Just saw this on LinkedIn today. I'm not sure if this means they plan to tear down Eastern or just build it somewhere on the site. I truly hope they're not just planning to raze Eastern...
Needless to say I will completely lose my shit if they choose to tear down Eastern.
Their spokesperson is quoted regarding the building: "dilapidated interior (that) makes it unsafe and cost-prohibitive to locate any services there,"... Do these people think we're idiots??? Like I haven't seen the stuff that's been saved in Detroit and you're going to make a ridiculous claim like that? This is a steel and concrete building that was maintained as a functional school up until less than 10 years ago while being kept secure and reasonably well maintained since closing. I'd bet everything I have there's nothing structurally wrong with the building. U of M just doesn't care about our community and wants to take the easiest and cheapest possible path. What a great way to introduce themselves.
There's no reason to bend to Sparrow, they're a state-sanctioned local duopoly that couldn't move out of the city if they wanted to. If they move forward with this the city ought to not give them any tax incentives, any more rezoning, vacate any more streets or the like. Vacating Eighth St was another recent mistake that benefitted Sparrow while harming the neighborhood. This stuff has gotta stop.
On a more positive note, there's a few small items worth mentioning on this weeks council agenda:
-Approval of Helper's Wheel District NEZ (Maybe this moves forward this year yet?)
-Setting a public hearing for the sale of City Hall
-The old flower shop at 519 W Ionia is set to become Salt Brewing Company; they're requesting a microbrewery, small wine maker and distillers license along with dance/entertainment and an outdoor service area. Sounds like a good use of that building.
-The old Ellison Brewery in REO Town looks set to reopen, they've filed for alcohol permits under the name REO Town Clubhouse
The Michigan Central Train Station was basically a bombed-out shell, and they found the money and will to save that building, I think the task of saving at least the facade of Eastern would be a much easier and less expensive than any of the rehabilitations of some very beautiful buildings they have done in Detroit.
It is really good to hear about another business opening at the closed brewery, I think it would be a good idea to warm up that space, so that it looks friendlier and more welcoming. The huge space is cool, but it would take a lot of people to fill that space and give the impression that this is a fun and popular place. I know I don't like to be one of a few people sitting in a huge empty room, outside I could see a covered patio with some greenery, right now it looks like a parking lot next to the train tracks. PS I have been wondering what business is in the old QD bottling plant, there are always a lot of employee cars parked there.
Also, the sale of City Hall seems like pretty big news, is the hotel still in the plans?
I guess I considered the sale of city hall minor because it's been long expected. Skimming through the purchase agreement there's nothing too noteworthy.
-Beitler is still the buyer and the plan appears the same for now
-There's a soft requirement that the project be completed 18 months from the city's moving out
-They expect about 183 rooms with a 7th floor rooftop restaurant and additional retail/commercial space built out to the corner of Michigan & Washington
-They anticipate that the new city hall will be ready by early/mid 2026, with 14 months for renovation that makes for a mid to late 2027 completion if all goes well
-No tax incentives are being requested
-There's an old flyover rendering on YouTube:
The Lansing area is getting a good bit of money from state earmarks again this year. There's very few details on most of the projects as of now, I'm sure more information will be available in the coming weeks as to what some of these are.
Complete list as per the LSJ:
-$15 million to Ingham County for direct financing for housing programs, such as down payment assistance, affordable or workforce housing development and foreclosure prevention programs with up to $5 million for affordable or workforce housing programs in Lansing
-$12.5 million for a new Ingham County juvenile justice facility
-$10 million to Ingham County for Potter Park Zoo
-$5 million for Lansing Board of Water & Light for a steam conversion project
-$5 million for Eaton Rapids Hospital for infrastructure modernization
-$5 million for the Eaton County Intercounty Drain Project
-$4 million for a Capital Region International Airport road project
-$3.3 million to a nonprofit in Lansing to support long-term housing for recovery patients
-$3 million for an economic development organization in Lansing to support mixed-use housing
-$2.5 million for Lansing School District's infrastructure
-$2.4 million for street repairs in East Lansing
-$2 million for DeWitt Charter Township to help a manufactured home community
-$2 million for Michigan State University's Child Development Lab
-$1 million for Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority
-$1 million for Lansing City Clerk election facilities
-$1 million for Lansing City Rescue Mission
-$1 million for Cristo Rey Community Center health grant
-$750,000 for a nonprofit forest industry council based in Lansing, providing training and nurturing careers in the forest products industry.
-$700,000 for an Eaton County Fire Training Center
-$533,300 for the Lansing Symphony Orchestra.
-$500,000 for an LMTS community center in south Lansing.
