Proposed Trowbridge revamp leaves out Goodrich's gives some more information about the Goodrich situation with the development. From reading this it sounds like the developer is trying to get a different market as the tenant.
I like this plan, especially given the location. I think this shows that you can add density while still retaining the convenience of a strip mall with surface parking, this could serve as a blueprint for what's possible down MLK, Cedar and Saginaw.
I would love for the owners of the Brookfield Plaza at the corner of Hagadorn and Grand River to do a similar project with that strip mall. Both strip malls are directly across the street from the university. The location is a high-demand site for student rentals and currently home to a large surface parking lot.
Fresh Thyme Grocery store has signed a lease for the Goodrich spot, so it seems that the project will continue to move forward. I'm curious if Kevin McGraw is going to change the plans, or was just trying to delay the planning commission meeting until he could speak publicly about the new grocery store to lessen concerns about Goodrich's. They said they intend to open in 2015.
Dropping from five to four floors for the apartment building has put the project in a financial tight spot, and there also appear to be some miscalculations about expected tax costs. The developer is looking to get an extra $600k over 16 years from the city.
The change would give the developer a larger share — as much as $2.2 million over 16 years, up from an original $1.4 million — of new taxes the project would generate.
I wish they would have let them keep the fifth floor. I don't see why that was axed, as more density there would only help the shopping center out even more.
The demand for quality student housing near campus is incredible, however since most students aren't considered permanent residents it doesn't do much for population figures. Developments like this one are just scratching the surface of the demand that exists, there will be more, larger and higher quality developments to come.
On another note, the apartment building in this development is pretty ugly. Most of the upper three floors are faced with what looks like corrugated metal, everything else appears to be of mediocre quality. Not a horrible development especially given its location, but it's certainly nothing special or worth emulating.
After driving through the area recently, I noticed there are quite a few interesting little developments going on in and around Trowbridge. It looks like the old Asian market/restaurant building is getting close to occupancy after sitting vacant for some time. Also, there is activity inside the old Hobie's bar in the strip mall. Finally, there is a sign on the Wendy's building that the location has permanently closed... does anyone know if that property has changed hands recently?
As far as I knew the Wendy's was bought out by the people who built the new apartment building there. I think they were going to tear it down when they were planning a larger second building at the West end of the site.
Comments
I would love for the owners of the Brookfield Plaza at the corner of Hagadorn and Grand River to do a similar project with that strip mall. Both strip malls are directly across the street from the university. The location is a high-demand site for student rentals and currently home to a large surface parking lot.
Developer pulls Trowbridge Plaza revamp plan East Lansing
Disappointing that the project - whatever the original or in a modified form - apparently won't happen. (Unless another developer comes forward?)
Fresh Thyme grocer signs lease for Goodrich's space in East Lansing
Dropping from five to four floors for the apartment building has put the project in a financial tight spot, and there also appear to be some miscalculations about expected tax costs. The developer is looking to get an extra $600k over 16 years from the city. I wish they would have let them keep the fifth floor. I don't see why that was axed, as more density there would only help the shopping center out even more.
On another note, the apartment building in this development is pretty ugly. Most of the upper three floors are faced with what looks like corrugated metal, everything else appears to be of mediocre quality. Not a horrible development especially given its location, but it's certainly nothing special or worth emulating.