Yeah, maybe the city needs to recuse itself from any site plan reviews (sarcasm). But the city could realistically deny any site plans and basically limit the Metzgers from doing any development. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Metzgers offload the development to someone else under a 99-year land lease.
After major infrastructure projects are completed downtown (at least after park district project), I would like to see the city council continue to work on developing a vibrant downtown through effective policies and placemaking initiatives that promote a stable and attractive urban environment year round. For EL, probably jobs and full time residents should be a priority.
Gomsu - I too hope EL promotes the downtown that is arriving fast! ...through policies, job attraction, expanded full time resident requirements (maybe), etc.
That said, I think we're at a nice point where development is happening at such a rate that the City will no longer be able to get in the way of urbanization and all that comes with it -- vibrancy (#1), more viable businesses, more variety of people, more money, probably more crime too. But I'm all for it.
The city's requirements for senior citizen housing is their approach for expanded full time resident requirements. It was the only legal approach they could think of, outside of owner occupied condominiums which were built in City Center 1. Those condominiums haven't had the type of appreciation that many property buyers would look for and as such I don't think the market would support another condo project downtown right now.
Wow that is very interesting about Gaslight Village and it explains why the property has changed hands multiple times over the years. Hard to make money with those kinds of lease restrictions.
While wanting a diverse community is a good goal, forcing these "anti-one group" restrictions seems unfair and not good for developers. There would not be much to East Lansing without those pesky students. Our building in Lansing offers nine-month leases that attract students who mix in with everyone else. I have never heard of a two-year lease for a rental anywhere, most landlords want to raise the rent every new lease year.
I was implying the EL city council feels the students are pesky and need be regulated, I do not feel that way. It would be best if they let the market decide who rents and what gets built in EL. Also, as I am trying to do, look at East Lansing as a district of Greater Lansing. If you consider it that way the concentration of students in one small area of the overall city seems natural and not such a negative thing. I think to have a "College Town" as one of the downtowns we have in Greater Lansing is really a big plus.
Does anyone know what is going on at the corner of Trowbridge and Harrison, next to the tracks? There is a old building there with a construction fence and dumpster set up. I've always thought that site, along with the adjacent abandoned QD site, would be ideal for a mixed-use apt. or hotel with a drive-through walgreens and starbucks on the first floow.
Tearing down all the blight and the massively underutilized, huge parking lots to the east, then getting a variance to build something tall, useful, and perfect for the site??? I say yes to that!!!
But seriously, you're probably right about the reuse of the existing building, as the fence only runs up to it, and not around it. There was an Asian market their until recently, but the Korean restaurant that shared the building right on the corner has been closed for some time.
Comments
Yeah, maybe the city needs to recuse itself from any site plan reviews (sarcasm). But the city could realistically deny any site plans and basically limit the Metzgers from doing any development. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Metzgers offload the development to someone else under a 99-year land lease.
After major infrastructure projects are completed downtown (at least after park district project), I would like to see the city council continue to work on developing a vibrant downtown through effective policies and placemaking initiatives that promote a stable and attractive urban environment year round. For EL, probably jobs and full time residents should be a priority.
Gomsu - I too hope EL promotes the downtown that is arriving fast! ...through policies, job attraction, expanded full time resident requirements (maybe), etc.
That said, I think we're at a nice point where development is happening at such a rate that the City will no longer be able to get in the way of urbanization and all that comes with it -- vibrancy (#1), more viable businesses, more variety of people, more money, probably more crime too. But I'm all for it.
The city's requirements for senior citizen housing is their approach for expanded full time resident requirements. It was the only legal approach they could think of, outside of owner occupied condominiums which were built in City Center 1. Those condominiums haven't had the type of appreciation that many property buyers would look for and as such I don't think the market would support another condo project downtown right now.
While wanting a diverse community is a good goal, forcing these "anti-one group" restrictions seems unfair and not good for developers. There would not be much to East Lansing without those pesky students. Our building in Lansing offers nine-month leases that attract students who mix in with everyone else. I have never heard of a two-year lease for a rental anywhere, most landlords want to raise the rent every new lease year.
I was implying the EL city council feels the students are pesky and need be regulated, I do not feel that way. It would be best if they let the market decide who rents and what gets built in EL. Also, as I am trying to do, look at East Lansing as a district of Greater Lansing. If you consider it that way the concentration of students in one small area of the overall city seems natural and not such a negative thing. I think to have a "College Town" as one of the downtowns we have in Greater Lansing is really a big plus.
Hey all,
Does anyone know what is going on at the corner of Trowbridge and Harrison, next to the tracks? There is a old building there with a construction fence and dumpster set up. I've always thought that site, along with the adjacent abandoned QD site, would be ideal for a mixed-use apt. or hotel with a drive-through walgreens and starbucks on the first floow.
Tearing down all the blight and the massively underutilized, huge parking lots to the east, then getting a variance to build something tall, useful, and perfect for the site??? I say yes to that!!!
But seriously, you're probably right about the reuse of the existing building, as the fence only runs up to it, and not around it. There was an Asian market their until recently, but the Korean restaurant that shared the building right on the corner has been closed for some time.