Lymon, we saw a concept a few weeks ago the Granger Group released and it looked pretty nice, but there is no telling how they'd actually structure the ground floor. I'm kind of hopeful, though, because as I'd mentioned before, it seems like there is a move back to small, individualized/specialized commercial units, again, at least locally, anyway.
The HSGL Facebook page shared a bunch of pictures of the Walter Neller building around the time it was demoed, that's where I first heard of it being a bus station. I guess the busses drove through that opening and had some sort of boarding area around back. They had also shared an interior shot of the waiting room that I thought was cool. Too bad it had to sit disused for so long.
@gbdinlansing Your guess is as good as anyone's. He gave a specific date and loudly proclaimed that the five floor building will be done before Tower on Grand. I'd guess he has less than a year to start construction to maintain that timeline.
@MichMatters, I know what Granger said but as I've said too many times, I can't take them on their word...I know him too well. It's going to look a lot nice in those renderings than what it ends up. Only way it's going to even happen with him is if it's highly subsidized.
@hood, I've wondered how it worked, too. Even though buses were smaller, it would have been an awkward turning the buses around. There was no exit besides the entrance; I doubt that the passage on Allegan was wide enough, but maybe it was. Maybe that's why it eventually moved. lol
The LSJ.com has an interesting photo gallery of some of the historical landmark buildings in the area, the photo of the Olds Tower/Boji Tower looks so 1930's modern. I thought I posted this note.
I am wondering what year this map was made. I have seen the "Lansing Theater" in photos of Michigan Ave, which must have been the '50s. I remember the Michigan and Gladimir [sp] theaters and there was an adult theater on N Washington in the '60s, I wonder what happened to that theater? Maybe it was the first victim of the "let's tear down all the theaters in Lansing" movement!
I would guess that the buses may have backed in or out of the station or picked up passengers at the curb. This station may have been for other bus companies, or before Greyhound built the S Washington Ave station.
Fascinating stuff. I do like that we found out that it was apparently called the "Weed Building," which I assume was probably the name of the owner at one time. Would love to find out who that was. Always hated having to refer to it simply as the "Walter Neller Building" since it was so much more than that. lol Also, I get what the Sanborn Map is saying, now; it's saying that the Strand Hotel was on the 2nd floor.
BTW, that would have been a tight fit for a bus if they were using the driveway off of Allegan for the exit to the bus station. That driveway is 10 feet. The smallest of the old GM transit buses were a bit over 8 feet in width, but I'm not sure if that was with or without the side mirrors.
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@gbdinlansing Your guess is as good as anyone's. He gave a specific date and loudly proclaimed that the five floor building will be done before Tower on Grand. I'd guess he has less than a year to start construction to maintain that timeline.
I would guess that the buses may have backed in or out of the station or picked up passengers at the curb. This station may have been for other bus companies, or before Greyhound built the S Washington Ave station.
Here's links to some of the HSGL's Facebook posts on the building:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1XnPqo1Buz/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Wy6tEpou/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1XsF1gmtFy/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EA3SDcL95/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BndhkPdey/
BTW, that would have been a tight fit for a bus if they were using the driveway off of Allegan for the exit to the bus station. That driveway is 10 feet. The smallest of the old GM transit buses were a bit over 8 feet in width, but I'm not sure if that was with or without the side mirrors.