I would love to see a small grocery store downtown, I don't like L&L in particular though, just my personal opinion. I think downtown could support a small one, it would have to have meats and produce to really be successful though.
I see we got some publicity in that City Pulse article, they even interviewed Jared. Hopefully we'll see some new people around here...
I think something like CVS or Wallgreens would do well. They both carry a decent amount of groceries and other products that nothing else supplies downtown. The pharmacy part wouldn't do well though, not sure how that would impact the success. I talked to the owner of the former Capitol Pharmacy and when the state employees were forced to do the online pharmacy option they couldn't survive.
First, I'd like to welcome flowergirl to the forum. Is this your first time here, or have you been silently following for a while?
Second, if anybody hasn't read the City Pulse article, you should check it out, it gives a nice overview of where Lansing stands. I'll let you know if the visits to the website increase in the short run due to the mention in the article.
Last, wasn't there mention of putting a grocery store in the Capital Club Tower? Do people think that the center of Lansing (not just downtown) could sustain a full-size grocery store (thinking Kroger/Meijer) if it was developed on the land at Kalamazoo/Butler/MLK/Wastenaw? Would that be too far off the beaten path for people living downtown to walk to? (It feels like it would be to me)
It would be a bit of a logistical nightmare to put a full blown grocery store in there mainly due to lack of semi trailer access. The loading dock area is currently in the southwest portion of the building, and trying to maneuver an eighteen wheeler to the middle of an urban block seems pretty far fetched. Maybe that will hinder other potential tenants as well.
I do think that a smaller grocery store would do well. Maybe positioning that to the western portion of the first floor. The northeast corner at Washington and Washtenaw including mezzanine screams major bookstore.
I would love to see that northeast corner be a nightclub or restaurant. I know there are already plenty of those in the area, but I think that space would make for a very unique atmosphere. The mezzanine level would really make it nice for a nightclub with a large dance floor though.
Now because of the lack of a $2 million grant the Eyde's are acting as if the project may not happen. I personally think the Eyde's are just being greedy, even without the grant the project would still probably be the most subsidized one we've seen in this area.
It's too bad the project won't move forward. Getting the Knapps building project off the ground could be one of the large turning points for the next step of downtown.
Dear MichMatters,
That is not the case at all. The LSJ did not approach the developers on this matter. They sent us a press release that stated, and this is a direct quote: "While the BEDI grant is a relatively small piece of the overall funding for the Knapp’s Centre, the project is temporarily on hold while the city of Lansing and Eyde Company determine whether to apply for the next round of grant funding or seek other funding alternatives."
Thanks,
Melissa Domsic
Lansing State Journal
7 block was Sam Eyde. Knapp's is George and Lou. While family, they operate completely separate real estate operations. As does Mike Eyde, who's behind much of the Eastwood area. Most folks probably don't realize that because of the shared surname.
That said, MichMatters is right that it's highly unusual to have a press release to announce a problem with ANY project. Most of the time, projects are announced with lots of fanfare, and if things don't come together, they die relatively quietly (Gene Townsend's Gateway, to name one of many examples by other developers). Nobody likes to publicize their professional failures, even though it's pretty easy to fail given the economic (and project financing) realities of the current period).
Comments
I see we got some publicity in that City Pulse article, they even interviewed Jared. Hopefully we'll see some new people around here...
Second, if anybody hasn't read the City Pulse article, you should check it out, it gives a nice overview of where Lansing stands. I'll let you know if the visits to the website increase in the short run due to the mention in the article.
Last, wasn't there mention of putting a grocery store in the Capital Club Tower? Do people think that the center of Lansing (not just downtown) could sustain a full-size grocery store (thinking Kroger/Meijer) if it was developed on the land at Kalamazoo/Butler/MLK/Wastenaw? Would that be too far off the beaten path for people living downtown to walk to? (It feels like it would be to me)
I do think that a smaller grocery store would do well. Maybe positioning that to the western portion of the first floor. The northeast corner at Washington and Washtenaw including mezzanine screams major bookstore.
Now because of the lack of a $2 million grant the Eyde's are acting as if the project may not happen. I personally think the Eyde's are just being greedy, even without the grant the project would still probably be the most subsidized one we've seen in this area.
That is not the case at all. The LSJ did not approach the developers on this matter. They sent us a press release that stated, and this is a direct quote: "While the BEDI grant is a relatively small piece of the overall funding for the Knapp’s Centre, the project is temporarily on hold while the city of Lansing and Eyde Company determine whether to apply for the next round of grant funding or seek other funding alternatives."
Thanks,
Melissa Domsic
Lansing State Journal
That said, MichMatters is right that it's highly unusual to have a press release to announce a problem with ANY project. Most of the time, projects are announced with lots of fanfare, and if things don't come together, they die relatively quietly (Gene Townsend's Gateway, to name one of many examples by other developers). Nobody likes to publicize their professional failures, even though it's pretty easy to fail given the economic (and project financing) realities of the current period).