From a farmer's market to shuffleboard...

This is an interesting little building and it's a shame it can't be saved (or can it?). Originally built as an Arby's in the 1950's, it become home to the first Biggby Coffee (then Beaners) in 1995. A new Biggby opened in the adjacent development recently.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7iuovqqft9...201.jpeg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/77nt19sg9t...%202.jpg?raw=1

East Lansing is nearing the completion of its Avenue Form District. You can view the public draft here. This is a proposed Form Based Code that will be aligned along Grand River Ave. from East Lansing's eastern edge all the way to its western border with Lansing. Where it overlaps the existing East Village FBC the new Avenue Form District will supersede it. But it will not supersede the existing 160 ft. height overlay for East Lansing's downtown core.

East Lansing also passed some updates to its existing code last week. In a nutshell, it simplified the maximum height regulations and added some special use requirements to allow parking reductions. It also removed some special-use permit requirements for any businesses selling alcohol consumed off premise where the sales take up less than 25% of the floor area.

In other news,

This remodel work will include new roofs, new flooring, masonry repair, new security cameras, fire safety & HVAC upgrades, and new appliances. It is being funded through Lansing Payment in Lieu of Taxes, MSHDA tax credits, and HUD's RAD program. The article also mentions that the Commission intends o update the its other properties in the future, including LaRoy Froh Townhouses, Hildebrandt Park Apartments, and the Oliver Gardens Apartments.

Mount Vernon Park is off of N. Grand River Ave. near the airport. South Washington Park is oriented along S. Washington Ave. near McLaren Greater Lansing. Interestingly, both complexes will receive new names, and one will transition to all-senior housing -

I'm not local so I don't know, but I'm guessing that like many public housing communities, the current names have negative connotations, hence the proposed name changes?

Just a few other miscellaneous, news-y things I picked up -

1. After delays due to COVID-19 & other construction, Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery is now open in the Center City District.

Renovations and repairs are complete along the Lansing River Trail -

Here is a really neat article about the ongoing improvements at the State Capitol Complex, in particular, the new geothermal system, which will go online later this year -

The Original Boiler Room -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/edkrdz7vrb...%201.jpg?raw=1
\New pumps that are part of the geothermal heating & cooling system -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y3psdsf97j...%202.jpg?raw=1

AN original drawing of one of the boilers -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k9l5fyi2ae...%203.jpg?raw=1

Rob Blackshaw (director of operations of the Michigan State Capitol Commission) examining one of the many geothermal wells -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bghkrp561d...%204.jpg?raw=1

I was bummed when I saw this headline. But reading the article, it doesn't seem like an issue that can't be resolved, and hopefully quickly -

Some Lansing / East Lansing Catch-Up, in reverse-chronological order:

Downtown Lansing, Courtyard Marriott Hotel opens today, 02/11/21 -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ifuia4u60...iott.jpg?raw=1
Source: Twitter | @GillespieGrp (Gillespie Group) - edited

North Grand Parking Ramp in downtown Lansing has a new art mural by Bruce Mackley, photographed 02/02/21 -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z29fl4ub0i...0Out.jpg?raw=1
Source: Twitter | @LCCPresident (Steve Robinson)

02/02/21 - 60 wind turbines are being planned for in Southeast Ingham County by Apex Clean Energy. This could potentially impact 5 rural townships. Each turbine would be 650 ft. high, and combined, they could produce up to 300MW.

This is quite preliminary still, but could be an economic generator in the area. You can view the project presentation here -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0aod7br483...20In.png?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aa96ssqm0p...0Out.jpg?raw=1
Source: WLNS | Courtesy Apex Clean Energy

01/30/21 - East Lansing's The Abbot is getting a Dunkin' and Walgreens -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ieoyzhp2cl...bbot.jpg?raw=1
Source: East Lansing Info

01/29/21 - The Graduate Hotel is nearing completion and will open this Spring -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kdgwype89p...otel.jpg?raw=1
Source: East Lansing Info

Demolition of Lansing Community College's (LCC's) Gannon Parking Ramp began on January 04, 2021. The plan is to take down the current structure and then erect a new structure on the same site, for a net increase of about 700 - 800 parking spaces. Construction completion is estimated for August 2022 (which seems to me like a long while for a parking deck, even with demolition activities and potential COVID-19 delays considered) -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yp5o6jqroq...%201.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6daqmcvhbu...%202.jpg?raw=1
Source: Nick King | Lansing State Journal

