This is an interesting plan, they say that Lansing needs housing so this looks to be a good plan.
I was downtown today and took a look at the Hillsdale and Capitol Ave. project [Capital View?] and it looks pretty nice, better exterior treatments than most, with "Juliette Balconies" for each apartment. Down the street at the REOtown site we will have to wait and see, so far not so great on the exterior.
On an unrelated note, did anyone know if Mt Hope Elementary is slated for demolition? I've noticed the entire site fenced off by Christman and windows slowly being removed and boarded up. They've also torn up the perimete landscaping, if you could call it that. It looks like demolition is about to happen, not renovation.
I know this was on the districts list to replace but I guess I expected a new building before demolishing the old one.
@Lymon89 I couldn't agree more on REO Gateway. It's a real disappointment for that site, especially coming from a group of investors that have such grand visions for the area.
On a positive note, the first floor of Knapp's is going to be used for restaurant incubator with 6 spaces. Work is expected to start in May or June with opening in spring 2024.
A nonprofit that promotes downtown Lansing will bring a half dozen restaurants and additional "food makers" to a former landmark department store as part of a $4 million food incubator program.
The incubator program will occupy a 20,000-square-foot space at the Knapp's Centre on South Washington Square at the corner of Washington and Washtenaw Street.
MACOTTA Club, a program through Downtown Lansing Inc., will house six restaurants and provide space for several entrepreneurs to sell food products, as well as common seating for customers, said Downtown Lansing Inc. Executive Director Cathleen Edgerly.
That is very exciting for the Knapps building. I have been so disappointed with the same old local options lately when going out. Hopefully they'll be able to maintain the energy like the Food Hall has been able to. It's been nice to see people supporting these new places. Also just excited to actually have the opportunity to frequent the Knapps building. It's hard seeing such a recently renovated building sit empty on the main floor for so long!
More good news: A developer plans to spend $16 million to renovate the old Barnes St School into a senior apartment building with 21 units in the existing building and 30 units in a new addition. It sounds like a promising project as the developer is attempting to place the school on the National Register of Historic Places, I'd assume that means the exterior would remain largely intact and maybe it'd even get historically accurate windows. Nothing has been submitted to the city yet and there's no word on start or completion dates.
Barnes Avenue School is where my dad and aunts, my brothers sister, and I went to elementary school. It was truly a neighborhood school, where you could be in class with the same kids all the way from kindergarten to the 6th grade. There was no cafeteria, we went home for lunch, and the big windows were great for a day dreamer like me. The oldest part of the school had a white marble drinking fountain in the middle of the hall at the intersection of the 1919 and 1920 addition. The library was in the basement as well as a little stage for class shows. Of course, we thought it was old fashioned compared with some of the other schools like Lewton. Little did we know that it was a classic design, we thought all schools were that nice.
The development at Miller & Aurelius is really nice to see. I like the design of the houses and the site plan is sensible, I do hope the new east-west street they show is connecting to Maisonette as a connection to Aurelius & the new neighborhood would help the existing condos in the long run. The land is one of very few greenfield plots left within city limits, the only other sizable ones I'm aware of is the land on W Miller near Waverly, Aurelius near Hoyt and south of I-96 next to Autumn Ridge apartments (old Oak Park); along with some in the Pine Tree/Dunkel office/industrial park .
I'm not terribly excited about the facade materials of that quadplex on Chestnut but given the state of its immediate surroundings I'm happy to see the new construction and the layout/form factor is what I like to see. I like the idea of allowing 4+ unit rowhouses in neighborhoods like this generally.
Planning Commission (5-2-23) voted to recommend approval of the Miller/Aurelius rezoning for the single-family/duplex development. There was some concern about street access points and removal of woodlands. Applicant said the entire development will be rental to accommodate a market demand for detached housing, but they were open to condominiumization in the future. Personally, I think any neighborhood will be stronger with a mix and that it might be difficult to manage that many properties but we'll see.
They also voted 3-1 to recommend approval of the Chestnut/Pleasant rezoning for the quadplex. Since they were just at quorum and any business needed 4 votes, this motion technically failed. There was neighborhood pushback, solely centered on the tropes of the type of people renters are, the neighborhood during the recession before the former houses were demolished, and of course PARKING. This development would have 8 spaces for four 3-bedroom units. Applicant stated they primarily rent to families and people who may have had past troubles but demonstrate positive life changes. Commission members took those comments into consideration and were undecided but weren't swayed that four units instead of the allowable 3 houses was a marginal difference in impact. It will be a tight fit, but the proposed building does meet all zoning requirements.
I'll update about what City Council does. Just a friendly reminder - please feel free to email the Planning and Zoning Office if you support/do not support any proposals. They are recorded and shared with the Commission members. It does help to get some outside perspective, especially if you live nearby.
Comments
I was downtown today and took a look at the Hillsdale and Capitol Ave. project [Capital View?] and it looks pretty nice, better exterior treatments than most, with "Juliette Balconies" for each apartment. Down the street at the REOtown site we will have to wait and see, so far not so great on the exterior.
I know this was on the districts list to replace but I guess I expected a new building before demolishing the old one.
On a positive note, the first floor of Knapp's is going to be used for restaurant incubator with 6 spaces. Work is expected to start in May or June with opening in spring 2024.
For LSJ subscribers: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/04/13/4m-food-incubator-6-on-site-restaurants-coming-to-downtown-lansing/70102820007/?fbclid=IwAR1DYLiqnM6PwwSbzBdAMWxMuDzcCbTEPzr2omHAwDEzPvf2-JDCaeuyOxU
...There's also news that Niowave is planning a $20m expansion with 35 new jobs. No word on a start date or if there will be any additions at their airport or Walnut School facilities.
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2023/04/11/tech-company-niowave-plans-20-million-expansion-in-lansing-region-frib-radioisotope-medical-research/70104018007/
For LSJ subscribers: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/04/19/barnes-street-school-lansing-redevelopment-low-income-housing-seniors-shabazz/70127344007/?fbclid=IwAR317ttPaLaViviXPCvXSy3pAYNYeZ0B7ZzA4gKb-qLJc5UhSqWbp4t6UZQ
I'm not terribly excited about the facade materials of that quadplex on Chestnut but given the state of its immediate surroundings I'm happy to see the new construction and the layout/form factor is what I like to see. I like the idea of allowing 4+ unit rowhouses in neighborhoods like this generally.
They also voted 3-1 to recommend approval of the Chestnut/Pleasant rezoning for the quadplex. Since they were just at quorum and any business needed 4 votes, this motion technically failed. There was neighborhood pushback, solely centered on the tropes of the type of people renters are, the neighborhood during the recession before the former houses were demolished, and of course PARKING. This development would have 8 spaces for four 3-bedroom units. Applicant stated they primarily rent to families and people who may have had past troubles but demonstrate positive life changes. Commission members took those comments into consideration and were undecided but weren't swayed that four units instead of the allowable 3 houses was a marginal difference in impact. It will be a tight fit, but the proposed building does meet all zoning requirements.
I'll update about what City Council does. Just a friendly reminder - please feel free to email the Planning and Zoning Office if you support/do not support any proposals. They are recorded and shared with the Commission members. It does help to get some outside perspective, especially if you live nearby.