I noticed that steel starting to go up within a week of when I last grabbed pictures, it's good to see it taking shape. It's a little taller than I thought it'd be, makes for a different feel along Shiawassee.
The city broke ground on the new entertainment center downtown today. There was a depiction of the center in the online LSJ by Intrigue Studios! [as they do] kind of busy but interesting. I noticed they are calling the Hillsdale part of the new housing development City View "Theater District". It will be great if that comes to be more than a name.
I'm not sure the southern few blocks of downtown is distinct enough of an area to justify it's own name but if "theater district" were to stick then I'd have no complaints.
The new rendering is a lot better than where they started. I'm still not super excited about the style but depending on how it's constructed and the materials used it could turn out pretty cool.
Yeah, I guess this thread is more appropriate:
MichMatters -
Might discuss this more in the general thread, but I think the $400 million is for the new public safety center they will be building down on Washington.. The $40 million for the "Lansing Housing Project", I've been told, is being spread out over multiple projects. There was also money in there for the Walter French renovation.
In the LSJ article the first item mentioned is "New Lansing City Hall, $40 million", I'd say we're getting a new City Hall. $40 million still won't pay for anything nice, hopefully the city is willing to bond out another $20-$40+ million.
Well, I'm completely 100% against that, it's the kind of idiotic decision I'd expect of this administration though. I'm biting my tongue until we hear more.
All I can say is that I'll be up in arms if they move the city hall to that south Washington complex or any existing building. If they build a high quality building that's designed by a reputable architect, I'll probably shut up. I may not be happy, but I won't complain too loudly.
imo The only empty lot that is clearly fitting for city hall is to buy half of Eyde's Constitution Hall lot that's kitty-corner to the Capitol. The SW corner of Washtenaw & Grand, NW corner of Lenawee & Grand and the Larch/Cedar/Kalamazoo lot (a location that's growing on me as a think more about it) would all be acceptable to me. The SW corner of Grand & Michigan would also be ok although I've always hoped to see a new tallest building in the city go there someday, which city hall will certainly not be.
This is all besides the fact that I have strong concerns that if we sell off city hall any potential development will fall through, be downsized or built incredibly cheaply; then we're stuck with a potential joke of a city hall that Schor has pushed us towards while having a large empty building facing the Capitol or a mediocre hotel that will never live up to expectations.
This whole saga has reeked of crookery to me since Bernero announced it, I don't trust the people involved or their motivations.
I went over to Frances Park to check out the Rose Garden, I found it blocked off for construction. They have replaced some of the sidewalks, adding a sidewalk right through the middle of the garden which was a grass path:{, and put up a new pergola. I hope it looks better when the work is finished as it was kind of a mess. On the way back to EL I noticed that the demolition work had begun on the Walter French housing project. That was one of those projects I thought I would never see built! Also, the REOtown project is looking a little better, still quite suburban but with some kind of interesting exterior treatments, and quite large balconies.
I get the houses across Washington wouldn't want street fronted buildings but why not do a 40'-100' set back with greenspace and plazas between the building and the street? It just seems incredibly silly to build something with this site layout this day and age, let alone in an older part of the city. There's really no excuse imo.
This administration seems to have little imagination or taste when it comes to this plan. This reminds me of the State's "secondary complex" when the State moved a bunch of departments out to the unremarkable buildings out in the -brubs. Lansing in the past built public buildings that were beautiful as well as useful, I don't think it would cost more or be a bad investment if the city were to consider building attractive well planned public buildings and spaces.
Comments
The new rendering is a lot better than where they started. I'm still not super excited about the style but depending on how it's constructed and the materials used it could turn out pretty cool.
MichMatters -
In the LSJ article the first item mentioned is "New Lansing City Hall, $40 million", I'd say we're getting a new City Hall. $40 million still won't pay for anything nice, hopefully the city is willing to bond out another $20-$40+ million.
imo The only empty lot that is clearly fitting for city hall is to buy half of Eyde's Constitution Hall lot that's kitty-corner to the Capitol. The SW corner of Washtenaw & Grand, NW corner of Lenawee & Grand and the Larch/Cedar/Kalamazoo lot (a location that's growing on me as a think more about it) would all be acceptable to me. The SW corner of Grand & Michigan would also be ok although I've always hoped to see a new tallest building in the city go there someday, which city hall will certainly not be.
This is all besides the fact that I have strong concerns that if we sell off city hall any potential development will fall through, be downsized or built incredibly cheaply; then we're stuck with a potential joke of a city hall that Schor has pushed us towards while having a large empty building facing the Capitol or a mediocre hotel that will never live up to expectations.
This whole saga has reeked of crookery to me since Bernero announced it, I don't trust the people involved or their motivations.
I get the houses across Washington wouldn't want street fronted buildings but why not do a 40'-100' set back with greenspace and plazas between the building and the street? It just seems incredibly silly to build something with this site layout this day and age, let alone in an older part of the city. There's really no excuse imo.