capitalgains - Development News

Lansing Community College Gym Gets $300,000 Renovation

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lansing Community College (LCC) is spending $300,000 to renovate the campus gym.

LCC is repairing the floor, replacing the bleachers, painting the gym and improving the audio visual capabilities, says Chris Strugar-Fritsch with LCC.

“It should look pretty nice when it’s all done in August,” Strugar-Fritsch says.

Strugar-Fritsch says the gym hasn’t had an update since 1976. The 7,000 to 8,000 square foot gym hosts LCC’s sports teams and community groups.

LCC is one of the largest community colleges in the country. LCC has a large presence in Downtown Lansing and recently completed an $11 million development project that connects the Old Carnegie Library with a modern University Center.

The new, 40,478 square foot University Center, which includes the Carnegie Library, will act as a home base for universities from all over the state that want offer LCC students bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Source: Chris Strugar-Fritsch, LCC

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

2,000 Sq. Ft. Women's Center Expansion Opens on Lansing's Eastside

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After three years of trying to pull together enough resources to renovate the 1712 building on Michigan Ave., the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing can finally mark the project complete.

The Women’s Center hosted the grand opening of its new facility last week, which includes 12 computers for a women’s computer class, space for nutritional cooking classes, a professional clothing closet and additional space for women to engage in job searches.

The women who work at and utilize the Women’s Center are grateful to have nearly triple the space, but the road getting there was long and hard. They started raising money for the expansion more than three years ago. The renovation started with an overhaul of the upstairs apartment, which is now occupied by a Women’s Center employee. Then, construction stopped and started in tandem with funding success.

“First we had to demo the entire building and that left us with basically studs and nothing else except for siding,” Alwood says. Once the Center convinced several businesses, including Liquid Web and developer Scott Gillespie to get involved in the project last winter, it took off.

“Now we’re doing the finishing touch type of work,” she says.

The renovated building is right next to the Women’s Center current 1710 Michigan Ave. building. The two buildings together give the organization about 3,000 square feet of space. Though the addition will help the Center, they’ll have to expand again in a few years.

“We knew we were going to grow out of this space very quickly, but we knew it was what we could afford,” Alwood says.

Source: Cindie Alwood, Women’s Center of Greater Lansing

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

Lansing Habitat for Humanity Launches $5,000 Youth Program

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Habitat for Humanity Lansing has a lot on its agenda, including the launch of its new Building Up Youth program.

The program, which was initially funded with a $5,000 grant from the Jackson National Community Foundation, allows Habitat for Humanity Lansing to approach youth groups who may be interested in “building up” Lansing.

“There are a lot of things we work with kids on and it’s really exciting to bring kids on-site because it teaches them the value of community service,” says Julie Burtch, development director for Habitat for Humanity Lansing.

Habitat for Humanity Lansing is also working with the Ingham County Land Bank to purchase, rehab and resell foreclosed homes in Mid-Michigan.

“We’re going to take these homes and turn them into owner occupancy,” Burtch says. Burtch expects the rehabbed homes to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 to $50,000. The Land Bank and Habitat for Humanity Lansing want to complete six homes this year. The first should be finished at the end of July.

“We have looked at a number of homes through the Land Bank partnership, and now we have our families and we’re starting to work together,” she says.

Burtch says the partnership allows Habitat for Humanity Lansing to get families into foreclosed houses much faster than the nonprofit would be able to do on its own.

“Owner-occupancy in a home increases the safety of a neighborhood because the residents are more permanent and they’re more invested in their home,” she says. “They’ll be taking care of it and hopefully be better neighbors because of it. This is going to be a huge improvement for some of the neighborhoods.”

Source: Julie Burtch, development director for Habitat for Humanity Lansing

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

New Consulting Company to Offer Posh Events in East Lansing

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After working in furniture sales and the state legislature, former Senator Bill Hardiman (R-Kentwood) staffer, Kim Gregory, opened her own event consulting business in East Lansing.