-$500,000 for a Lansing public school program for a nonprofit organization to mentor and provide strategies for sixth- through 12th-grade students
-$500,000 for First Presbyterian Church of Lansing.
-$445,000 to support armed security, split between Joint Forces Headquarters in Lansing and National Guard sites in Grayling, Battle Creek (Fort Custer) and Grand Ledge.
-$225,000 for the Michigan State Police Special Investigation Division to support cold case investigations in Lansing. The division will get $400,000 but the $225,000 figure is specifically for Lansing cases.
Personally, I'm very happy to see the zoo getting money that will help with multiple renovation/repair projects, I'm hoping that this winfall will help the zoo inch closer to the point of adding something fundamentally new after doing so much deferred maintenance since the county's takeover. There's multiple other items that could be interesting but are too vague to say as of yet, only one item jumps out out as being potentially relevant to downtown/urban development: "$3m for an economic development organization in Lansing to support mixed-use housing".
A new brewery /restaurant is opening on Ionia Street downtown, called Saltrock. There is an artical about the new business in LSJ.com they seem to have a good plan. I wonder if the brewery pub trend is running its course, I am a beer drinker but rarely order a local brew, I am a Labatt Blue guy myself, I know it is a matter of taste, but I wonder about having 30 taps to choose from, can they all be big sellers and who is buying all these different flavors?
I look at around at national trends and it seems to me that Lansing is far from oversaturated relative to a lot of other cities. I think if a brewpub offers a cool atmosphere, good service and good food they should survive. This place has an odd location but I can see them doing well, I'll give them a try for the steak.
Comments
https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/health-care/um-health-plans-new-97-2m-psychiatric-facility-near-downtown-lansing/
That's a bit more informative and free, unlike Crain's.
Their spokesperson is quoted regarding the building: "dilapidated interior (that) makes it unsafe and cost-prohibitive to locate any services there,"... Do these people think we're idiots??? Like I haven't seen the stuff that's been saved in Detroit and you're going to make a ridiculous claim like that? This is a steel and concrete building that was maintained as a functional school up until less than 10 years ago while being kept secure and reasonably well maintained since closing. I'd bet everything I have there's nothing structurally wrong with the building. U of M just doesn't care about our community and wants to take the easiest and cheapest possible path. What a great way to introduce themselves.
There's no reason to bend to Sparrow, they're a state-sanctioned local duopoly that couldn't move out of the city if they wanted to. If they move forward with this the city ought to not give them any tax incentives, any more rezoning, vacate any more streets or the like. Vacating Eighth St was another recent mistake that benefitted Sparrow while harming the neighborhood. This stuff has gotta stop.
-Approval of Helper's Wheel District NEZ (Maybe this moves forward this year yet?)
-Setting a public hearing for the sale of City Hall
-The old flower shop at 519 W Ionia is set to become Salt Brewing Company; they're requesting a microbrewery, small wine maker and distillers license along with dance/entertainment and an outdoor service area. Sounds like a good use of that building.
-The old Ellison Brewery in REO Town looks set to reopen, they've filed for alcohol permits under the name REO Town Clubhouse
It is really good to hear about another business opening at the closed brewery, I think it would be a good idea to warm up that space, so that it looks friendlier and more welcoming. The huge space is cool, but it would take a lot of people to fill that space and give the impression that this is a fun and popular place. I know I don't like to be one of a few people sitting in a huge empty room, outside I could see a covered patio with some greenery, right now it looks like a parking lot next to the train tracks. PS I have been wondering what business is in the old QD bottling plant, there are always a lot of employee cars parked there.
Also, the sale of City Hall seems like pretty big news, is the hotel still in the plans?
-Beitler is still the buyer and the plan appears the same for now
-There's a soft requirement that the project be completed 18 months from the city's moving out
-They expect about 183 rooms with a 7th floor rooftop restaurant and additional retail/commercial space built out to the corner of Michigan & Washington
-They anticipate that the new city hall will be ready by early/mid 2026, with 14 months for renovation that makes for a mid to late 2027 completion if all goes well
-No tax incentives are being requested
-There's an old flyover rendering on YouTube:
Complete list as per the LSJ:
Personally, I'm very happy to see the zoo getting money that will help with multiple renovation/repair projects, I'm hoping that this winfall will help the zoo inch closer to the point of adding something fundamentally new after doing so much deferred maintenance since the county's takeover. There's multiple other items that could be interesting but are too vague to say as of yet, only one item jumps out out as being potentially relevant to downtown/urban development: "$3m for an economic development organization in Lansing to support mixed-use housing".
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2024/06/27/michigan-budget-grants-lansing-east-lansing-clinton-ingham-eaton-counties/74230876007/
https://www.wilx.com/2024/06/28/lansing-amenities-getting-piece-state-budget-pie/