| LMich |
Nov 22, 2011 11:48 AM |
Quite a bit of news...
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http://cmsimg.lansingstatejournal.co...planning-grant
Local agencies in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties joined forces to land a $3 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program. A main focus for the grant is on the 19-mile Michigan -Grand River avenues corridor that stretches from the Capitol east to Webberville. / Greg Deruiter/Lansing State Journal
Efforts of 40 area agencies land federal regional planning grant
by Laura Misjak | Lansing State Journal
November 22, 2011
The promise of $3 million in federal money to improve the quality of life — including revitalizing a 19-mile stretch of Michigan and Grand River avenues — is a good way to draw a crowd.
Especially when it could affect more than three dozen local agencies and a main artery stretching from downtown Lansing to Webberville.
More than 30 people gathered outside the Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development on Monday to hear about the grant the region will receive over the next three years.
The crowd, which stretched along East Michigan Avenue, represented the multitude of local agencies in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties — about 40 in all — that joined forces to land the highly sought-after U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program.
"I think the go-it-alone philosophy is coming to an end," Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero said. "This is proof positive that when we all pull in the same direction, there is nothing we can't achieve."
Matching contributions from the various agencies, municipalities and organizations, which together make up the Mid-Michigan Program for Greater Sustainability, bolstered the total funds to more than $10 million.
The ultimate goal? Managing population, employment and fiscal declines while strengthening environmental quality, economic opportunities and social equity.
A main focus is on the 19-mile Michigan Avenue-Grand River Avenue corridor that stretches from the Capitol east to Webberville.
It will serve as a "laboratory" for the multitude of projects planned, and will aid other projects already in place, such as a stormwater plan for the former Red Cedar Golf Course, Bernero said.
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Golf course site sale on ballot again being considered
by Lindsay VanHulle | Lansing State Journal
November 22, 2011
For the third time, Lansing City Council members will consider a proposal to place the sale of a closed westside golf course on the ballot.
Council this year has twice rejected a proposal to put to city voters the sale of the Waverly Golf Course and adjacent Michigan Avenue Park, in part because no specific redevelopment option exists for the site. Mayor Virg Bernero reintroduced the issue Monday and it was referred to council's committee of the whole.
The combined 116-acre site is located in Lansing Township. Waverly closed as a municipal golf course in 2007 due to budget reasons.
Voters this month passed a similar proposal authorizing the sale of a portion of the former Red Cedar Golf Course on East Michigan Avenue. The land was appraised for $5 million and is eyed for a mixed-use development. A request for proposals is in the works.
"I never stopped trying, and I will not stop trying because we have excess property and we have way more parks than we can afford to maintain," Bernero said. "The passage of the Red Cedar proposal by such an overwhelming margin demonstrates that the public is more than willing to consider this, so I'm hoping that that will provide additional impetus to the council to act and at least let the voters decide."
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http://cmsimg.lansingstatejournal.co...-redevelopment
City Council President A'Lynne Robinson speaks Monday about the Knapp's redevelopment, flanked by Karl Dorshimer, (left) of the Lansing Economic Development Corporation, and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. / Matthew Dae Smith/For the Lansing State Journal
New financing plan in the works for Knapp's redevelopment
by Melissa Anders | Lansing State Journal
November 22, 2011
Eyde Co. is working on a new financing plan it hopes will get the Knapp's redevelopment project off the ground.
The East Lansing developer will end up putting more of its own money into the roughly $36 million project because it did not receive a $2 million federal grant. That grant was part of a complex deal that includes millions of dollars worth of tax incentives.
Eyde also hopes to tap two investor groups and a bank that would put millions into the effort. And it's looking for ways to cut the project's cost, though officials were not more specific.
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The project was announced in April 2010. If all goes as planned, it will be completed by late 2013 or early 2014, Clouse said.
This winter, Eyde hopes to start internal demolition work at the historic building at the corner of Washington Square and Washtenaw Street. Construction could begin next summer to transform the building into a facility for retailers, office space, a business incubator, high-end apartments and underground parking.
City officials were excited to see progress on the project.
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