Lansing-East Lansing, MI Development

[LMich]

Good to see that this land getting attention, again, though, I must say that it's really too bad Townsend wasn't able to hold onto the site. I really like the attention he gives to quality.

From yesterday:

Lansing Board of Water & Light REO Cogeneration Plant





Saginaw Street Bridge reconstruction



The project includes the replacing the old bridge -- built in 1928 and expanded in 1955 -- with a new one of 4 lanes (down from five), widening the sidewalks, decorative lighting, and increasing the clearance over the river so that the Lansing River Trail, below, can be raised to reduce flooding. The river trail will also be widened by three feet to improve passing.

BTW, the council passed 7-1 the Kewadin Lansing casino plan, last night, as well as the mixed use parking garage to go up adjacent to the stadium. So, that takes care of everything the city has to do. Now, a year or two of legal wrangling to see if this pie-in-the-sky development ever gets off the ground.

[LMich]

Is this really finally happening?

Developer: Financing secured for City Center II in East Lansing

by Lindsay VanHulle | Lansing State Journal

March 21, 2012

EAST LANSING — The developer of a long-stalled construction project on a prominent downtown East Lansing corner said he has secured the required financing to move forward on the $105 million mixed-use complex.

Plans for City Center II, roughly 5.5 acres near the intersection of Grand River Avenue and Abbot Road and stretching to Valley Court Park, include a 110-room Hotel Indigo, owned by British hotel chain InterContinental Hotels Group; a performing arts theater associated with Michigan State University; for-rent apartments and townhomes and various retail and dining options.

Financing details, which includes $50 million from an unnamed private lender, were presented Tuesday during an East Lansing City Council work session.

...

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by LMich

Is this really finally happening?

Holy crap, I've never seen this. Hopefully this happens

[subterranean]

I'm particularly excited about the prospect of a theater. Lansing needs to seriously up its culture value, and with this and the Broad, I think it will come a long way toward that goal. Also, a decent hotel would be welcomed, too. The Radisson and the Marriott are crap.

[LMich]

Originally Posted by Hayward

Holy crap, I've never seen this. Hopefully this happens

This thing has literally been in the works since 2006, I think. It's kind of become a running gag in the region. It'll basically remake the entire west end of downtown East Lansing.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by subterranean

I'm particularly excited about the prospect of a theater. Lansing needs to seriously up its culture value, and with this and the Broad, I think it will come a long way toward that goal. Also, a decent hotel would be welcomed, too. The Radisson and the Marriott are crap.

^ As a whole, Lansing/E. Lansing trails far behind Ann Arbor in how people perceive it. Growing up in Michigan, Ann Arbor was always seen as "cool, hip, trendy, artsy" while L/EL was viewed indifferently as merely the capital. Of course, the difference in ranking between U Mich and MSU plays a great role in this, but in part it also has to do with the designs of these respective towns/campuses.

MSU is an absolute goliath, but it's a separate entity from the town and everything seems so widely disconnected. U of M, on the other hand, seems to have a mostly cohesive campus that is more pedestrian-friendly and neatly ties right into the heart of Ann Arbor. Both the campus and the city (Ann Arbor) mutually benefit from this relationship.

So the more Lansing can to do make itself pedestrian friendly, urban, and tie into MSU, the better, imo.

[subterranean]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ As a whole, Lansing/E. Lansing trails far behind Ann Arbor in how people perceive it. Growing up in Michigan, Ann Arbor was always seen as "cool, hip, trendy, artsy" while L/EL was viewed indifferently as merely the capital. Of course, the difference in ranking between U Mich and MSU plays a great role in this, but in part it also has to do with the designs of these respective towns/campuses.

MSU is an absolute goliath, but it's a separate entity from the town and everything seems so widely disconnected. U of M, on the other hand, seems to have a mostly cohesive campus that is more pedestrian-friendly and neatly ties right into the heart of Ann Arbor. Both the campus and the city (Ann Arbor) mutually benefit from this relationship.

So the more Lansing can to do make itself pedestrian friendly, urban, and tie into MSU, the better, imo.

As someone who attended both schools, I'm well aware of the points you make. But there are definitely things about A2 that I can't stand, most of which have to do with the pretentiousness of how great they think their city is. It's a nice little town, but I definitely did not enjoy being stuck up other students' asses whenever you're downtown. Yes, it does great things to the economy and retail/restaurant scene, but there are definitely disadvantages.

