They could redevelop spartan village with a street grid, short road setbacks, and pedestrian orientation but I am not sure this would happen. Spartan Village is scheduled for removal. The university keeps sending mixed messages and timelines. I think there were also proposals for a retirement business there and also an autonomous vehicle driving site.
Harrison street could have 3-5 story buildings creating a street wall with bigger sidewalks and bike lanes. This area could look much more dynamic with an urban form.
I understand the hesitancy from the council, putting residential space into what was designed and proposed as commercial space is less than desirable. That being said, IMO it's very important to get ground floor storefronts in most of these sorts of developments for both the pure aesthetics of the streetscape and for the prospective business activity. Many of these developments may be in a spot that can't really support retail now but would seem likely to be able to later on, in those cases allowing ground floor commercial space be used for residential units makes tons of sense. It would certainly seem better than projects not getting built or being designed with permanent ground floor residences in what will likely become commercial districts.
Regarding government involvement in planning in general, I'm always torn because I think over the long term adopting a more free-for-all attitude would likely result in a much more interesting, varied and organic-feeling urban landscape, many of the neighborhoods and districts that people love now were built in times of much less control over what people built and how. I just remind myself that the generic suburbia we know and hate today is largely a result of tight zoning laws and the powers at be thinking they can plan and control everything.
Anyone have some good updated aerials or drone shots of Downtown East Lansing? I'm sure its quite a site with the skyscraper boom of the past couple years.
I don't have any drone shots but I was impressed the other day with the look of the new Graduate Hotel. It is looking very nice with light greys and darker brick work and very large windows as it nears completion. I noticed there is a very cool looking glassed in space on the roof. I think this hotel is going to booked all the time.
Why does it always seem like EL has development woes? I also agree in that I would trust MSUFCU over Vlahakis. To me it reads as though he has perpetually operated in bad faith, much like the rest of the old landholders and prospective developers on this multi-block area abutting Grand River.
When we were looking at apartments at the Newman Lofts were shown one that looked out on this area, I asked about the construction that is visible in this photo behind the hotel as I thought it may be the beginning of the credit union building, the agent said it was going to be 55-plus housing going in there. I do not remember hearing about a new housing project being built there. Is this part of the hotel project or the start of a new project? We chose a Grove Street view!
@gbdinlansing Yeah, there's another building that's part of the City Center project yet to go up on Evergreen. I'd forgotten about that project, I don't remember how long they have to complete it per their agreement with the city.
@Darklink It's amazing that the trials and tribulations from 2006 are still spilling out. It's really taking a long time to clean up the mess but we're now starting to see the fruits of the labor.
The Graduate Hotel has put up a nice new sign on the top floor facing Grand River, it has a stylish script letters, I believe the hotel is close to opening. I like the look of this building and that is stands out from the others in this development.
They are wrapping up the repaving of Abbott, lining the lanes today.
I am enjoying living at the Newman Lofts if you know anyone 55+ looking for a new place it is really a great building. My view of the urban forest canopy is really beautiful. It can be a bit noisy when the motor cycles cruise Albert but not as bad as the trucks on S. Washington. We are spoiled by having campus all to ourselves these days, it will be very different this fall.
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Regarding government involvement in planning in general, I'm always torn because I think over the long term adopting a more free-for-all attitude would likely result in a much more interesting, varied and organic-feeling urban landscape, many of the neighborhoods and districts that people love now were built in times of much less control over what people built and how. I just remind myself that the generic suburbia we know and hate today is largely a result of tight zoning laws and the powers at be thinking they can plan and control everything.
They are wrapping up the repaving of Abbott, lining the lanes today.
I am enjoying living at the Newman Lofts if you know anyone 55+ looking for a new place it is really a great building. My view of the urban forest canopy is really beautiful. It can be a bit noisy when the motor cycles cruise Albert but not as bad as the trucks on S. Washington. We are spoiled by having campus all to ourselves these days, it will be very different this fall.