Gregory’s company, Posh Events, specializes in planning special events for Lansing area companies and trade and professional associations.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I’ve been talking about it for years,” Gregory says. “I thought ,if this works and I like it, I’m going to do it.”

Gregory got her start at the Detroit Chamber of Commerce's popular Mackinac Policy Conference. She represented Lansing-area organizations, including the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lansing Board of Water & Light, Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority and the Lansing Capital Regional International Airport.

“As soon as I book other events, I’ll definitely be hiring a few more employees,” Gregory says.

Gregory also plans to extend her event planning efforts to Florida.

“Our philosophy is simple,” Gregory says. “Life is an event; make it posh. Whether it’s a grand opening in downtown Lansing or corporate retreat in an exotic locale, we can produce a posh event that makes a statement about who you are and where you are heading.”

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

Okemos-Based Development Company Expands Commercial Operation

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Okemos-based builder and commercial leasing specialist, TMN Builders, has opened a new commercial division, called TMN Commercial.

"TMN has been working in the commercial building market for more than 25 years," says Jeff Shapiro, vice president of business development. "We felt it was important to put dedicated resources into the commercial building, leasing and management business."

TMN Builders will concentrate on the company’s residential market while TMN Commercial specifically focuses on the commercial side of the business.

"What started as a small component of our business has grown to the point where we need to make the two operations more independent," says TMN's president, Rudy Hirt. "The commercial side of TMN has become a significant entity and we need to provide the focus, the resources and the vision from management that will allow it to continue to grow and prosper."

TMN is close to completing a 12,000 square foot office building in East Lansing. The new building is the seventh building that’s part of the Watertower Place development.

Shapiro says all of the buildings are full. He expects this last building, which should be complete in December, to follow that trend.

“That is amazing in this market,” Shapiro says. “But we feel that the market requires this because everything else is occupied.”

Source: Jeff Shapiro, TMN Commercial

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

Local Plastering Contractor Gives Impression 5 Façade Makeover

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Local plastering contractor, Jim Blackburn, has put a lot of sweat equity into the Impression 5 Science Center. Blackburn’s devoted every free moment he’s had to changing the science center’s fading façade.

Blackburn’s been working on the façade for the last month. He’s putting up a type of blue and red synthetic stucco to match Impression 5’s colors. And he’s doing it for free.

“I thought it was a good cause,” he says. “It’s a nonprofit for kids.”

The Impression 5 Science Center attracts mini-consumers from all over the state. Executive Director Erik Larson says the Center’s been making significant interior investments for years, but the outside of the 1880 building has been neglected for far too long.

“It was an effort for us to make a better first impression for all of our visitors,” he says, adding that Blackburn’s generous support made the change possible.

“It’s important for all of us—all of the businesses down here—to put our best foot forward to keep people coming back,” he says.

Source: Erik Larson, Impression 5 Science Center

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

$7 Million, 30,000 Sq. Ft. Library Opens in Delta Township

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After breaking ground on its new space last year, Delta Township Library has finally moved into its $7 million, 30,000 square foot facility at 5130 Davenport Drive.

The 200,000 people who use the Delta Township facility had outgrown the library’s roughly 5,000 square foot space years ago.

“In the old building, we had to get rid of something every time we got something,” says Cherry Hamrick, the library's executive director.

Now, instead of cramming into a small reading space, Delta Township Library members can freely move from wing to wing. The new library has a north wing for middle schoolers and young kids, and a south wing for adults. It also has MP3s, audio books, books on CD, thousands of DVDs and wireless Internet.

“Our circulation has been increasing every year,” Hamrick says. “That’s been true for libraries around the country. We think we could see a 50 percent increase based on need.”

Source: Cherry Hamrick, Delta Township Library

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

$1 Million Fund Provides Lansing-Area LEED Green Construction Training

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Capital Area Construction Council is launching a new workforce training initiative as part of a $1 million effort to keep the area’s construction workforce in top condition.

