Development and Planning

Image: Artist’s rendering of the planned building for 565 East Grand River Avenue (where the old Taco Bell building now is).

Developer David Krause is asking East Lansing’s City Council to approve a tax increment financing (TIF) plan of about $1.45 million, saying he cannot build a planned new retail and apartment building downtown without public financial support.

Auctioneer Ingham County Deputy Sherriff George Lammers (Right).

This morning, two mortgages on seven properties at the west end of downtown East Lansing were auctioned by the Ingham County Sheriff’s office because PDIG had defaulted on its loans. The properties were sold to the lender, DDR MV City Center LLC, which is affiliated with Mountain Vista Real Estate Opportunity Fund I, LLC. No one else bid on the properties.

Image: Some of the properties at issue in tomorrow's auction, shown by red arrow.

The PDIG-owned properties in East Lansing’s Park District are once again scheduled to be auctioned to the highest bidder at an Ingham County Sheriff’s sale. The sale is set to happen tomorrow, Thursday, August 6. The sheriff’s weekly mortgage foreclosure auction is conducted from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on the third floor of the Veterans Memorial Courthouse at 313 West Kalamazoo Street in Lansing.

Image: DDA-owned rental houses along Evergreen Avenue, included in the pre-development agreement approved last night.

Above: artist’s rendering of the CAHP plan for the redeveloped Bailey Community Center, viewed from the south.

Image: The back of one of the vacant properties that was to be auctioned today, next to Peoples Church

Image: Some of the properties set to be auctioned tomorrow.

Today a judge in Cuyahoga County Court in Ohio denied a motion by City Center II Project, LLC and the Park District Investment Group, LLC (PDIG) to issue an injunction that would have stopped the mortgage foreclosure auction scheduled on July 30 regarding property in the Park District in East Lansing that has been a blight on the west end of downtown for many years.

Image: Arrows indicate some of the PDIG Park District properties facing foreclosure next week

Image: The Lodges of East Lansing, a student rental complex near MSU whose real estate taxes actually go to Meridian Township; the large project was built without TIF.

Above: Eliot Singer

When one thinks about influential people in city governmental affairs, one might picture local elected officials, high-ranking city staff, or maybe wealthy business owners. What one probably wouldn’t picture is someone like Eliot Singer: a bespectacled, white-bearded folklorist, often spotted crossing campus and town with the aid of his walking sticks.

Image: Architect’s drawing of the structure planned for the northwest corner of Grand River and Spartan Avenues

East Lansing’s City Council has approved a proposal to build a new six-story building at the northwest corner of Grand River and Spartan Avenues, and the developer says he will soon be back to ask for Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to help finance construction.

Image: Architect’s rendering of the plan for 565 East Grand River

Council last night considered plans for a new downtown development that aims architecturally to reflect the Broad Museum, which stands kitty-corner to the site. The developer told Council last night he plans to seek Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and said he wants to know more about what Councilmembers want in the project before he proceeds.

Above: Architect’s drawing of the planned new building

Over strong objections from people who live across from the project site, East Lansing’s City Council last night approved plans for a new Lake Trust Credit Union building on the southeast corner of the Lake Lansing Meijer parking lot. The vote was 4-0 in favor.