This will be a thread to discuss the Stadium Project. It is my understanding that the Stadium Project will encompass a number of ideas and projects surrounding Oldsmobile Park and the Stadium District development.
The Stadium Project I think was largely spawned because of the Stadium District development, if it weren't for that I doubt the Cool Cities grant would have been granted, if the city would have even applied for it.
There have been a few different forces that have wanted to see if creating distinct districts would help with the promotion of the areas. Old Town has been successful in being a district, but there are so many other areas that are non distinct. The Stadium Project, is without a doubt a huge catalyst in making the city's efforts to create a new district, the first that is attempted. There have been many conversations comparing the success of 'districts' in other cities to help focus redevelopment. Manhatten is a great example of distict success, Soho, Midtown, Meatpacking district.
Thats one thing I never really thought about, sometimes just giving an area an identity can help spur development. For a closer example look at the Heartside District in GR.
I think that the name "northtown" really hurt Old Town, it associated with the "Northside." People from out of town never looked to favorably at the northside. The "Stadium DIstrict," gives identity to an area that could be referred to as either Downtown or the Eastside, I think that if this name catches on and they do a good job with signage this area will go through a mini building boom. I picture some rowhouse projects and low rise, 2-6 floor small and medium sized developments. I think the Stadium District will remain the anchor, and will likely remain the largest development in the area, besides a Lansing Center expansion.
Lansing- Economic Development Corporation of Lansing, Gillespie Development – Stadium District:
-The Catalyst project is privately developed Pat Gillespie building called the Stadium District building. This is a five story, mixed use, fun and residential building to be built on former city owned property to the immediate south of Oldsmobile Stadium.
-The Cool City Catalyst grant will be used to connect the District area's entertainment features, re-shaping its neighborhood image, helping to make the actual Stadium District building a development (job creation and private investment) success - inspiring the entire District area neighborhood to begin revitalizing into a thriving Cool City Neighborhood.
-The grant will be used for: Innovative, connective streetscape, wireless hot spots, wayfinding signs identifying the Stadium District area with branding and directions, a mural replacement on Riverwalk Theater, and other marketing types of public infrastructure.
-The Catalyst project and the Cool City Catalyst $100,000, together, can develop a new urban neighborhood that is deeply entrenched in arts and culture.
Olds Park was huge for that area. Before if was by far the worst in the city, know as the sin strip. It had extremely high crime, far higher than what is in any neighborhood currently in Lansing. The Stadium District, Abrams Landing and any other future projectsin the area will all be, in fact, a result of Olds Park.
As for development going north and south, I think for now development should be strongly focused between Michigan and Shiwassee from the river to Larch, if that area can be almost completely built up than development can start to spread further. But scattering development wouldn't help much, it should be focused and grow from Michigan northward, so that if devlopment stalls for whatever reason, the things that do get built can remain successful without further infill needed.
They are now excavating on the Larch side of the site. It looks like they may dig a hole the size of the entire building footprint, it appears they are going pretty deep too, maybe 15-20 feet. Has anyone heard if there will be a basement or underground parking here? Thats the only reason I could imagine them digging the way they are.
15-20 feet does seem like underground parking. That is the same depth that Campus Village 2 looked to dig to, and they will be having underground parking if I remember right, or at least first floor parking. I guess it could also be for structural supports that they wanted to anchor the steel pretty deep in the ground. Also with a building of that size, they may need to put in sewers and other pipes that deep.
Thats what I thought when I first seen them digging, but when I looked at the size and depth of the hole it didn't seem to make much sense. Especially given the size, the hole exxtends from roughly as far back as the building is supposed to go nearly up to michigan Ave and it was a little less than 1/4 the width of the site at about 10 this morning. I would have to sat though, that underground parking would be wise, although I would assume that would be a publicized bragging point if they were going to have it.
Comments
Lansing- Economic Development Corporation of Lansing, Gillespie Development – Stadium District:
-The Catalyst project is privately developed Pat Gillespie building called the Stadium District building. This is a five story, mixed use, fun and residential building to be built on former city owned property to the immediate south of Oldsmobile Stadium.
-The Cool City Catalyst grant will be used to connect the District area's entertainment features, re-shaping its neighborhood image, helping to make the actual Stadium District building a development (job creation and private investment) success - inspiring the entire District area neighborhood to begin revitalizing into a thriving Cool City Neighborhood.
-The grant will be used for: Innovative, connective streetscape, wireless hot spots, wayfinding signs identifying the Stadium District area with branding and directions, a mural replacement on Riverwalk Theater, and other marketing types of public infrastructure.
-The Catalyst project and the Cool City Catalyst $100,000, together, can develop a new urban neighborhood that is deeply entrenched in arts and culture.
As for development going north and south, I think for now development should be strongly focused between Michigan and Shiwassee from the river to Larch, if that area can be almost completely built up than development can start to spread further. But scattering development wouldn't help much, it should be focused and grow from Michigan northward, so that if devlopment stalls for whatever reason, the things that do get built can remain successful without further infill needed.