City Center II highlights
$117 million mixed-use development.
10-story building with retail and office space, boutique hotel, performing arts theater, restaurants and 112 residential units
Five-story building with retail and 24 residential units.
Circulation tower
Six-level parking structure
Four-story apartment building
Two three-story townhouses
Source: Overall Site Plan for City Center II, CADA Investment Group, LLC.
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E.L. residents attend council work session to voice concerns on City Center II
T-shirts reading “Free Valley Court Park” set the tone for the public discussion on the City Center II development during Tuesday’s East Lansing City Council work session.
The shirts reflected local concern that the size of the $117 million development will affect accessibility of the park, said Alice Dreger, an East Lansing resident.
The proposal for City Center II includes a pedestrian overpass and a 10-story mixed-use building, containing a boutique, hotel and performing arts theater with residential and retail space.
The development would span Abbot Road to Valley Court Park along Grand River Avenue.
“The challenge right now is to balance the pressing need for downtown development with neighborhood stability,” Councilmember Nathan Triplett said.
City Center II is the largest development project ever undertaken by the city, he said.
Ann Nichols, president of the Oakhill Historic District Neighborhood Association, said the city’s poor housing market will make filling the apartments and high-end townhouses too difficult.
Additionally, the five-structure development would increase cut-through traffic in her downtown neighborhood, she said.
“We’re not opposed to the development,” said Nichols. “We want the townhouses to be off (Valley Court Park) entirely.”
About 40 East Lansing residents attended the work session in order to voice their concern and learn more about the development.
Project developers also were on hand to answer the council’s questions.
Rick D’Alessandro architectural developer for Ledy Design Group Inc., said he was confident City Center II would not impact the visibility of nearby buildings, like The People’s Church, 200 W. Grand River Ave.
East Lansing resident Catherine Foley said the project’s appearance would not mesh well into the downtown cityscape.
“It is out of proportion with MSU and East Lansing,” Foley said. “I don’t think it harmonizes with the architecture in the area.”
Triplett said the council is unsure of when a final decision will be made, as last night marked the first time the council formally discussed the issue.
“We’re going to design these units not only for professionals but for seniors,” said Scott Chappelle, president of Strathmore Development Co., the project’s developer, in response to worries that the center would be mainly student housing.The city council will continue to discuss the project at their May 20, 27 and June 3 meetings.
Published on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Comments
Za
05/14/08 @ 11:05am
I say build it, there are plenty of places to live and as much as myself and all of us love East Lansing it needs more… “downtown” is a 3 block area between 2 streets.
Get a clue?
05/14/08 @ 4:25pm
Yes, there ARE plenty of places to live. So why will these sell and not become massive student rentals? Smart development, yes. Thoughtless development with questionable builders, no. Especially not to the tune of $120 million and our taxes for 20 years. See http://eastlansinginfo.org
Mike S.
05/14/08 @ 10:21pm
While I believe personally that this development isn’t what EL needs most, I don’t understand the attachment to Valley Court Park. It’s a grass-field with some tennis courts. I don’t recall any playground equipment for children, seating or pavillion area for gatherings. I mean…what’s the appeal?
Dan
05/15/08 @ 7:26am
I think people are protesting the development just so they can make a big stink about something. I doubt these protesters will boycott the restaurants at City Center II once they’re built.
Times are tough, the economy is bad, and people need to complain about something. That is understandable, from a psychological standpoint.
I say build it, and let it create more jobs and increase visibility and cash flow in East Lansing.
Plenty to Do
05/16/08 @ 8:13am
Dan, I am one of the people protesting aspects of this. I can assure you that I have plenty of other things to do, and that many of them are being delayed or poorly done by me and many other folks because we are aware of significant risk associated with this project. If you are a student, perhaps it won;t affect you after you move on, if there are empty buildings, or if Valley Court Park is walled in by look-alike townhouses. If you are a permanent resident; shame on you. Oakhill is the oldest neighborhood in the City, built by people like the Collingwoods, and Valley Court was ringed by the homes of original MSU faculty members. This town and the University have important history which should be respected and considered as part of development projects. That kind of balance is struck in cities, big and small, all over the country, every day. We are not opposed to development, we want a revitalized East Lansing, and I can assure you we are not simply trying to “make a big stink;” we care passionately about the place we have chosen to live and raise our children, and believe that living in a Democracy allows and requires us to speak up when we see our City using our money to enter into risky endeavors.