@sabatoa I'm torn with a project like this. I would strongly prefer to see the land developed but I agree that it sucks to see such a mediocre development get built there. I'd like to know why developers make the choices they make sometimes, I get that building with certain materials and to certain design standards can be impractical for this areas wealth level but it doesn't cost much if anything to lay out roads and parking differently or place buildings differently relative to them.
For whatever it's worth, from what I remember of the site plan I last saw for this project it really didn't seem bad by suburban standards. I can't remember where I saw it before, if it was posted around here somewhere or not.
Yeah, that site plan is pretty much as I remembered it, just "meh". It's not bad but I do agree that having more of a grid-like layout would be good. It looks like they're trying to isolate each area of retail, apartments, townhouses and single family homes; I get the logic behind that but I don't agree with it. I'd like things within the site to be less segregated and flow more naturally from one use to another. I think the southern end of this site would be a perfect spot to try out a more traditional neighborhood design with narrower lots, smaller houses and possibly alleys. The single family homes could give way to townhouses and then to apartments that buffer the commercial areas. Some small retail storefronts on the Michigan Ave side would probably be a good idea also.
It really makes me hope I get the opportunity to be involved in something like this someday to see what I could come up with.
I agree, there could be a lot of green space included in a better plan, it is such a large parcel of land you could have a quarter or a third densely developed leaving the rest green. a more progressive or environmentally considered plan could have the same amount of development in a smaller footprint and have value-enhancing green space surrounding the more urban space. I can dream right! I fear it is going to look like what they built on the east side in the former fields of the boy's reform school, a suburban layout with a low-density development spread out over the landscape. Not inspiring at all.
What a shame. That area had some real potential but it sounds like they are squandering it for an immediate gain rather than a long term one. At this rate it is just going to look like the rest of the infill on Saginaw to the west of that area. I'm glad we will get to look at a car wash and storage facilities every time we drive by that area. /s
I hate Lansing Township as a jurisdiction. Everything about their existence, their borders, and the way that they operate as a government is an abomination. I know annexation isn't happening, so I wish that Delta residents and Lansing Township residents would finally come together to form "Waverly" as they talked about in the 60s-70s. At least Delta shows some indication that they want an identity and community.
This really is unfortunate to hear. As someone who lives in the Westside neighborhood, I was really hoping this would turn out better than what they had in their plan. Guess that was wishful thinking. That stretch of Saginaw really needs some improvement. I too have to say I can't stand Lansing Township as it currently is.
I do have to wonder about their leadership. It seems the need for storage businesses is unlimited in the area. I can not understand why they would just be so complacent and seem to not really care about what is built on this huge piece of land. The City of Lansing should have kept that land. It looks like W. Saginaw will get the same treatment as the people who live on their streets on the East side, neglect and poor planning.
I can't say I'm surprised, it is Lansing Township after all. That stretch of Saginaw really needed a boost to get it pointed in the right direction, these businesses will not do much if anything to further that cause.
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For whatever it's worth, from what I remember of the site plan I last saw for this project it really didn't seem bad by suburban standards. I can't remember where I saw it before, if it was posted around here somewhere or not.
It really makes me hope I get the opportunity to be involved in something like this someday to see what I could come up with.