Workers moved Wednesday morning to secure the site of a decrepit Abbot Road building with ties to the $105 million City Center II project, setting the stage for a financial evaluation of the redevelopment effort and possible demolition at the site.
At about 9 a.m. Wednesday, two pickup trucks rolled into a parking lot next to the site and workers began unloading metal perimeter fencing, which was in place by Wednesday afternoon.
Work at the site — 303 N. Abbot Road — prevents the project’s site plan and special use permit from expiring Friday.
The move extends the life of the project, which would bring a hotel, performing arts theater, and office and retail space to the area near the Grand River Avenue and Abbot Road intersection.
Wednesday morning’s jolt of activity came less than 12 hours after the East Lansing City Council approved a predevelopment agreement for City Center II, allowing demolition to occur at the North Abbot Road property and giving city staff about 89 days to examine the project’s proposed financial structure.
At the end of the due-diligence period, the city council can decide whether to continue or sever ties to the project.
The redevelopment is being led by East Lansing-based Strathmore Development Co.
Actual demolition at the site is expected to start within two to six weeks, Strathmore President Scott Chappelle said at the council meeting. Within 60 days, the property should be completely demolished, he said at the meeting.
Chappelle said in an email there is “still lots of work to do” in regards to the project.
“The city has been examining every aspect of Strathmore Development Co. and the project for almost two years now,” he said in the email. “I believe that city officials will conclude a thorough due-diligence process and hopefully decide that the City Center project will be an extraordinary benefit to our community.”
The approved agreement is “a step forward in what will be a very exhaustive due-diligence process,” Planning and Community Development Director Tim Dempsey said in email.
“Our highest priority is to ensure that the project is financially sound and that the city has minimal risk,” he said in the email.
The council went back and forth regarding the predevelopment agreement at two special meetings before approving the agreement Tuesday night, 4-1.
Councilmember Vic Loomis voted against the agreement, citing concerns about the city’s decision to allow site work to start before a financial evaluation had been completed.
“Job No. 1 is always knowing who you’re doing business with,” he said at the meeting.
But sudden signs of life near the project have some residents feeling hopeful about its ability to move forward.
“They should proceed with it,” East Lansing resident Tom Brown said. “If it turns out that (Strathmore) doesn’t have the financing, then we’re right back where we started.”
In his four years at MSU, hospitality business senior Zach Eckhout said the buildings have sat vacant, looking “old and run-down.”
“I guess we’d like to see them start doing something sooner rather than later,” Eckhout said.
But some residents still oppose the project.
East Lansing resident Jim Anderson said at the meeting that the city could slip into “debt quicksand” by continuing with the project.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
“I believe that a fine project is possible on this site, but it’s far, far, far from being framed out,” he said at the meeting.
