Sounds like utilities will be included with Hepler's apartments so it makes that rent a little more palatable.
Realistically the concept of "affordable" new construction is just plain silly. New construction generally runs $150k+ per unit, even amortized over 20 or 30 years most low-income people can't afford to pay for that. Workforce or moderate income housing is a much more realistic goal for new construction projects. Housing the poor requires either direct government subsidies or a healthy churn of the housing stock moving from high-end and mid-market to low-end housing as it ages out.
Besides, rent here is pretty affordable relative to national trends. Most places with rents lower than Lansing are real down-and-out towns. I fully expect prices around here to keep going up given the state and direction of the local economy.
A bit of what I consider to be good news: The Rescue Mission appears to be selling their buildings on Michigan Ave. The Mission wins by selling their smaller, more valuable properties to pay for a much larger one; the city wins by getting one of the larger homeless shelters out of one of the most prominent areas of the city and spreading the homeless population out a bit more. It could be yours for $3m.
I'm very, very disappointed that they seem to have no intention of buying that lot. I was hoping for a plaza on the corner and a nice facade renovation maybe with a small addition on the blank wall that is on the south side of the building. If that easement isn't enforceable it'd seem likely that building will end up a largely windowless and not so pleasant place to work.
I'd always envisioned the Masonic Temple as more fit for redevelopment into something like GR's BOB, or even Detroit's Masonic Temple. It's just not well suited to being offices, apartments or a hotel.
It was the first thing I thought about when they selected this site, imo getting the parking lot as well should have been a precondition of this site being selected. These sorts of decisions/oversights are why I have so little faith in the city as of late. A city hall is multi decade (or aspirationally a century) decision, every step of the handling of this makes me feel like it's a gift to a couple developers with little thought given to it other than just getting it done.
That's all good news as far as I'm concerned. I'm particularly glad that development of the Washington & Hillsdale corner wont be hindered by that commercial buildings incorporation into The Ovation, I'd love to see a mid/high rise there someday. I'll be very happy to see construction finally begin on the Ovation, fingers crossed it actually happens.
I'm sorry to say I have no insight on New Vision Lansing's status. I had thought I saw the grant as an 'item from the mayor' in one of the agendas but I don't see it now. (all grants no matter what they are have to be accepted by Council). No one has even mentioned a possible Act 33 application for the parking 'skywalk' forward so I don't know if that has been revised out of the plan or not. I didn't attend the first ward constituent meeting but I do not believe Gentilozzi made it on the agenda anyway. I don't how much anyone is on facebook but I have been seeing a ton of the Chamber's sponsored ad advocating that Council accept the money. I don't think this is like an Ilitch-type welfare boondoggle so my guess is that their financial gap is more than expected even with state money, but that is pure personal speculation.
A completely new sign ordinance will be out for review shortly. It has been a heck of a time getting it vetted and cleared.
It'd be kinda pitiful if they couldn't even pull the New Vision project off with $40 million free money. That being said, it wouldn't be at all surprising to me if the price tag for everything proposed is higher than the $215 million figure they were giving in the news articles, that seemed low to me.
Good to hear the sign ordinance is being reviewed. I don't know its details but I have seen many times where a place that wants to do a cool sign has had to apply for a variance so I hope the changes may allow for a little more variety and creativity? Maybe larger mural signage and what not?
Comments
Realistically the concept of "affordable" new construction is just plain silly. New construction generally runs $150k+ per unit, even amortized over 20 or 30 years most low-income people can't afford to pay for that. Workforce or moderate income housing is a much more realistic goal for new construction projects. Housing the poor requires either direct government subsidies or a healthy churn of the housing stock moving from high-end and mid-market to low-end housing as it ages out.
Besides, rent here is pretty affordable relative to national trends. Most places with rents lower than Lansing are real down-and-out towns. I fully expect prices around here to keep going up given the state and direction of the local economy.
https://cpix.net/property-search/#/property/635ca79134b77a000aa19125
I'd always envisioned the Masonic Temple as more fit for redevelopment into something like GR's BOB, or even Detroit's Masonic Temple. It's just not well suited to being offices, apartments or a hotel.
https://www.wilx.com/2024/01/30/former-lansing-assembly-plant-secures-state-funding-redevelopment/
A completely new sign ordinance will be out for review shortly. It has been a heck of a time getting it vetted and cleared.
Good to hear the sign ordinance is being reviewed. I don't know its details but I have seen many times where a place that wants to do a cool sign has had to apply for a variance so I hope the changes may allow for a little more variety and creativity? Maybe larger mural signage and what not?