I just wouldn't think a "prettier" garage would make any more money than an "ugly" garage, so I wouldn't see the point in making asthetic improvements (structural would be a different story) for the garage itself. Based on comments that have been made during the discussions around LCC and the N. Capitol ramp It sounds like the demand for parking is much higher than the supply, so there wouldn't be much incentive to put money into a ramp that is already established...that was my reasoning.
I really respect the developers for trying to do something here, I think they have the best intentions and this is a project that will probably be viewed in 5-6 years as ahead of its time. Shame its been caught up in the great recession... maybe it'll get revived some day but its hard to be anything but pessimistic now. I must say, they could have sat on their hands and done nothing but they've really made the ramp look a lot better.
I'm hardly pessimistic myself. I think given the state of things, especially the economy, Lansing is doing extremely well. I still expect this project to happen in some form, and if it doesn't then I'm sure another will come along. Look at whats happening right now, The economy is the worst it's been in almost 70 years and Lansing's downtown has more going on now than in a very long time. Just think about the potential when the economy recovers.
I got a haircut at City Salon (formerly Goodfellas Salon...it's no longer an all male salon) which is next door to the Capitol Club office. The door was propped slightly open and it was gutted and the window was covered with sheets. Not sure what that means but doesn't seem like it would be a good sign.
I think it borders on criminal to have torn down a historic structure like the 1861 HOUSE for a parking lot! It would be wonderful if they eventually built the project, but I doubt it will happen.
That house was hard to justify saving. it had been so heavily altered that, from what I understand, virtually nothing was left of the original house on the inside, it had also been modified on the outside quite heavily. That, coupled with it's location made it easy to see go.
This project appears to be all but dead though. They are now trying to lease space in the 3 floor building on the site that was supposed to be tore down. I just hope that this site eventually gets a worthwhile project sooner rather than later.
What would people think about converting the Grand Ave parking structure in to a mix of apartments + parking. If you split the parking ramp in half lenghtwise, the river-side half could be converted to apartments and the streetside could remain parking.
The downside of that is that the street-facing part of the apartment would be permanently dark since it's inside of the ramp. Another way this could be done is if the apartments are the full depth of the parking ramp and you split the ramp in half perpendicular to Grand Ave.
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This project appears to be all but dead though. They are now trying to lease space in the 3 floor building on the site that was supposed to be tore down. I just hope that this site eventually gets a worthwhile project sooner rather than later.
The downside of that is that the street-facing part of the apartment would be permanently dark since it's inside of the ramp. Another way this could be done is if the apartments are the full depth of the parking ramp and you split the ramp in half perpendicular to Grand Ave.