City attempts to reach deal with property owners for project

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After tabling a scheduled vote on whether to use public right-of-way to acquire a property for its Avondale Square project, East Lansing City Council members will have to wait to complete construction of the project’s west alley.

The city had been in discussions to buy property from the landowner at 607 Virginia Ave., but discussions ceased after no solutions were reached.

“The city’s trying to buy, but (the property owner) doesn’t want to sell,” Mayor Vic Loomis said. The owner of the property declined comment.

Community development analyst Tim Schmitt said aside from the property at 607 Virginia Ave., the city has acquired all but two of the other properties located in the area of the project along Virginia Avenue.

The block previously was inhabited by many student renters. The city is in discussion with the owner who maintains the two remaining properties.

The Avondale Square project will consist of 30 new homes when construction is complete. Four homes have been constructed to date.

The city has been in discussions with property owners in the area on a loose basis since 2006, Schmitt said.

The property owner at 637 Virginia Ave., which the city previously attempted to acquire for the project, will remain in his house, Schmitt said.

The second phase of construction, which involves the creation of single-family homes, is expected to begin this summer, Schmitt said.

Rental licenses

In other business, the council deferred until Oct. 20 an ordinance that would make it easier for homeowners to rent out their homes while the property is for sale, following the housing commission’s recommendation.

The council has discussed the ordinance at past meetings, and questions arose about whether the ordinance was worthwhile.

“There’s a question as to whether it’s needed or not based upon the housing market in our city,” Loomis said.

“And once you get past that question, there’s the question of what should
be done.”

The fact that the housing market has improved in the past six months also has made the ordinance less appealing, said Joanne Russell, president of the Red Cedar Community Association. The group sent a letter to the council several weeks ago opposing the ordinance.

“We had eight or nine homes for sale in an area at one time, but within the past six months, the market’s just about taken care of them,” Russell said.

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