I am a big critic of Lansing/East Lansing, especially that the university was not integrated more into the city (though I do enjoy its park like setting). But I do believe that it would not take very much to make Lansing AT LEAST as desirable as Ann Arbor, if not better (in my opinion).

I think we have a more diverse economy than Ann Arbor due to State Gov't (and all of its support systems), automobile manufacturing, and multiple insurance companies. But currently many of the boomers that work in these industries are still stuck in the mindset that cities are dangerous, so they live out in the burbs. Most of the young people I know who have decent paying jobs are choosing to stay in the city. This will hopefully go a long way to revitalizing the two main downtowns and the Michigan Avenue corridor (I already see it happening at a quickening pace).

If we get the proposed transit line down Michigan (either bus rapid transit or street car), I believe a lot of the gaps in Michigan Ave will start filling in with mixed use residential, and I'm hoping some of those will hold students who are disenchanted with the student filing cabinets out in Bath Township.

Yes, it sucks that the campus is not integrated better into the city, but students have to live somewhere, and spend money, and buy groceries, and entertain themselves. I'm hoping that's how we work through the disadvantages of a large suburban style campus.

As a side note, I really enjoyed being on MSU's campus far more than U of M's, and I'm a huge fan of dense urbanism. I just felt like it was a serene place to learn, and there are so many gorgeous park-like hideaways that I felt like I was being spoiled every day. But I guess that's just personal preference.

As for art and music: yes, Lansing is way behind, and I feel like this is another area that needs to be built up to keep people around.

[subterranean]

One last thing: I also think that Lansing's central location could be a huge advantage in the future. Already, households with partners who work in different cities live in Lansing and commute to SE Michigan or Grand Rapids. It's not an ideal drive, but I know couples who do this. It may be a pipe dream, but if we ever get some decent rail between Grand Rapids and Detroit, Lansing would be very well positioned.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by subterranean

As someone who attended both schools, I'm well aware of the points you make. But there are definitely things about A2 that I can't stand, most of which have to do with the pretentiousness of how great they think their city is. It's a nice little town, but I definitely did not enjoy being stuck up other students' asses whenever you're downtown. Yes, it does great things to the economy and retail/restaurant scene, but there are definitely disadvantages.

I am a big critic of Lansing/East Lansing, especially that the university was not integrated more into the city (though I do enjoy its park like setting). But I do believe that it would not take very much to make Lansing AT LEAST as desirable as Ann Arbor, if not better (in my opinion).

I think we have a more diverse economy than Ann Arbor due to State Gov't (and all of its support systems), automobile manufacturing, and multiple insurance companies. But currently many of the boomers that work in these industries are still stuck in the mindset that cities are dangerous, so they live out in the burbs. Most of the young people I know who have decent paying jobs are choosing to stay in the city. This will hopefully go a long way to revitalizing the two main downtowns and the Michigan Avenue corridor (I already see it happening at a quickening pace).

If we get the proposed transit line down Michigan (either bus rapid transit or street car), I believe a lot of the gaps in Michigan Ave will start filling in with mixed use residential, and I'm hoping some of those will hold students who are disenchanted with the student filing cabinets out in Bath Township.

Yes, it sucks that the campus is not integrated better into the city, but students have to live somewhere, and spend money, and buy groceries, and entertain themselves. I'm hoping that's how we work through the disadvantages of a large suburban style campus.

As a side note, I really enjoyed being on MSU's campus far more than U of M's, and I'm a huge fan of dense urbanism. I just felt like it was a serene place to learn, and there are so many gorgeous park-like hideaways that I felt like I was being spoiled every day. But I guess that's just personal preference.

As for art and music: yes, Lansing is way behind, and I feel like this is another area that needs to be built up to keep people around.

^ You mention a diverse economy for EL/L and being the state capital. Madison, WI is a great example of a city that has its own economy, is the capital of a State, and has an excellent University campus, all wrapped up together and very nicely integrated into one town. If you haven't been there I recommend checking it out.

In regards to the MSU/U of M thing, I lived on MSU's campus and I spent a great deal of time at U of M's campus (my brother did some of his schooling there). I don't want to say which one is better, but they are different. I enjoy MSU's campus more for the same reasons you do: serene, large park-like getaways, etc--the kind of space and privacy you don't get at U of M. As a freshman in college, it (MSU) was a great place to walk around and smoke up with your buddies*, or go for long bike rides. What MSU lacks in its connection to a hip & urban city it makes up for in this way, at least in part.

