Very minor comment, but I had wondered if the East Lansing "downtown ambassadors" program was just dead, as the original intent was to launch it in time for Welcome Weekend, and it clearly did not.
But it is back on the DDA agenda for tomorrow, so apparently not dead. Looks like discussion of three proposals is planned, with the intention to recommend one of them.
1. Enter into a contract with Block and Block to run an ambassadors program. OR,
2. Work with city police and public works departments to develop an official, city-run ambassadors program instead. OR,
3. Just use DDA funds to provide additional money to (it seems) police and public works departments so their staff can do more of their traditional work downtown.
The housing policy change in EL is a welcome change, if not for their actions regarding the proposed building on Albert near Bogue I'd have a little more faith in the new policy having a positive effect on development. Time will tell.
@david_shane What is an ambassadors program in this context??
Additional cleaning staff! That would be great! It has been so gross out there this summer with several occasions of finding human waste, urine and vomit around my building, more cleaning staff is something that would really help the image of downtown East Lansing. Downtown Lansing has less foot traffic of course but always seems cleaner that EL.
A few new things happening in downtown EL. In the alley between Harpers and the Jewish Student Center two huge wide screen TVs have been put up facing Harpers. The alley is only about 8 feet wide so who's watching the screens, and how could you even look at them being so close. Oh well people have to have a screen in front of their face, or they become disoriented by reality. Down the street on Grand River a food shop called Halal Guys selling Middle Eastern food opened, looks good but I have several favorite Middle Eastern places, so I have yet to compare the new place. The bocci ball restaurant is moving along, the Korean shop remodel has restarted, along with the pizza place next to the Peanut Barrel building has also restarted. The demolition of the SBS is really big project, tons of debris. closing the sidewalks, streets and alley near the building. I looked up some pictures of the Campus Theater through the years and saw one of people lined up down the street waiting to see Return of the Jedi, I could have been in that line!
Comments
But it is back on the DDA agenda for tomorrow, so apparently not dead. Looks like discussion of three proposals is planned, with the intention to recommend one of them.
1. Enter into a contract with Block and Block to run an ambassadors program. OR,
2. Work with city police and public works departments to develop an official, city-run ambassadors program instead. OR,
3. Just use DDA funds to provide additional money to (it seems) police and public works departments so their staff can do more of their traditional work downtown.
Cost now estimated at $275,000 per year.
Guess we shall see what happens.
@david_shane What is an ambassadors program in this context??
50%: Private security patrol
25%: Additional cleaning staff
25%: "Welcome to downtown East Lansing! Can I help you find anything?"
But we'll see what happens.