The City of East Lansing got a nice “Happy Holiday’s” package in the form of $757,300 worth of grants that will be used to improves the city’s parks system.

A $262,500 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grant will help fund a $350,000 improvement plan for Hawk Nest Park. Hawk Nest Park improvements will include a new playground and picnic pavilion and accessible walkways. The improvements funded by this grant will also include a one-third mile addition to the Northern Tier Trail.

An additional $429,000 MNRTF grant will pay for a 2.93 acre land acquisition from the White Family for the expansion of the park. This expansion will provide a location for a trailhead/park entry plaza and space for additional connections to the Northern Tier Trail.

A final $65,800 grant will pay for a 1.75 acre land acquisition from the St. Paul Lutheran Church on Lake Lansing Road. This parcel will eventually provide pedestrian access to the park from the north.

“Through assistance from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and in-kind donations from the White Family Trust and the St. Paul Lutheran Church we are able to acquire more lands for public outdoor recreation, while also funding improvements and additions to the public amenities already present at the two park sites,” says East Lansing Parks Director Timothy McCaffrey.

“Outdoor recreation for our community members continues to be a priority for the City. This funding will help to improve the quality of life in our community substantially.”

Source: Mikell Frey, City of East Lansing

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.

The Eaton County Parks Department finished a $402,000, yearlong renovation of the Fox Memorial Park in Potterville.

The renovation, which is part of the Eaton County Parks Department’s five-year master plan, includes a new restroom and concession building, a new fishing observation deck, a new walkway and new park benches.

“We were replacing some structures that had been built in the late 1970s and early 1980s,” says Dan Patton, director of the Eaton County Parks Department.

The renovations also include a wheelchair accessible water access point.

“This is one of the only outdoor public swimming facilities in the county,” Patton says. “It’s really user friendly and caters to families with young children.”

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board and the Capital Region Community Foundation paid for the majority of the renovations.

Source: Dan Patton, Eaton County Parks Department

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.

Restaurateur Curtis Turner chose a prime piece of real estate on Lansing’s Eastside to start his latest restaurant venture.

Turner took over the former lesbian bar, Club 505, located at 505 E. Shiawassee St. Turner’s opened up the once dark 2,300 square foot bar by adding large exterior windows, exposing the ceiling and refinishing the bar.

“We’ve been getting a lot of curiosity type of traffic,” he says. “It’s slowly increasing.”

Turner says he simply couldn’t resist opening a bar in such a well trafficked location. The Corner Bar & Grill is across the street from the Lugnuts Stadium and the City Market. It’s also within walking distance to Downtown Lansing.

“This is what I know best,” Turner says about the restaurant industry. “The location of this is very good and it was a good opportunity financially.”

Turner’s been in the Lansing restaurant business for years. He was the original manager of Troppo in downtown Lansing. He’s also invested in a Pita Pit in Mt. Pleasant and an ice cream shop in Haslett.

Source: Curtis Turner, Corner Bar & Grill

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here. 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Winalee Zeeb is transforming ZZ Underwater World into the Heart Dance Studio, a fitness, wellness and community gathering space designed to help individuals marry mind, body and spirit.

"I want people to learn to love their body instead of other things," she says.

Zeeb was an avid fitness instructor, teaching a wide range of classes including step. After suffering physical injuries, Zeeb turned to exercise that could shape mind, body and spirit.

Zeeb is now one of only 11 certified Nia trainers in the world. According to the Nia official Web site, Nia “simultaneously addresses the body, mind, emotions, and spirit, and puts them on the 'same page' using music, movement and personal expression to integrate one’s neurology." Zeeb also teaches yoga and plans to offer both classes at the Heart Dance Studio.

Zeeb wants other groups to utilize the space. She’s renovating the building to include a fitness area as well as a community-based, education, or meeting area.

Zeeb and her husband, Ron, ran Zeeb Underwater World for more than 20 years. The Heart Dance Studio will occupy Zeeb Underwater World’s 1806 East Michigan Ave. location. Zeeb is hopeful that the renovations to the building will be complete in January.