The new program offers Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building implementation training to construction-based employees.

The LEED certification training "is a very important part of the puzzle, but we’re ahead of the curve by asking how workers will be trained to build green,” says Brindley Byrd with the Capital Area Construction Council.

This training is different than other area LEED training. Rather than training companies or individuals on how to become LEED certified, this program trains foreman and supervisors on how to implement these building practices.

“Foreman and supervisors will have a better understanding of the specifications and requirements being handed down to them by architects,” he says.

The Council is working with Lansing Community College (LCC) to develop the “Green Advantage Training” course. Brindley anticipates that the first classes will be offered in the fall. He hopes to get hundreds of foremen and supervisors through the program.

“I am very much a strong supporter of green building, and I see that this Green Advantage will give our regional construction industry a competitive advantage over other regions that don’t have policies being put behind it on a local level,” Brindley says.

Source: Brindley Byrd, Capital Area Construction Council

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

LCC Seeking LEED Certification for 260,000 Sq. Ft. West Lansing Building

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lansing Community College (LCC) is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for its existing 260,000-sqaure foot, West Campus building.

“It’s just for basic certification,” says Chris Strugar-Fritsch with LCC. “In a nutshell, 60 percent of the building is heated and cooled with a geothermal system, and that saves us quite a bit of money.”

Strugar-Fritsch says the environmentally friendly heating system saves the school about $100,000 a year in energy costs. The geothermal system was implemented while the building was being constructed in 2004.

“The payback period was less than 10 years, so that made it cost-effective,” Strugar-Fritsch says.

LCC’s West Campus houses the school’s alternative energy program.

“It made sense to have a live demonstration where the students can actually be in a environment that has an alternative energy source,” Strugar-Fritsch says.

The West Campus doesn’t have occupancy sensors, but it does have a system that shuts off lights at certain times of day. LLC’s also developed some recycling programs for the West Campus. Students recycle the oil that the automotive shop uses, the metals in the welding classes and wood in the carpentry classes.

LCC has submitted a LEED certification application with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Source: Chris Strugar-Fritch, LCC

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

DBI Updates Exterior of Downtown Lansing Building

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Office furniture consulting and supply company, DBI Office Interiors, is renovating the exterior of its 16,000 square foot Downtown Lansing building to resemble its fashionable interior spaces.

DBI has been in Lansing for more than 20 years, but just recently purchased its Michigan Avenue building. Now that the company owns the building, it can update the façade and front awnings and add windows to the third story.

“We’ve always kept the interior up-to-date, and now we’re doing the outside,” says George Snyder with DBI.

Snyder says DBI is set on making improvements that are as environmentally friendly as possible. He adds that he’s excited DBI could purchase the building and stay in Downtown Lansing.

“There’s a lot more activity down here,” he says.

DBI is using a more than $5,000 façade grant from the City of Lansing to make the improvements. East Lansing’s Kincaid Building Group plans to complete the improvements by October.

DBI has experienced consistent growth in its office supply division over the past few years and expects to see continued growth.

Source: George Snyder, DBI

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

1,500 Sq. Ft. Artist Co-Op in the Works for Charlotte

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Charlotte, MI, artists are pooling their resources and creativity to open a 1,500 square foot artist’s co-operative in the city’s downtown.

Charlotte painter, Stormi Stuler, and Richard Turbine, owner of Windwalker Antiques and Fine Arts, are working together to draw art lovers into downtown Charlotte. Turbine is offering the second floor of his building for the co-op.

“We like the idea of this being downtown,” Stuler says. “I think a lot of artsy kinds of people tend to like a lot of old town areas.”

When it comes to starting the revitalization of a downtown area, artist groups tend to be first in line, Stuler says, adding that smaller cities in other states have been brought back to life by the art community.

