Development and Planning

Above: sign at Coral Gables Plaza along the planned BRT route

The Meridian Township Board has passed a resolution in opposition to CATA’s planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Passed last night, the Board’s resolution has no formal impact on the plan, because the roads involved (Michigan and Grand River Avenues) are owned by the City of Lansing and the State of Michigan. But the move could affect CATA’s chances of obtaining federal funding for the project.

Image: An artist’s rendering of a station for CATA’s proposed BRT route

Above: The former Evergreen Arms apartments, yesterday

Two vacant former apartment buildings just north of Peoples Church are being stripped of asbestos and will be coming down soon. The brick structures at 341-345 Evergreen Avenue, known as the “Evergreen Arms” and situated near Valley Court Park, are being cleared of asbestos in advance of demolition of the buildings. This was confirmed for ELi this morning by East Lansing’s Director of Planning, Tim Dempsey.

Above: Fiesta Charra restaurant, behind which Costco plans to build a store

Following the reaching of an agreement between the City of East Lansing and Meridian Township, Costco is likely to soon be building a new store in East Lansing along Saginaw Highway just east of Park Lake Road on land adjacent to the Fiesta Charra restaurant.

When East Lansing’s City Council voted unanimously to offer a much less lucrative tax abatement than the developer of a local solar project asked, some were worried that the Council’s decision would kill the project. But asked by ELi about whether the project proposed by Inovateus Solar is going forward, the City Manager’s office confirmed this morning that it is.

Above: the property at issue under construction

The question of whether a new Bailey-neighborhood rental apartment complex can have balconies has been sent back to City Council, as the developer has explained to ELi why the balconies didn’t go to Council for approval in the first place.

Plans to demolish the publicly-owned commercial building at 303 Abbot Road, known as “the little bank building,” are moving along. According to City staff, the current plan calls for a contractor starting asbestos abatement next week and the major demolition of the building starting the week of July 11.

East Lansing’s City Council voted unanimously tonight to give a tax abatement to a company seeking to build a large solar array on MSU’s campus—but the abatement was not nearly as big as the company and two council members were hoping.

Above: an artist’s rendering of a solar array project from the application for the tax exemption

A Michigan-based company wants to install a large solar array at MSU, and its request for a related tax exemption from the City of East Lansing is causing debate at City Council.

Above: The Garten Haus complex under construction, as seen yesterday.

ELi's Heather Paris reports on the dedication of a new downtown mural created collaboratively by East Lansing senior citizens and middle school students.

A reader asks: Is CATA’s bus rapid transit plan a done deal?