Development and Planning

Above: the project site at the northeast corner of Grand River Avenue and Spartan Avenue.

The East Lansing City Council voted yesterday on both the site plan and Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan for the White Oak Place project at Spartan and Grand River Avenues (just west of Brookfield Plaza). But in both cases, what the Council approved was significantly different from what the developer had proposed.

Above: Architect’s rendering of the proposed development.

This week’s East Lansing City Council meeting was again dominated by the issue of residential parking permits (RPP). The issue was ultimately resolved by a unanimous Council vote in favor of a new version of the review and approval process for designating residential sections of the City as permit-only parking.

East Lansing’s City Manager George Lahanas announced today that a series of long-blighted commercial buildings on Grand River Avenue near Abbot Road will be demolished by the end of this year. According the announcement, the new owners of the “Big Bank Building” at the northwest corner of Grand River Avenue and Abbot Road and the commercial property between that structure and People’s Church have agreed to a “stipulation and consent order to demolish the properties” by December 31, 2016.

Above: Map showing historic districts in East Lansing, courtesy City of East Lansing

Above: The image taken by and mentioned at Council by Councilmember Erik Altmann.

When the application to open the Tin Can bar on Grand River Avenue came before the last East Lansing City Council in October, it led to a contentious 3-2 vote, with then-Mayor Nathan Triplett, then-Mayor Pro Tem Diane Goddeeris, and City Councilmember Susan Woods voting in favor, and Councilmembers Ruth Beier and Kathy Boyle voting against.

Above: Architect’s drawings of the plans for the redevelopment of the Bailey Community Center showing north and south sides

On Tuesday night, East Lansing’s City Council approved changes to the redevelopment plan for the Bailey Community Center and heard from City staff about plans for a daycare, playground equipment, and parking. City Council voted 4-0 to approve a revised application from Capital Area Housing Partnership (CAHP) for the property. (Mayor Mark Meadows was recused from the discussion and vote because he serves on the board of CAHP.)

Image: The leafed-out white oak tree of “White Oak Place” as seen from Spartan Avenue last fall.

Following a request by the developer Joe Goodsir, East Lansing City Council opted last night to defer decision-making on the White Oak Place project proposal until May 24. Mayor Mark Meadows said the delay will allow the City to seek its own environmental assessment of what is needed in terms of clean-up at the site, which includes a former gas station.

Above: Artist’s rendering of the proposed project as seen looking east from Spartan Avenue

If two votes go as expected, tonight East Lansing’s City Council will set a pair of public hearings for April 12 to consider a site plan and tax increment financing (TIF) plan for a major new apartment complex near Hagadorn Road. If built as planned, the project, a six-story mixed-used development to be named White Oak Place, will sit on the corner of East Grand River and Spartan Avenues, just west of Brookfield Plaza.