Here's two renderings of the Montgomery Drain / Ramney Park project. It's a pretty cool, fairly massive, ongoing project by the County Drain Commissioner to improve stormwater mitigation in neighborhoods along the Red Cedar River in East Lansing. It involves daylighting the Montgomery Drain and bringing various forms of green infrastructure to the Ramney Park site. It will restore natural habitats and clean up the pollution in the Red Cedar River -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mi4ulgytvm...%201.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uulyarc148...%202.jpg?raw=1
Source: Wade Trim

An early-morning photo of McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital from last month (01/06/21) -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1b5t8snmre...sing.jpg?raw=1
Source: McLaren Greater Lansing

University Edge at MSU is set to open this Fall. Older photos from November 05 and 12, 2020, via their Facebook page -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xwd3om1uxm...%201.jpg?raw=1
Source: Facebook | University Edge at MSU

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qzdx4jzp8u...%202.jpg?raw=1
Source: Facebook | University Edge at MSU

https://www.dropbox.com/s/avkm4nyg86...%203.jpg?raw=1
Source: Facebook | University Edge at MSU

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tv508oknke...0MSU.jpg?raw=1
Source: Facebook | University Edge at MSU

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y4c0v9172m...%202.jpg?raw=1
Source: Facebook | University Edge at MSU

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oyflm3aowx...%203.jpg?raw=1
Source: Facebook | University Edge at MSU

Construction has started on MCC's Temple Building project on E. Cesar Chavez Ave. in Old Town Lansing. Interior demolition wrapped up last month. This rehabilitation project will provide 31 apartments, 3,000 SF of office space, and a 960 SF commercial suite. It will also be the new HQ for MCC, which has been gathering lots of momentum with recent rehab projects and new builds around the state -

• Video Link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3j727tixxf...201.jpeg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6k10w6u7le...202.jpeg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/c4x97e7sq5...203.jpeg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | MCC

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fx4m4s2w8k...201.jpeg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/inza4msfki...202.jpeg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l9b78b8vk1...203.jpeg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ajwueysz4e...204.jpeg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qtegyitocp...205.jpeg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | MCC

Lansing -

Some more Temple Building photos. Interior CMU block walls are starting to go in, and you can make out an obvious elevator shaft in some of the views - this is such a cool project -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gtomeggzcr...%201.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/m92jxx8i88...%202.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4n2pesmo4j...%203.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/192ect3hnx...%204.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qd0009z4u0...%205.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7h49nt0oyu...%206.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vo2221szlc...%207.jpg?raw=1

Source: LinkedIn | MCC

Delta Township -

Phase 1 of Delta Crossings is on track to open this Fall - mostly big box stores and a Texas Roadhouse. The full, 10-year build-out plan includes restaurants, shops, apartments, single family homes, and hotels. It's a big investment. Sadly, nothing too exciting, architecturally -

Those renovation photos are crazy.

This is one of the more interesting things happening in the state right now, in terms of historic rehab work. A few more, from yesterday - the internal steel framing has begun -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/77iccnwgob...%201.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/48jzr2sxtg...%202.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6jpsw4fyqk...%203.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u31135wwha...%204.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejdl30k5ux...%205.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7vzqmma45b...%206.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | MCC

McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital progress -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/efmr0zsks7...%201.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/91ywmun98o...%202.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | Knight Transfer Services

East Lansing -

The Graduate is wrapping up -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8pt81lmtjw...uate.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | Knight Transfer Services

Lansing -

Concrete pour at the Temple Building -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nhg2uuyk5u...%201.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5vifkuxtf2...%202.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o6eb9mzbtv...%203.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0mz1kw37xw...%204.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/leei4xa1xo...%205.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | MCC

Lansing (Delta Township) -

Auto-Owners Insurance's 250,000 SF office expansion - construction progress -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6nnuomg29x...ance.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | Auto-Owners Insurance

Concrete pour at the new Visitor Center at the Capitol Building -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vu5yml65ky...nter.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | The Christman Company

@deja vu Just wanted to say thanks for keeping the Lansing thread over here updated.

Trying to keep a pulse ;)

I know I'm missing a lot of Lansing things. LMich keeps things updated over on SSC still, so I occasionally check there for updates.

Lansing -

Some nice aerial shots of the city. Downtown / Accident Fund Insurance, followed by The Vista -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e80inx1jpb...town.jpg?raw=1
Source: LinkedIn | Adam Suiter

https://www.dropbox.com/s/582slowbgr...ghts.jpg?raw=1
Source:
LinkedIn | Adam Suiter