I don't hate that building but I don't consider it at all important to save nor do I personally see it being worth trying to incorporate as a podium for a taller building. It's just an extremely basic two floor brick building with no real defining features, being it was built in the 30's or 40's I doubt it had a cornice or any ornamentation even originally. I obviously don't want to see it sit as an empty field but I'm wiling to live with it, I'm happy to see this building go. I hope this will push Granger to do something with their property, their family can't be happy that their name is getting negative attention between this building and the City Hall proposal.
Well that is some good news about demolitions and the zoning changes. It's definitely something Lansing needed to do.
I've seen the safety report and photos of the interior from years ago. That building is beyond fixing up or saving, especially for how modified and basic it is. Between the hazardous materials and structural failures, it just wouldn't be worth it. I do like its frontage on Grand though. I'd expect any future project to have that street presence as well though, or at least I'd hope so. Sounds like it would have to be from what you're saying.
Honestly, I'm not sure Gary cares what people think about him. He constantly makes enemies left and right with businesses and municipalities. The best thing for that property is for it to be in someone else's hands.
I have a "kind of funny" story about Gary Granger, Imo! I signed up to attend my 50th Sexton High class reunion late, when I got there, they gave out name tags, I guess Gary G was a late no show, so they used his name tag to make mine [another Gary] and it had Gary Granger's name on the back side. Too bad he has turned out to be such a poor businessman for Lansing. there really should be buildings on such an important and visible corner downtown.
It must've been a different Gary Granger, the Gary of the Granger family, and Granger development actually graduated from Holt High School. Maybe there was another Gary in the family?
Well, it could be that there is another Gary Granger who went to Holt, but I remember him at least going to Dwight Rich and I passed his family's home on the corner of Colonial Plaza and Pleasent Grove every day on the way to school, and I also remember his family was in the waste management business which for some reason seemed strange to me the city picked up trash in those days. It was just a little Lansing story that I thought may be interesting, and Gary's name is on the back of my name tag, so a Gary Granger graduated from JW Sexton in 1973!
The one that is related to the Granger family (trash and construction) at least graduated from Holt. He'd never mentioned Sexton, always Holt. Which I thought was odd, as I grew up over by Dwight Rich and it was my understanding the Grangers lived over there as well, which would suggest Rich and Sexton. Doesn't seem far fetched that he may have gone to both I suppose, other than the era and school of choice not being as prevalent. Only reason this stuck with me is because I should've gone to Sexton but went to Holt. He liked that we had the Holt connection. I had the "pleasure" of working with him for a short time.
Not that any of this really matters, just thought I'd bring it up lol.
Maybe there are really two Gary Grangers! There was no school choice in those days, you went to the school in the district where you lived, so maybe his family had a house out in Holt. Does Gary G own vacant rundown buildings down there as well? I think he may have failed civics class and has no pride in his hometown. OK enough about him!
I really have to look into the details of how the city has been spending the parks millage money before I support it. I've been quite disappointed in the parks, the best things that have happened have been funded through the county millages, private donations and/or state appropriations. Moores Park Pool, the playground at Adado, the beach/sculpture/lighting at Lansing Shuffle, the soccer/baseball facilities at Ferris Park, new Fenner/Bear Lake paths, Potter Park improvements and the upcoming Fish Ladder Music Park... None paid for by the city. Reutter Park's Fountain was down most/all summer and Cherry Hill Park is an embarrassment, those are my two closest parks. There's never been any discussion of bringing back the Washington Ave ice rinks. I'm not voting for a millage renewal to get the results I've been seeing.
Does anyone know of anything the city has done without these extra funds besides replace playground equipment?
I was at a neighborhood meeting with the housing commission, both buildings are being built as we saw in those blue renderings, there's a small chance they may change colors up. They have no plans for the Baryames property besides using it for construction staging. I asked about city hall and it appears that it may end up sitting mid block on Lenawee, be 3-4 floors and have plenty of surface parking (apparently our meeting next month will have a city official to discuss that in more detail). On top of all that there's either a lot of skepticism or a lot of cynicism amongst LHC officials, and apparently local developers, on the future prospects of the New Vision developments. All bad news for my neighborhood today.
Regarding the parks millage: I'll have to see the text of the renewal proposal, I don't think I'm going to be supporting it given the results I've seen.
I'm really trying to stay optimistic about the city's future but it's getting difficult. The next 2-4 years are going to determine so much. I'm not sure if I'll stick it out to see.
I read in the LSJ online that the Grangers are planning to tear down their building on Grand Ave. starting in March and kind of hinted that they may be planning something for that space. The photo in LSJ.com was kind of funny with this wicked old grinder driving by the boarded-up building! Dare I say, Welcome to Lansing! [Jesting!]
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I've seen the safety report and photos of the interior from years ago. That building is beyond fixing up or saving, especially for how modified and basic it is. Between the hazardous materials and structural failures, it just wouldn't be worth it. I do like its frontage on Grand though. I'd expect any future project to have that street presence as well though, or at least I'd hope so. Sounds like it would have to be from what you're saying.
Honestly, I'm not sure Gary cares what people think about him. He constantly makes enemies left and right with businesses and municipalities. The best thing for that property is for it to be in someone else's hands.
Not that any of this really matters, just thought I'd bring it up lol.
Does anyone know of anything the city has done without these extra funds besides replace playground equipment?
Regarding the parks millage: I'll have to see the text of the renewal proposal, I don't think I'm going to be supporting it given the results I've seen.
I'm really trying to stay optimistic about the city's future but it's getting difficult. The next 2-4 years are going to determine so much. I'm not sure if I'll stick it out to see.