“I’ve seen this happen in a lot of old towns, even on Michigan’s West Coast,” she says. Artists “seem to have a niche for taking old, abandoned, dilapidated places and bringing them around. We’d love to see the downtown jump back like that.”

Members of the proposed co-op would split the rent and share the space. Stuler says she needs about six artists to fill the space.

“An artist came in and did a fresco-type of sculpture on one wall—it kind of looks like ruins,” she says. “The room already starts out with a beautiful, 60-foot painting on one wall.”

To contact Stuler about joining the co-op, click here.

Source: Stormi Stuler

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

New Knight Cap Patio Adds To Outdoor Dining in Downtown Lansing

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lansing's Knight Capis joining the growing multitude of Downtown restaurants and bars thathave added outdoor seating to accommodate the area's active nightlife.

The well-known, upscale steak and seafood restaurant recently opened a patio that faces Michigan Avenue. The bar sits between Washington Square, the Lansing Lugnuts' Oldsmobile Park and the Grand River riverfront.

“We decided to put it up because of all the summer activities,” says Knight Cap owner, Charlie Sinadinos. “People enjoy dining outside. Our place is kind of dark and cozy, but we wanted to encourage people to have lunch at the Knight Cap and to be able to sit and relax in the evening now that they’ve opened up our beautiful Michigan Avenue.”

Creating a patio space also expands the restaurant seating area by about a third, Sinadinos says. The full service patio seats 16 to 25 people and the restaurant is constantly in need of more seating.

“Things are going on,” Sinadinos says. “The popular thing is to be outside.”

Sinadinof says she plans to keep the patio openas long as the weather stays nice. This is the first time the KnightCap’s offered patio seating. Sinadinos says if it goes well, she’ll continue patio service next season.

Source: Charlie Sinadinos, Knight Cap

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

Accident Fund Unveils Design for $182 Million Lansing Riverfront Expansion

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lansing developer, the Christman Company, and area insurance provider, the Accident Fund, unveiled their long awaited design for the Accident Fund's $182 million proposed renovation and expansion of Downtown Lansing's historic Board of Water and Light (BWL) building.

The company's 133,00 square foot future headquarters includes an extensive renovation of 227,000 square feet of the existing BWL building. It also includes a 101,000 square foot, four-story addition. The addition will sit on the north side of the seven-acre campus and will connect to the former BWL building via a 5,000 square foot structure.

"We are on the verge of something very special and very cool," says Steven Roznowski with the Christman Company. He adds that the building will seek LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

The Christman Company is a national leader in LEED certification. In May, the Christman Company made history when it was the first company in the country to receive two platinum LEED certifications.

The design also includes a 1,000 parking structure that will essentially replace the imposing parking garage on the corner of Ottawa Street and Grand Avenue. A cafe, outdoor seating, wellness area and cutting edge technology will also accompany the new headquarters.

The Accident Fund announced the expansion in October and expects to break ground on the project this fall. The project should be complete by the middle of 2011.

The Accident Fund has dramatically outgrown its current Downtown Lansing location and will continue to lease additional office space until the BWL renovation is complete. The Accident Fund is expected to add 500 new employees over the next few years.

Source: Ari Adler, John Bailey & Associates

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

$19.5 Million East Lansing Project Garners National Award for Granger

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Not many people find parking garages exciting. You go in one side and out the other.

But Associated General Contractors (AGC) is excited about the $19.5 million parking garage Granger Construction built for Michigan State University (MSU).

The AGC gave Granger Construction the 2008 AON Build America Award, making Granger Construction the only company in the state to receive the distinction. The AON Build America award goes to companies that excel in project management, tackle difficult jobs, use innovative construction techniques and are environmentally sensitive.

“We value peer recognition in any form,” says the company's president, Glenn Granger. “But it is an exceptional honor to receive both our national and state trade organizations’ top awards for this unique project.”

