I was thinking the same thing about GR...being the second largest city in the state.
I agree that it appears Lansing's economy will continue expanding; it's always nice when anecdotal evidence (JNL moving its data center to Lansing from Denver, Auto-Owner's expanding here, IBM's new office, GM stabilizing and adding shifts, etc.) matches with study results such as this.
It is nice to see that all the good news for the area hasn't just been a smokescreen, it's a real indicator of whats going on. Come to think of it the only really bad news coming out of the area in the past few years were the GM plant closures, at least that's all I can remember.
Also this story on Seymour towers was in last weeks City Pulse: The Towers and the Powers
I'm against this building being used to house the homeless myself, in fact I'm against it being reused at all. I'm too worried that Bernero will cave, but the church organizations just won't leave the subject alone. They could do much. much better by buying scattered single family homes.
I would honestly just like to see it come down. I think it would still make a nice site, (along with the lot next door) for the library and Impression 5, or even a new City Hall, should one get built.
This is great. I'm trying not to take it too much for granted that they would come downtown. Alot of other cities would just assume they'd move to another suburb/township somewhere, maybe not even in the greater Lansing area. Maybe...just maybe, Lansing is becoming a strong urban center with a progressive urban mentality. Let's hope we keep heading that way!
MM, I also think the new Troppo is going to have a moderate to significant impact on the streetscape. Also, with them and Tavern right across from eachother, I wonder how possible it is that they could establish a critical mass at that corner to bridge the night life between Wash. Sq. (Kellys, Brannigan, Firm, Xcel, old Tavern) and the Michigan Ave. night life (Rum Runners, Nuthouse, Harem's). Right now, the Michigan/Washington intersection is a quiet dead spot as you travel between the two hotspots. With Tavern and Troppo right on that corner, maybe it will spread out the nightlife to have a solid run of night spots from Rum Runner's to the Firm. More people walking between all the bars than driving, etc. adding to the urban environment of downtown.
I was also just thinking about how all this recent news relates to the argument critics of downtown development use. The argument that developing downtown is down at the loss of the surrounding neighborhoods. However, by developing downtown, Lansing is clearly starting to be successful at retaining/attracting companies, with BCBS/AF/MSP moving/growing downtown which translates to more jobs for citizens (regardless if you live in a neighborhood or downtown) and more tax revenue for the entire city.
The theory sounds nice, but it's kinda exciting to start to see some anecdotal evidence to support this. Now we just have to see how much of a visible impact the increase in jobs has once AF expands, BCBS moves downtown, MSP moves downtown, etc.
Good points MM. I still hope Tavern/Troppo on the corner will make an impact, but your comments about the need for change on Grand is dead on, especially in terms of shifting from a one/two street town to the urban center it hopefully is moving towards. You think adding MSP workers and residents in Capitol Club would make a difference for that Grand Ave. transformation?
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I agree that it appears Lansing's economy will continue expanding; it's always nice when anecdotal evidence (JNL moving its data center to Lansing from Denver, Auto-Owner's expanding here, IBM's new office, GM stabilizing and adding shifts, etc.) matches with study results such as this.
Also this story on Seymour towers was in last weeks City Pulse: The Towers and the Powers
I'm against this building being used to house the homeless myself, in fact I'm against it being reused at all. I'm too worried that Bernero will cave, but the church organizations just won't leave the subject alone. They could do much. much better by buying scattered single family homes.
Sounds like it may be a good plan, it's small news, I know, but at least the building won't be left vacant.
Blue Cross moving 250 to downtown Lansing
The theory sounds nice, but it's kinda exciting to start to see some anecdotal evidence to support this. Now we just have to see how much of a visible impact the increase in jobs has once AF expands, BCBS moves downtown, MSP moves downtown, etc.