The changes include adding a mixed-use building that would include retail, office space and living space. However, the first phase will include the construction of a 12-unit, 950 square feet to 1,175 square feet two and three-bedroom building on Ottawa Street.
I'm happy to see that there is still activity with the project. Hopefully we will hear a timeline soon on when Townsend plans on getting the final site plan approved and starting construction.
Bad news for this project, from the minutes of the 11/5 Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority meeting included in the City Council Packet for Monday's meeting:
Ottawa/Butler Property Discusslon :
Bob Trezise reported that he has been contacted by Wolverine Bank notifying the Ottawa/Butler property has been foreclosed upon. Gene Townsend did not notify us about these problems, issues or about the foreclosure itself. The Board requested that talking points be provided.
Townsend bought the property in 2008 with plans for an $11.9 million residential and retail complex in the area bounded by Butler Boulevard and Ottawa, Sycamore and Ionia streets.
But later that year, the banking and housing markets crashed and the appraised value of the project sank below the cost to construct the buildings, Townsend said.
“There’s no foreseeable future for being able to improve that property at even a break-even,” he said.
I have no doubt that something will be done with this site eventually, it's just a matter of time. A park wouldn't be a bad use either, but I'd rather see some development in the area. I don't see houses being directly across the street from large state office buildings lasting forever.
There's not many details right now and from what I can tell he's pretty early in the planing process, but I'd just be happy to finally get some nice infill on this site.
I was in this neighborhood yesterday looking at a nice little house for sale on Butler Blvd. There are a lot of nice houses and some that could use some work. In all, it is a pretty nice area, if the city would pave the streets that would sure help. It is great to see this development happing, maybe someone will look at the blocks on the other side of the Capitol Complex for development, and rebuild the neighborhood on both sides.
Since I work right down there I'm interested to see what will go into that retail space. Having somewhere else besides Washington Square to walk to would be great. If they can find a niche for the state workers a business in that building will be very successful.
On another note, that is a magnificent house. The owners have shown great care to it, and I can only wonder how nice it looks inside as well.
Comments
There's not many details right now and from what I can tell he's pretty early in the planing process, but I'd just be happy to finally get some nice infill on this site.
Developer plans $6.8M housing deal in Lansing
I'm not very excited about the design on these, it looks like a generic apartment building with a little extra brick.
I was in this neighborhood yesterday looking at a nice little house for sale on Butler Blvd. There are a lot of nice houses and some that could use some work. In all, it is a pretty nice area, if the city would pave the streets that would sure help. It is great to see this development happing, maybe someone will look at the blocks on the other side of the Capitol Complex for development, and rebuild the neighborhood on both sides.
Since I work right down there I'm interested to see what will go into that retail space. Having somewhere else besides Washington Square to walk to would be great. If they can find a niche for the state workers a business in that building will be very successful.
On another note, that is a magnificent house. The owners have shown great care to it, and I can only wonder how nice it looks inside as well.