http://www.statenews.com 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. en-us Foundry4 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:14:53 -0400 Fri, 16 May 2008 08:13:04 -0400 webmaster@statenews.com http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/16972/view 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. Wed, 14 May 2008 11:05:49 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/16972/view http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/16985/view 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 Wed, 14 May 2008 16:25:28 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/16985/view http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/16993/view 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? Wed, 14 May 2008 22:21:59 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/16993/view http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/17003/view 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. Thu, 15 May 2008 07:26:12 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/17003/view http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/17057/view 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. Fri, 16 May 2008 08:13:04 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/17057/view