Granger Construction built the 730-car, six-story garage next to Morrill Hall, which is one of MSU’s most historic buildings. To prevent damage to Morrill Hall, Granger Construction created soil retention walls and monitored vibrations and cracks from the construction site. It also had to finagle the garage around one of East Lansing’s busiest intersections without causing traffic backups.

The style of the parking garage also blends into other campus building, allowing the structure to compliment rather than distract from the area’s architectural flow.

Source: Ed Gillespie, Granger Construction

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

$5 Million Okemos Project Will Offer New Commercial and Residential Options

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The $5 million "Hamptons of Meridian" condo project is almost finished and is slated to open by the end of summer.

Developer DTN broke ground on the project, located at the corner of Hagadorn and Mt. Hope in Okemos, last fall.

The 16,000 square feet of commercial space will open this summer. The 24 apartments, each 1,300 square foot, will open this fall.

"These buildings are very traditional," says DTN's Allen Russell about the two buildings. "They have an old world facade and three different kinds of brick and stone."

Source: Allen Russell, DTN

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

$2 Million Would Boost Williamston Library to 10,000 Sq Ft

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For years, the Williamston library has been holed up in 900 square feet of space in the area community center, but the Williamston Community Library Foundation (WCLF) is on a mission to raise $2 million to build a brand new library.

“We own a piece of property that the building can be built on, and we have a pretty active fund raising organization going on,” says Marlene Epley with the WCLF.

The site is on an acre of land in Williamston and abuts the Brookshire Golf Course and the Grand River. The new facility could be as big as 10,000 square feet, more than 10 times as big as the current library.

Unlike other libraries in the area, the Williamston Library’s pending expansion is not contingent on a multi-million millage passing in August. If the millage passes, the Williamston Library will get roughly $3 million. However, the $2 million is enough to build a nice, new facility, Epley says.

“We made it our mission to raise money to build a library building,” she says.

The Williamston Library has conceptual designs of the new library and may shoot for some level of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designation, but no plans have been finalized.

Source: Marlene Epley, Williamston Community Library Foundation

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

New Williamston Fashion Store Growing, Gearing Up for Expansion

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Nvious Fashions is expanding and relocating to a larger store in Williamston’s downtown.

NviousFashions' owner, Teri Okowit, informally started her company last yearwhen she started selling clothing during the city’s two-week Red Cedar Jubilee. After the successful sale, she signed a six month lease and opened her women’s fashion store at 125 E. Grand River.

“Ithink the reason that it’s working is that we’re not a big conglomerate,” Okowit says. “We’re very personal. We just listen to what people want instead of saying, ‘Here’s four million purses, just pick one.’”

Nvious Fashions sells name-brand,quality clothing for women ranging from 12-years-old to 100-years-old, says Okowit. Okowit gets clothing from all over the country and carries DKNY, Guess, Mavi and Apple Bottom jeans as well as tattoo shirts. After opening her doors, Owit quickly had to add an annex where she sells lingerie.

“We just make it affordable,” Okowit says. “I have an uncle in L.A. who says, ‘Wow, this looks just like Melrose.’ Which is flattering, because Melrose is cool.”

Okowit is working on a Web site so her national clients can access her store when they’re not visiting Williamston.

“I’ve got people from all over the United States, and whenever they come into town, this is like a destination point,” she says.

The new location is 131 E. Grand River. Okowit hopes to open her doors by the middle of July.

Source: Teri Okowit, Nvious Fashions

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

DeWitt Moms Jump Into Family Business With Bounce Arena

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After running out of indoor exercise options for their children, Kelly Ramirez and Joan Blackmer laid out a business plan to open a 10,000 square foot bounce arena in Lansing Township.

A year later, they opened Jumpin’ Jax, a massive bounce arena where kids can go to get rid of excess energy. Jumpin’ Jax has five inflatables, including a standard jumping castle for younger children and a 22-foot double slide for older kids, giving the kids access to unlimited, safe, jumping and climbing.

“We knew Lansing needed something like this,” says Ramirez. “The statistics show that obesity is on the rise and kids are not getting physical exercise like they used to.”

