Perhaps I was reading too much into "they did not say what their plans are for the site" hoping maybe they do have plan!
While driving around I noticed crews cutting down all the trees on the SW corner of Oakland and Cedar, is this area part of the housing going up near Motor Wheel Lofts? I have often thought that corner would be a great place for a high-rise apartment building, there would be great views from that hill.
I also saw a MSUFCU "ad" or announcement board next to the Union ATM [my closest] touting their support for the Ovation Arts and Performance Center, which is new to me and a good sign that this center is really going to happen. I have not been that way in a while has construction started.
I just read a LSJ online artical about the demolition of the Walter Nellar building that will take place in March. The spokesperson again said that they are planning some sort of "something special" for that space which [as with all Lansing future developments] will be announced "sometime" about nine months from now. Perhaps that space looks more attractive for development with the New Vision developments going up across the street. Almost anything would be better than a surface parking lot and a tumble-down building.
I have read about more funds coming for Lansing for downtown development and improvement. I guess this about bringing people back downtown after the covid era emptied out a lot of offices. I think this a good idea as it will be people living in the downtown neighborhood, many of whom will want to work from their home but would like to have amities and services within walking distance that will change the fabric of area from the office park, [as downtown kind of is], to a neighborhood of people.
I really wish they would do something with or without the state funds, new sidewalks on S Washington Sq., street leveled to the sidewalk no curbs, more green space doesn't seem like something impossible for a city the size of Lansing.
I really like the more European approach with the streets. I just wonder, is that basically turning Washington into a mall, again? I'm just not sure how well it would work in Lansing, as much as I like the idea. Also, those specific example images, there isn't any parking. People here seem to have a tantrum if they can't park right in front of their destination, for free.
I do think something needs to be done with Washington though. It really is such a wide ROW for what it is. Or at least I think it is. Also, it seems like a lot of money for the city to spend on something that isn't exactly broken.
There's parking in the projects you referenced or plenty of parking in Lansing? I can completely agree to the latter portion lol.
I think that's a fair differentiation from the mall. I mean a mall could be designed for such, but this option is much more open to that. I think that's also a fair statement about pedestrian malls being developed at a time when downtowns were already failing. I do worry that downtown Lansing isn't quite lively enough, yet, for this to be successful (despite how much I want it to be).
That said, I have to say that I've noticed a lot more people than normal wandering around downtown outside of office hours, and it's been nice. Still not a lot, but its something. I'm particularly talking about more non-homeless/transient folk. Hoping more housing brings more of that and maybe soon we can have some more current and innovative streetscapes.
Yes, I know there are businesses that want the parking in front of their door, I think that the street is wide enough to have vehicle traffic, the alley in East Lansing is still a one-way street and although it is not very attractive it serves as a pedestrian and vehicle way. Also, there is only one business in downtown EL, 7-11 that has free parking in front of their business, and yet other places seem to be doing pretty well. I could see parking on the cross streets and back alleys expanded businesses could offer a rear entry, and short time loading and pick-up spaces on the street for delivery and take-out. I think that S. Washington Sq is broken, it looks dated with the old newspaper kiosks on every corner that to me are really an eyesore, the sidewalks are broken and uneven in many places and come from many different times. The trees need attention, they would look so much better with the dead limbs trimmed. Another sign of being broken are the empty store fronts. I know I always have dreamed of a better Lansing, I guess I'm just a dreamer!
Count me amongst those who doubt the potential success of pedestrianizing S Washington. The lack of density in today's downtown wouldn't give me a lot faith in any pedestrian mall working, S Washington in particular is so wide that I just don't see it working the way that some other examples do. Although the side streets downtown are also pretty wide maybe they'd work better, I feel like being a little narrower would help the feel of such a corridor.
Comments
While driving around I noticed crews cutting down all the trees on the SW corner of Oakland and Cedar, is this area part of the housing going up near Motor Wheel Lofts? I have often thought that corner would be a great place for a high-rise apartment building, there would be great views from that hill.
I do think something needs to be done with Washington though. It really is such a wide ROW for what it is. Or at least I think it is. Also, it seems like a lot of money for the city to spend on something that isn't exactly broken.
I think that's a fair differentiation from the mall. I mean a mall could be designed for such, but this option is much more open to that. I think that's also a fair statement about pedestrian malls being developed at a time when downtowns were already failing. I do worry that downtown Lansing isn't quite lively enough, yet, for this to be successful (despite how much I want it to be).
That said, I have to say that I've noticed a lot more people than normal wandering around downtown outside of office hours, and it's been nice. Still not a lot, but its something. I'm particularly talking about more non-homeless/transient folk. Hoping more housing brings more of that and maybe soon we can have some more current and innovative streetscapes.