I think there is plenty of room for even more entertainment options on both Washington and Michigan. I think there needs to be at lease 2 "big-city" style clubs, like X-cel and any number of additional bars similar to The Firm and Tavern on the Sq. I think that retail should be concentrated on the sidestreets, like Allegan, Washtenaw & Kalamazoo and perhaps Grand could become downtowns main retail strip.
Also, LSJ reported that they are actually closing Washington for Blues on the Square. When they said it would be replacing the concerts in front of City Hall I assumed that it would be on the same scale, but obviously they plan on making these events pretty big in comparison. I really hope it does well, which I think it will.
The CSO schedule showed N Washington being reopened this year, and I seen some things on the City Council agendas about it. I thought the work should have already started.
I went to the Juneteenth celebration today near Sexton and on the way at the corner of Kalamazoo and MLK there was a sign that said a future office building was coming soon. The sign had a rendering on it, so next time I go by I'll try and take a picture, but I was wondering if anybody else knew about this before or if maybe I'm just forgetting a previous discussion.
Taking the land from the Eyde company using eminent domain (there is nothing imminent about it) may sound like a great idea...but remember that pesky proposal 4 that was passed in November 2006 by 80% of voters. This limited the governments ability to take land through eminent domain and give the land to private developers. In fact, the only way they could take the land would be for public use. The proposal stated, "public use does not include the taking of private property for the transfer to a private entitiy for the purpose of economic development or enhancement of tax revenues"
My opinion is that the Eyde company is far from an evil suburban developer that so many have said, though I agree they have developed several less than eye appealing buildings in their day. The truth is that they are out to make a profit, so if the kind of development I suspect that you would like to see is not profitable, it will not be developed. The real question is...how do we make this type of development lucrative enough that it is developed. And...what type of development do you envision on this corner, which I agree is a key corner yet to be developed.
If I remember correctly the 7-block property was sold to the Eydes by the city, with the city reserving the right to take back over the property if certain contengencies weren't met. The city has extended the Eydes deadline several times, I beleive thats wah Lmich is refferring to.
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Also, LSJ reported that they are actually closing Washington for Blues on the Square. When they said it would be replacing the concerts in front of City Hall I assumed that it would be on the same scale, but obviously they plan on making these events pretty big in comparison. I really hope it does well, which I think it will.
I like those ideas. I'm not opposed to more bars, I'd just like to see a variety of entertainment in addition to bars.
North Washington to open to vehicles
eremy W. Steele
Lansing State Journal
Crews on Saturday will begin work to open the 200 and 300 blocks of North Washington Square to vehicle traffic.
The $3 million project, which is expected to be completed this fall, will add two lanes of traffic and 114 metered parking spaces to the blocks.
The blocks will be similar in appearance to the 100 block of North Washington, which was reopened to traffic in 2001.
Officials hope the work will better link Lansing Community College, which sits just north of the work area, to the core of downtown.
“This walkway acted more like a wall to LCC,” Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero said. “We want to turn that around.”
Read more about this story in Saturday’s Lansing State Journal. Contact Jeremy W. Steele at 377-1015 or jwsteele@lsj.com.
My opinion is that the Eyde company is far from an evil suburban developer that so many have said, though I agree they have developed several less than eye appealing buildings in their day. The truth is that they are out to make a profit, so if the kind of development I suspect that you would like to see is not profitable, it will not be developed. The real question is...how do we make this type of development lucrative enough that it is developed. And...what type of development do you envision on this corner, which I agree is a key corner yet to be developed.