“We wanted parents to have somewhere to go that was clean and safe and they could talk,” says Blackmer.

The women strategically opened their business (which is in a former hockey arena) next to the Lansing Indoor Sports Arena on Lake Lansing Road. Not only does the location give them plenty of space for expansion, it also peaks the interest of Lansing Indoor Sports Arena parents and kids.

Jumpin’ Jax has two party rooms, a lounge area for parents and several massage chairs for overworked and underpaid moms.

Ramirez and Blackmer have only been open since March, but they’re already looking to expand.

Ramirez says they want to create a toddler-only section so younger kids have a place to play. They also want to add an in-house café and other inflatables to the area.

Source: Kelly Ramirez and Joan Blackmer, Jumpin Jax Bounce Arena

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

Liquid Web Breaks Ground on New $80 Million Data Center

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mid-Michigan technology giant, Liquid Web, broke ground on an $80 million, 90,000 square foot data center in Delta Township, a move that will bring Liquid Web's employee count to 600 over the next several years.

“This should lastthree to four years depending on sales growth,” says Travis Stoliker, spokesman for Liquid Web. Liquid Web’s data centers house client servers. Liquid Web has two centers in Mid-Michigan. The second, located in west Lansing, is nearly full, a result of adding 250 to 300 customers every month.

Liquid Web currentlyhas 140 employees and expects to hire 10 employees a month through2009. Stoliker says when the data center is complete in early 2009, thecompany will have to increase its monthly hiring standard.

“Wedon’t lose many customers, and we don’t lose many employees, so we’reconstantly growing,” Stoliker says. The new, 90,000 square foot datacenter will have second-floor office space for Liquid Web employees.

LiquidWeb is on track to hit revenues of $20 million this year. From 2006 to 2007, Liquid Web grew by 67 percent. Liquid Web isgrowing into international markets and expects several new hires tospeak foreign languages.

“We are very invested in finding the 600 employees from the Lansing area,” he says.

LiquidWeb is trying to make its third datacenter more energy efficient andpocketbook-friendly. Data centers require constant air-conditioning, arequirement that doesn’t help the company’s $40,000 a month energybill. To reduce this cost, Liquid Web is installing a louver systemthat will pull cool air from the outside into the data center. Stolikersays this green effort may reduce energy costs by 10 to 20 percent.

LiquidWeb is also looking into other green building solutions, such as solarpanels, that could reduce costs and minimize the company’s carbonfootprint.

“It’s something that we’re really concerned about—we all live on this earth,” Stoliker says.

Source: Travis Stoliker, Liquid Web

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

MSU Breaks Ground on New $13.3 Million Recycling Center, Surplus Store

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan State University (MSU) broke ground on its $13.3 million recycling and surplus store, a development that’s expected to double the recycling rate of five materials by 2010.

“The recycling facility and surplus store provide us a greater opportunity to re-use and recycle the enormous amount of materials we bring to this campus,” says Kathy Lindahl, MSU’s assistant vice president for finance and operations. “Part of environmental stewardship is changing the MSU community culture, and each person has to contribute in order to makes the changes we need.”

According to the Office of Recycling, 14 percent of white and mixed office paper, newspaper, cardboard and plastics are diverted from landfills in Lansing through the current recycling program.

By increasing recycling rates in 549 campus buildings, this rate is set to hit 28 percent by 2010.

The MSU Surplus Store will move from its current Harrison Road location to the new center. Storage facilities on Harrison Road will remain at the existing location and an additional 23,000 square feet of storage space will be available when the project is finished in the summer of 2009.

Source: Kathy Lindahl, MSU

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

$11 Million East Lansing Avondale Square Project Opens Doors

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The first of many homes in the $11 million Avondale Square development in downtown East Lansing has opened its doors.

“I think this will dramatically improve that area of East Lansing,” says Bob Schroeder, with Mayberry Homes, builders of the project.

