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Posted Sep 20, 2012, 9:18 AM
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Midwest Moderator - Editor
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Big Mitten
Posts: 31,745
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Can't say I'm excited about freeway expansion in this area, as it's a direct result of the sprawl of Eastwood Township to the west and East Lansing's Northern Tier to the east, but the soundwalls are definitely needed in this area, now, as the freeway runs at-grade north of Saginaw Street (M-43):
Quote:
Greg DeRuiter | Lansing State Journal
MDOT plans to add lanes to southbound U.S. 127, proposes sound wall
By Ken Palmer | Lansing State Journal
September 20, 2012
EAST LANSING — Mike Vasievich said he could hear the difference after a sound barrier went up along the west side of U.S. 127 about five years ago.
In the Pinecrest neighborhood where he lives, east of the freeway, noise levels went up because the barrier reflects some of the road noise back across the expressway, Vasievich said.
“It’s really noticeable, especially in the morning when the air is still,” he said.
Vasievich took the time to visit with state transportation officials at Pinecrest Elementary School on Wednesday to offer opinions on a plan to add auxiliary lanes on the southbound side of the freeway and a proposal to add to the existing sound barrier on the west side and build a new wall on the east side of the expressway.
The Michigan Department of Transportation said it will add a lane between Lake Lansing Road and M-43 and another between M-43 and I-496 in a $4.9 million project scheduled to begin next year. Over the past two years, MDOT added northbound lanes at the same two locations.
The agency also is proposing to add to the existing sound barrier on the west side of the freeway, extending it farther south toward M-43, and build a new wall on the east side.
A noise study triggered by the road construction project showed additional sound barriers are needed in those areas, the agency said.
The sound wall proposal is still under study and isn’t part of next year’s construction project, MDOT officials said.
If the state decides to go ahead with the project, homeowners would not be assessed for any of the cost, officials said.
The barrier on the east side of the freeway would be 4,700 feet long and average about 18 feet high, the study said.
The proposed west-side extension would be about 700 feet long and average 23 feet high, the study said.
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Another small apartment building is going up just west of downtown East Lansing along Michigan near Harrison across the street from campus. Seems like downtown and the areas just to the west continue to densify at a steady clip, but below most people's radar:
Quote:
$2.9M East Lansing development progresses with land sale, construction
By Angela Wittrock | MLive.com
September 20, 2012
EAST LANSING, MI -- The site of a $2.9 million mixed-use development in East Lansing has been sold to the developer, the realty firm negotiating the deal announced Wednesday.
CBRE|Martin, a mid-Michigan affiliate of CBRE, announced the sale in a press release. The project's developer, Wolf River Development Co., purchased the property about five weeks ago, managing partner Dale Inman said.
"We are under construction," Inman said. "We'll start pouring the concrete footings in the next week."
The company paid about $350,000 for the property, located at 514 Michigan Ave. in East Lansing, Mich., Inman said.
A building on the land housed Koehler's Printing and Graphics for more than 32 years and is being razed to make way for the development.
Koehler's will remain in business during construction of the new building, and is temporarily located at 1510 Rensen St., Suite D in Lansing, according to the release.
Project plans call for construction of a four-story, 23,200-square-foot building on the 0.33-acre site.
The mixed-use development will feature ground floor retail space with 16 four-bedroom apartments above.
Rental rates range from $590 to $700 per room.
Inman expects the project to be finished in June, in plenty of time for a fall 2013 opening.
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In other news, Douglas J's mixed-used buildings for downtown Okemos were formally approved for construction by Meridian Townships board, last night.
Quote:
Douglas J's project advances in Okemos
By Dawn Parker | Lansing State Journal
September 20, 2012
OKEMOS — Will White’s Traveler’s Club restaurant has been a fixture at Hamilton and Okemos roads for three decades. Now, this year apparently will be its last.
White told the Meridian Township board this week Traveler’s Club Restaurant and Tuba Museum will be “gone” as it and two other buildings he owns are razed to make way for an expansion of the Douglas J salon’s operations nearby.
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Douglas J plans to build a 30,000-square-foot, three-story building, spanning the corner of Okemos and Hamilton roads. The company would move its spa and salon from 4663 Ardmore Ave. to the new building.
A second building at Hamilton and Ardmore would provide 14,000 square feet for commercial space on the first floor and eight apartments on the top two floors.
Douglas J’s current salon site will be the company’s corporate headquarters. Douglas J has sites in several Michigan cities, Knoxville, Tenn., and Chicago, employing 500.
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__________________
Where the trees are the right height
Last edited by LMich; Sep 20, 2012 at 11:30 AM.
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