Didn't see this coming. Apparently, the city and township already have an idea of what they are going to do with LCA Verlinden on the far westside:
Quote:
Bernero seeks federal aid for two Lansing projects
By Barbara Wieland | The Lansing State Journal
June 21, 2011
Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero is in Washington, D.C., today trying to line up federal help for development projects at a former General Motors Co. factory site and the REO Town district near downtown.
Bernero plans to talk with Obama administration officials about assistance to transform the site of the former GM plant on Verlinden Street into a "green" manufacturing park. The site had been known as Fisher Body and the Lansing Car Assembly body plant at various points before it went out of production in 2005. The factory has since been torn down.
Bernero also wants to make improvements in REO Town, including upgrades to sidewalks, lighting and other streetscape features to be made in tandem with street work on South Washington Avenue. The improvements will be made as the Lansing Board of Water & Light continues construction of a $182 million co-generation power plant in REO Town that began in late May.
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For the Verlinden project, the city is seeking additional federal funds to create an environmentally conscious manufacturing park. The city already has been granted $5 million from a federal trust to clean up the site and an additional grant application for "a couple million dollars" is in the works to further rework the site, said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of the Lansing Economic Development Corp.
"Part of our big vision is to make an 'ecotech park' or green manufacturing zone on the site," Trezise said. "Naturally, we need to extend the infrastructure to make it happen, which means a road, a nice archway and environmental features such as solar panels."
The site would be home to companies that manufacture environmentally friendly goods. The park itself would be earth-friendly, Trezise said.
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Work on the project could begin as early as this fall, and two interested manufacturers have already talked with the city about locating there. Trezise declined to name the companies.
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REO Town upgrades
Chad Gamble, director of public service for the city of Lansing, said the city is seeking a $500,000 grant that would reduce car lanes and add a bicycle lane. The project would cost a total of $2.3 million.
"This is an unbelievable and transformational project that would make this a destination," Gamble said. "It all translates to the bottom line of the city."
Gamble said a decision on the grant should come in the fall.
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BTW, looks like the draft plan for Lansing's latest masterplan is out,
Design Lansing. It's a 192 pages, but very interesting and detailed. I think it's the first full masterplan of the city since the 50's.