The City of East Lansing spent $4 million to acquire the properties and $7 million in private investment was put into the developments. When the project is complete, 14 new townhouses and 16 single-family homes will line the 600 block of Virginia Avenue in downtown East Lansing.

Twelve of the units will be set aside for households earning no more than 80 percent of area's Median Income ($51,900 for a family of four). The rest will be market-rate units.

“We’ve had a good response,” Schroeder says. “I think it’s unique. It’s a new urban, alley-style project.”

Although the project is still in the early stages of development, one lot has been sold and a second lot has been reserved.

Source: Mikell Frey, City of East Lansing

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

$4.5 Million Riverview Church Expansion Reaches Phase Two

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Riverview Church has moved into phase two of its $4.5 million expansion and renovation.

The 26,400 square foot addition, which included a new 1,200-seat auditorium, large lobbies, bathrooms and nurseries, is complete. Now the church is renovating its existing auditorium, which it will turn into a small wedding chapel, classrooms and a new lobby area.

Exponential growth fueled the expansion. Pastor Noel Hikkinen says in 2000, they had a plan to grow their 200-person congregation to 500 by 2008. They hit 500 people within three months.

“We’ve grown 1,000 percent, and we have 2,000 to 3,000 people,” he says.

While Hikkinen says speculating the cause of the growth is “complete conjecture.” He did say that the church intentionally caters to college students, singles and young families.

“We intentionally focus on that group of people, and that group of people in American Christianity is largely unreached,” he says.

Hikkinen says the church’s casual atmosphere, which includes Indie rock and bluegrass bands, is attractive to this demographic.

“As soon as we can, we’re going to build an entirely new children’s phase,” Hikkinen says.

Riverview Church is on Willoughby Road in Lansing, close to the intersection of College Road and Willoughby Road.

Source: Ed Granger, Granger Construction

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

1,300 Sq. Ft. Upscale Consignment Boutique Opens in Williamston

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Williamston resident Christine Benington has always loved clothes, but it wasn’t until she went to Stevie Wonder’s birthday bash in the Bahamas that she decided to open her own upscale consignment store.

At the party, she met one of Wonder’s next-door neighbors, who just happened to be a designer. They agreed that the economy has hurt the retail market, but has done nothing to curb people’s appetite for nice clothing.

For many, the only way to afford designer clothing is by getting it second-hand.

“You have to offer a good price, because the way the economy is, people don’t want to spent $200 on a dress,” Benington says.

When she got home, she started building her designer inventory. Saturday, she officially opened Sequels Consignment Boutique. The 1,300 square foot store is at 153 E. Grand River in Williamston, across from the Red Cedar Grill.

Sequels Consignment Boutique has women’s clothing, a small line of men’s clothing, shoes and accessories, and a fairly large bridal section.

“I think you kind of need to find a gimmick with this kind of niche, and we have with the bridal and formal line,” she says. Aside from creating a niche for herself, Benington also wanted to put her business in a growing area.

“Williamston is really trying to change the face of the downtown area,” she says. “There have been so many vacant buildings down here, but some of them have been restored. It just looked like this was the prime time to be doing something like this.”

Source: Michelle Aniol, City of Williamston

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

Couple Takes Over English Cut in Williamston

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Westside Lansing barber Steven Cribley and his wife, Julie Cribley, recently took over the English Cut in Williamston.

After 22 years of working on Lansing’s Westside, opportunity and fate opened an entrepreneurial door for Cribley. The 133 W. Grand River barbershop became available after the former owner, Jerry Allen, passed away.

The Cribleys reopened the 488 square foot shop May 12, roughly two weeks after Allen’s death.

“It’s pretty important with a barbershop to get it opened as soon as possible,” Julie Cribley says, adding that if doors stay shut for too long, necessity forces customers to take their business elsewhere.

“Jerry’s customers have been very receptive to giving us a try,” Cribley says. “That’s why we left the name, ‘The English Cut.’ He really built a wonderful business.”

