I'm also really wondering what their intentions are. I would like the see the buildings turned into apartments/condos, maybe with some office and/or retail mixed in. Between the old administration building, the parking lot and the old YMCA building, there is some real potential for a cohesive set of developments here.
While transportation and infrastructure improvements are important, I don't consider those are the reasons why the Lansing region and, specifically, downtown Lansing and East Lansing are under-performing. Public transportation is not excellent but it is certainly acceptable. Then, there's the issue of providing appropriate public spaces, like parks. Even with MSU's nice campus not far away, the city could provide better public spaces downtown. The problem is that for the city to invest in nice public spaces it has to have a very solid tax base. Still, I don't think this is a reason for under-performing downtown areas.
I consider that the problem in the Lansing region, particularly in the downtown areas of Lansing and East Lansing, is the lack of private investment. For example, there are many businesses not present in the downtown areas of Lansing and East Lansing that should be there. I don't refer to professional firms but to more expensive, adult-oriented businesses, like fancy restaurants and cultural businesses. These types of quality-oriented businesses are lacking in Lansing and East Lansing and these are businesses that are at the core of any city. Certainly, the population is there. The Lansing region is not densely populated but it does have a lot of people that everyday would pay for a high-end quality dining experience. Also, the creativity is there with all the students and professional artists in both downtown areas. These are businesses that don't have to be large in size but provide a quality experience, such as having dinner with a view of the Lansing Riverfront or the MSU farms in the southern part of East Lansing. These are opportunities that we all know are there.
People have to be willing to invest in these opportunities for the city to grow since these are the type of reliable businesses that solidify the tax base and allow city officials to, then, take on public initiatives and enhance the city.
A new urban snow park is coming to Hawk Island. I took some pictures today of the new snow hill that is being constructed towards the back of the park near the dog park.
I'm actually intimately involved with Hawk Island snowpark. I debated posting about it here but didn't know if you folks would be interested.
It's been an un-advertised development until only recently. We're set to open it up on December 17th.
Details;
Original plans just called for the tubing hill but the County came into a lot of free dirt and with the encouragement of Urban Snow Parks and Modern Skate and Surf the terrain park came into development.
The grading and hill were designed by Ryan Neptune. He's a champion snowboarder. He designed the halfpipe for the Winter Olympics in Vanvoucer, he's designed features for the Winter X Games and he designed O Park for the Otsego Club in Grayling, site of the US Olympic team training.
Snow guns will be able to blow snow when it's cold enough. We won't be reliant on only the snow that mother nature sends. The hill will also be lighted for night time riding. I think we're looking at hours extending to 9pm last I heard.
There will be two tow ropes. One side servicing the tubing hill and the other rope servicing the snowboarding/skiing.
Lift tickets are $7/day for either side or $20/family of four. Season passes are being discussed but there's no price set yet.
The tubing side was funded by grant money but the terrain park is reliant on sponsors and donors. We (Hawk Island Action Sports Operational Committee, HIASOC) are working with the Friends of Ingham County and Urban Snow Parks to make this hill world class, developing sponsorship and building a learning academy for new riders.
Just as an FYI, the building at Marshall in Michigan is now under construction. As of yesterday the first floor looks complete, my only complaint is that it is a wood structure, but I pretty much expected that.
Comments
I consider that the problem in the Lansing region, particularly in the downtown areas of Lansing and East Lansing, is the lack of private investment. For example, there are many businesses not present in the downtown areas of Lansing and East Lansing that should be there. I don't refer to professional firms but to more expensive, adult-oriented businesses, like fancy restaurants and cultural businesses. These types of quality-oriented businesses are lacking in Lansing and East Lansing and these are businesses that are at the core of any city. Certainly, the population is there. The Lansing region is not densely populated but it does have a lot of people that everyday would pay for a high-end quality dining experience. Also, the creativity is there with all the students and professional artists in both downtown areas. These are businesses that don't have to be large in size but provide a quality experience, such as having dinner with a view of the Lansing Riverfront or the MSU farms in the southern part of East Lansing. These are opportunities that we all know are there.
People have to be willing to invest in these opportunities for the city to grow since these are the type of reliable businesses that solidify the tax base and allow city officials to, then, take on public initiatives and enhance the city.
It's been an un-advertised development until only recently. We're set to open it up on December 17th.
Details;
Original plans just called for the tubing hill but the County came into a lot of free dirt and with the encouragement of Urban Snow Parks and Modern Skate and Surf the terrain park came into development.
The grading and hill were designed by Ryan Neptune. He's a champion snowboarder. He designed the halfpipe for the Winter Olympics in Vanvoucer, he's designed features for the Winter X Games and he designed O Park for the Otsego Club in Grayling, site of the US Olympic team training.
Snow guns will be able to blow snow when it's cold enough. We won't be reliant on only the snow that mother nature sends. The hill will also be lighted for night time riding. I think we're looking at hours extending to 9pm last I heard.
There will be two tow ropes. One side servicing the tubing hill and the other rope servicing the snowboarding/skiing.
Lift tickets are $7/day for either side or $20/family of four. Season passes are being discussed but there's no price set yet.
The tubing side was funded by grant money but the terrain park is reliant on sponsors and donors. We (Hawk Island Action Sports Operational Committee, HIASOC) are working with the Friends of Ingham County and Urban Snow Parks to make this hill world class, developing sponsorship and building a learning academy for new riders.
Here's our facebook page