$50M plan for housing, retail in Lansing to attract grads
Lansing — An East Lansing development group unveiled a plan Tuesday to add housing, shops and commercial space that officials hope will attract MSU graduates to downtown Lansing.
Pat Gillespie, president of the Gillespie Group, announced plans for a more than $50 million project that includes eight retail and residential buildings in a space north of Oldsmobile Park, along the Grand River.
The project is a combination of two developments — Ballpark North, a pair of six-story buildings overlooking the Oldsmobile Park outfield, and Market Place, a group of six residential and retail buildings.
“Upon completion of Market Place and Ballpark North, downtown Lansing will have created an entertainment district that will rival other thriving Midwestern cities,” Gillespie said.
The announcement comes a week after Accident Fund Insurance Company of America officials said they would make the Lansing Board of Water & Light Ottawa Street Station power plant the company’s national headquaters.
Mike Britt, executive vice president of Accident Fund, said the development may help fill the more than 500 new jobs the company plans to add in the next 15 years.
“We’re fortunate, in Lansing, to be in the backyard of MSU and Cooley Law School,” Britt said.
“They both provide us with talented, educated, young entrepreneurs that are seeking out a career. These building developments will allow those young people not only to come here and start their careers, but to work here and finish their careers here as well.”
Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero said the developments would transform the city.
“I’ve talked before about Lansing stepping up to be one of the great Midwestern capital cities,” Bernero said.
The plans must be approved by the Lansing City Council, Gillespie said.
Published on Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Comments
MSU Alum
10/17/07 @ 8:56am
I don’t think that there will be nearly enough attractive jobs for MSU grads. Personally, I didn’t spend 4 years in college to work for an insurance company. I think that those jobs will be more likely to attract unemployed middle age residents of Lansing than recent MSU graduates.
Also an Alum
10/17/07 @ 11:27am
I disagree… I don’t think people realize the kinds of jobs at Accident Fund… they’re not all just “insurance salesman” — there are opportunities in HR, marketing, IT and all sorts of stuff, and it’s a great company! I think it would be a great place for a young grad (like myself) to start their career!