Source: Winalee Zeeb, Heart Dance Studio

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here. 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Amanda Campbell expanded her massage studio, Tranquility Massage, into the space occupied by Profiles Hair Design Studio in Williamston.

Campbell started her business out of her home in Howell in August 2007. She decided to expand her business into the commercial space to accommodate growing demand for her services. She maintains her Howell location as well.

“I’m looking to maybe, within the next three years or so, open a parlor, which would have five rooms to get massages,” she says. “I haven’t decided on a location yet.”

Campbell specializes in tandem massage therapy. As the name suggests, this type of therapy involves tag team treatment by two massage therapists.

Three massage therapists work for Campbell. Tranquility massage is located at 110 North Putnam Ave. in Williamston.

Source: Amanda Campbell, Tranquility Massage

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here. 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

One of the few remaining vacant retail spaces in Old Town Lansing is becoming an underwater haven of sorts.

Connie and John Iszler just opened their new scuba shop, Capital City Scuba, in the 515 E. Grand River Avenue building.

“It had been a few years since we’d been down here, but when we came to look at the building, we saw that it was clearly a growing area,” John says.

Capital City Scuba and its underwater-themed Caribbean décor fit in well with Old Town’s eclectic personality. The shop has a multitude of scuba gear and accessories and knowledgeable staff.

Capital City Scuba will also offer several certification classes in the upper portion of the building.

Capital City Scuba is near the Temple Club, Preuss Pets and the future site of the Old Town Medical Arts Building. The Iszlers bought the building in January 2008 and finished renovations before opening it in November 2008.

Source: Jamie Schriner-Hooper, Old Town Commercial Association

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here. 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

The Causeway Bay Group of Companies is putting $4 million into the complete renovation of the 1970s-style former Holiday Inn on Lansing’s Southside.

CausewayBay Group recently took over the 300 room, 30,000 square foot bankrupthotel. Ps-Tse Keung, with Causeway Bay, says the Canadian Companyscoped the hotel for about eight months before making the purchase.

The hotel did not close during the change of owners. Keung has no intentions to close the hotel and will work around bookings.

“The place is basically booked for the next six months,” he says. “We’re doing very well.”

Keung suggests that some local businesses have outsourced events to newer facilities in Grand Rapids and Detroit. "We think this will draw back business that left for Grand Rapids and Detroit,” he says.

The renovation of the former Holiday Innincludes a total gutting. Everything, from the floors to the wallpaper,will be modernized.

“We’re remodeling close to a five-star rating, but we’re concentrating on staying in the three-star price,” he says.

Keungsays that, unlike many hotel takeovers, he plans to hire more employeesrather than cutting jobs. The hotel employs 110 people. Keung expectsto double this number.

 “People don’t like to put money in a property like this, draw it out and run away,” Keung says.

Keung will add a fitness facility and other amenities to the hotel. The renovations should be complete by 2010.

“We’rethe one bright spot in the hotel industry—we’re not going bankrupt, andwe won’t because we don’t owe anyone any money,” he says.

Source: Bob Trezise, City of Lansing

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.

Arwyn Carr recently opened a more than 22,400 square foot antique mall in Mason.

The Columbia Street Antique Mall spans across four commercial buildings and includes a farmer’s market, flea market and antique vendors. Carr will use an additional 4,000 square feet for office space.

“Sometimes it’s nice if you have an indoor place where you can come to every weekend,” Carr says about his interest in providing an indoor farmers market. The farmers market is scheduled to open in the fall.

Mason is known for having a wide array of antique stores, many of which are too full to accept new vendors. Carr says he’s received lots of interest from local vendors and has already filled more than 50 booths.

Carr had to make some changes to the former lumberyard to make it suitable for vendors. As the space fills and business grows, Carr says he’ll start holding auctions. Carr and his father collect and sell antique tractors.

Source: Arwyn Carr, Columbia Street Antique Mall

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here. 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie