It is at least interesting that the builders offered a different looking face to Grand River. I want to like it more than I do, I know I can be over critical of these new buildings, but it seems like many of the new buildings in East Lansing have this stone fortress feeling at street level. I am also not a fan of corrugated metals as a facade treatment. I just think it is going to look really bad after a few years. I will take a drive by there and see if I can warm up to it. I like the wood decking, and I wonder why treated wood could not be used in place of metal for the set back area, it would be warmer and less warehouse looking.
Regarding the Element building, it was completed in time for students to move in at the beginning of the school year, there's just been nothing on the ground floor.
As for the state of the East Lansing City Council, I'm not sure what to say. That sort of attitude and rhetoric is disappointing to hear and certainly doesn't bode well for future development. I'd be interested to see the mailings in question.
I can not really comment on the politics of East Lansing, they have always wanted to be separate from Lansing, maybe they will take the Trump route and build a wall.
Nice photos there. I do not usually hear people described as "anti-development", but by golly... I live in the Chesterfield Hills neighborhood, and we have quite an active micro social media on Nextdoor. And it is so predictable, anytime ANY new development in the city is proposed, certain people will hop on the forums to tell us why it's a terrible idea. Frankly I do not get that attitude at all.
Anybody know of something going on near the intersection of Michigan and Highland? Lots of utility flags in the ground, and on both sides of Highland. Couldn't figure out what might involve digging on both sides of the road.
On a related note - bunch of flags and a small bulldozer at Saginaw and Abbot. Feel like I heard a long long time ago the city was going to make the little empty parcel there (which they own, was space for potential future yield lane) into a small park.
Yeah, I have no idea what it could be. I expect that Gillespie will redevelop the plaza he owns at that corner someday, but not very soon as it looks like he put a decent amount of money into remodeling it when he built Midtown. I can't imagine the other building on that corner going anywhere anytime soon.
I'm out in CA now, but they just covered all of our parking lots at work with these same panel setups. Now everyone fights to get a covered spot everyday!
Comments
As for the state of the East Lansing City Council, I'm not sure what to say. That sort of attitude and rhetoric is disappointing to hear and certainly doesn't bode well for future development. I'd be interested to see the mailings in question.
This used to be a small development with tiny "monopoly" style houses (Google Maps satellite view of them, http://screencast.com/t/21aAiWfSz). The project was announced in October 2014, http://develop.metrolansing.com/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=19&Focus=6818#Item_9