.
Is the lot accross from Lansing Shuffle actually a pay lot now? I know it was free back when it was the City Market, at least on weekends anyways. That was a big help for the lack of parking. I'd have paid if it were a convienient situation though. I just always expect to pay in a downtown setting.
I feel that lot has always been kind of a no man's lot when it's come to whether it's pay or not and how to do so. Generally signage elsewhere is decent, but with that lot I'm never sure. I'll admit, I'm always happy when I don't have to deal with it an figure it out haha.
I was also addressing another users comments about general parking so not all of that applied to just that situation. I went on a bit of a parking ramble.
I checked out the Lansing Shuffle the other day. The renovations are pretty nice, [imo] it could use a little warming up in the seating area and some sort of panels or dropped ceilings that would hide the pole barn look better. I did like the restaurant fronts which look much better than the temporary looking booths in old set up. The food choices were interesting; my BBQ Jerk ribs were disappointing good flavor but very dry and tough. And you guys were right about the prices, if I'm paying $30 bucks for my lunch [6 ribs mac &cheese, drink] it would be nice if they served the ribs on a plate instead of a sheet of waxed paper. The Hamalian food however was very good fresh and different, reasonably priced. I think the place may be successful with a little fine tuning, there are still more restaurants being set up and when the weather is better, and they open the stairways down to the river trail lots of people will show up. I was wondering if the ever turn on the fireplace in Rotary Park, it really is good looking, and it would be nice to sit out there on a sunny winter day. East Lansing's fireplace [Lansing's is better looking] is on almost every day.
This is incredibly welcome news: Apparently the city has settled on a plan to revamp Michigan Ave, they'd add separated bicycle lanes and reduce eastbound traffic to one lane. Work is expected to cost $11.4 million and begin in 2024. One minor thing I hope they include but is not clear from what's shown are the curb bump outs where street parking ends at intersections and pedestrian crossings, it makes a big difference in aesthetics and makes it a little safer for pedestrians.
How independent Sparrow will remain isn't clear but they do say the the Sparrow Foundation will remain separate, that the Sparrow name will not be going away and that they will continue investment in Lansing. A few items I thought were noteworthy:
"...as part of Sparrow joining U-M Health additional pledges and matching funds will be established connected to the Sparrow Capital Campaign that will accelerate some long-awaited improvements on the E.W. Sparrow Hospital campus in Lansing and across the Sparrow Mid-Michigan service area."
"Additionally, U-M Health is committing $800 million in capital investment to Sparrow, funded through hospital operations and strategic investments over eight years."
"For U-M Health, this is an important step toward its vision of a statewide system of highly coordinated care. Sparrow will co-lead in the creation of this statewide system, along with Sparrow Medical Group playing a central role in physician development."
Given Lansing's central location I wonder how much we may benefit from being a part of a more cohesive statewide system? I could see Lansing being an important hub for the some specialties that they can't have in each hospital.
Comments
I found the parking app made it a lot easier to pay for parking.
I do agree, they could do a better job letting people know when its free though. I used to work downtown for years, so I've got it down, but I know many don't that aren't there all the time. The free parking on Fridays that they had around the holidays was always a surprise. It was hardly noted anywhere. The parking app is how I always found out.
Is the lot accross from Lansing Shuffle actually a pay lot now? I know it was free back when it was the City Market, at least on weekends anyways. That was a big help for the lack of parking. I'd have paid if it were a convienient situation though. I just always expect to pay in a downtown setting.
I was also addressing another users comments about general parking so not all of that applied to just that situation. I went on a bit of a parking ramble.
https://www.wkar.org/wkar-news/2023-02-13/lansing-explores-redesign-of-east-side-of-michigan-avenue?fbclid=IwAR1WEOsTS4jmdVALTrboxCGWEh4WZpvTzN-neXhcoJ52MCnVlQeKyrfXxk4
https://www.uofmhealth.org/sparrow
How independent Sparrow will remain isn't clear but they do say the the Sparrow Foundation will remain separate, that the Sparrow name will not be going away and that they will continue investment in Lansing. A few items I thought were noteworthy:
"...as part of Sparrow joining U-M Health additional pledges and matching funds will be established connected to the Sparrow Capital Campaign that will accelerate some long-awaited improvements on the E.W. Sparrow Hospital campus in Lansing and across the Sparrow Mid-Michigan service area."
"Additionally, U-M Health is committing $800 million in capital investment to Sparrow, funded through hospital operations and strategic investments over eight years."
"For U-M Health, this is an important step toward its vision of a statewide system of highly coordinated care. Sparrow will co-lead in the creation of this statewide system, along with Sparrow Medical Group playing a central role in physician development."
Given Lansing's central location I wonder how much we may benefit from being a part of a more cohesive statewide system? I could see Lansing being an important hub for the some specialties that they can't have in each hospital.