(* there used to be a forest right behind our dorm where we would get together with friends and smoke a joint. Ahhh, those were the times. That would be much harder to pull off at U of M)

[subterranean]

Bricks going up at Marshall and Michigan...

[Rizzo]

I think every campus town has its pro's and cons. I've lived in Ann Arbor for 6 years and admittedly, can't get myself to like East Lansing. But I know they offer alot that Ann Arbor doesn't. I also think L/EL's larger economy will prove itself valuable when there's a shift in interest in places to live. A younger generation will replace the old, and hopefully you'll see more of the downtown and college areas get built up.

That said, it's kind of cruel to bring up Madison here. Absolutely love that city. Everytime, I visit, I consider going back to college.

[uaarkson]

Within 30 years, Ann Arbor and Lansing/East Lansing will be ten times the cities they are now.

[subterranean]

Marshall and Michigan by With Any Luck, on Flickr

[Rizzo]

^ Textured CMU? Really? That's like as cheap as you can go in masonry. One step above painted block. Usually I only see this used at foundations or common walls where a future building will go up next door. I mean they make it with burnished face finish that would at least kind of look like limestone. It would've been even better if they went full-glaze. I'm actually surprised given it's a corner. Oh well, I see brick now at least, so maybe the top will make up for it.

[subterranean]

I was surprised, too, given this photo on the front:


Untitled by With Any Luck, on Flickr

Or this:







I actually saw today that they are putting vinyl siding on the back. Ridiculous.

[Rizzo]

That's a shame. Wish it looked more like the renders

[subterranean]

I have to admit, it's looking a lot better than I initially expected:


Untitled by With Any Luck, on Flickr

[Rizzo]

That looks much better. And that arch is nice.

[LMich]

Hallelujah, it has begun:

Greg DeRuiter/Lansing State Journal

East Lansing City Center II project work begins

By Kurt Madden | Lansing State Journal

April 5, 2012

EAST LANSING — The developer of the proposed $105 million City Center II development project in downtown East Lansing is moving ahead with demolition preparations even as City Council members pore over the latest plans for the project.

Parts of sidewalks near the collection of buildings along East Grand River Avenue have been cordoned off and construction workers are getting ready for the eventual demolition of the structures to make way for the mixed-use development that would span 5.5 acres.

...

It's just demolition prep, but it's something for a project that up until now had not budged, physically, and inch toward completion.

[LMich]

I hate even posting on this project, but the Eastwood expansion has been given a formal name:

The Heights at Eastwood

Lansing Township $22M Eastwood project includes performing arts theater

by Scott Davis | Lansing State Journal

April 22, 2012

LANSING TWP. — As a teenager growing up in East Lansing, Chuck Senatore would often ride his motorcycle on the fields and hills north of Lake Lansing Road near what is now U.S. 127.

More than 30 years later, the Lansing businessman has returned, this time helping to steer a four-restaurant development that will be a cornerstone of a major new retail and housing project just north of Eastwood Towne Center near U.S. 127 and Lake Lansing Road.

Senatore was among the business leaders and Lansing Township officials on hand Wednesday as the multimillion-dollar, mixed-use development project was formally christened The Heights at Eastwood. A grand opening is slated for Sept. 12, though some businesses will be open before then.

“It’s funny, when I’m out here now, I sometimes have flashbacks of me riding that motorcycle,” Senatore said. “It’s a cool, serendipitous homecoming.”

...

“We’re seeking people that want the walkable urban experience,” said Allen Russell, director of development and construction for DTN Management Co., a township-based company that is constructing the five-story building with 124 luxury apartments. It is slated to open in the fall or summer of 2013.

The development also will have the four restaurants co-owned by Senatore and a five-story parking garage that will include a retail space on the ground floor. Lansing Township, through its Eastwood Downtown Development Authority, is acting as its own developer to build 120,000 square feet of commercial space and the parking garage.

...

Two of Senatore’s restaurants — Tony Sacco's Coal Oven Pizza, a 4,500-square-foot pizzeria, and the 7,900-square-foot Bar 30 restaurant and night club — should open by early June. The other two restaurants — a 5,000-square-foot restaurant, Carlos and Jorge’s, featuring Latin food, and Eleven Prime, an 8,000-square-foot steak and wine bar — should open this fall, he said. The four restaurants should employ 200 to 250 people, Senatore said.

...