Though being a business owner is a new role for Steven, Julie has owned her own Williamston-based holistic health services business for years.

“I love this small town community and I really love the arts that are offered here,” she says. “We have live theater and a lot of local artists really get involved in the community.”

Source: Julie and Steve Cribley

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

$5 Million Inspection Station To Boost Lansing International Airport Business

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In light of its new status as an international port, the Capital Region International Airport is in the middle of building a permanent, $5 million, 14,000 square foot Federal Inspection Station on its premise.

“This facility really serves as a cornerstone in international development in the area,” says Robert Selig, executive director of the Capital Region Airport Authority.

The city’s new port will allow international travelers and corporations to disembark in Lansing rather than requiring them to first stop off at a larger location, such as Chicago. This will make international business freight transactions and travel more convenient for area businesses.

“Expanding existing business in the region to have a more international focus will, of course, result in the expansion of jobs,” Selig says.

Until the new inspection station is up and running, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will operate out of a 2,100 foot interim facility. The interim site will process aircraft that have up to 20 passengers. The 14,000 square foot facility, which is expected to open in June 2009, will process roughly 200 passengers per hour.

Source: Bob Kolt, Kolt Communications

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

City Finishes $500,000 ‘Envision East Lansing’ Improvement Campaign

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The City of East Lansing just opened the last capital improvement that was part of its ambitious $500,000 Envision East Lansing Capital Development Campaign.

The final piece of the puzzle includes the opening of the $75,000 Ledebuhr Fountain in Downtown East Lansing near the Refinery clothing store.

The fountain “represents the investment that people have made in our downtown,” says Lori Mullins, with the City of East Lansing.

The Envision East Lansing development campaign encouraged business owners to donate money for dozens of community improvements in the downtown. Some of these projects include benches, sculptures, the clock tower and the Ledebuhr Fountain.

“This fountain was one of the first things pledged, and one of the last things to be installed from that campaign,” she says.

The City of East Lansing launched the campaign in the 1990s as a way to help small businesses beautify the downtown. Unlike strip malls and outdoor shopping centers, independent small businesses don’t have money to install community improvements. The Envision East Lansing Capital Development Campaign allowed them to do this.

Source: Lori Mullins, City of East Lansing

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

3,440 Sq. Ft. Media Complex Opens in Dimondale

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Three music and production-based companies have joined forces, opening a 3,440 square foot media complex in Dimondale.

The Epiphany Media Complex includes a sound production company, a band promotion company and a video production company.

Musician Jon Herrmann and sound engineer Casey Cooper opened the complex in February.

“Since we acquired the building, we’ve found ourselves as kind of a bridge between musicians and work,” Herrmann says. “My goal is to get more exposure, not just for myself and my company, but to get musicians working.”

Cooper and Herrmann do some work with commercial audio. They also help musicians mix and compose music. When the musicians are done recording, they can walk a few steps over to Torpid Rising Entertainment for band promotion.

The 3,440 square foot building was built for production, so Cooper and Herrmann didn’t have to make any changes to the building.

“The studio itself is just immaculate,” Herrman says. “Years were spent on the design. A lot of effort was put into sound isolation. It’s really the type of professional studio environment you’d expect to see in New York or L.A. or in some other big music market, but it’s right here in Michigan.”

Source: Jon Herrmann, Epiphany Media Complex

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

New Organic Home-Brew Beer Shop Opens in Lansing City Market

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lansing’s first organic brewing supply company, Materagaia, recently opened in Downtown’s Lansing City Market.

Materagaia owners, Jaclyn and Brad Barcroft, only recently decided to turn one of their favorite pastimes—home brewing—into a business.

“We opened on [June] 7th in the west wing of the City Market,” Barcroft says. “I think we started seriously pursuing it in January.”

The Barcrofts sell everything from ingredient kits to malts, yeasts to brewing books. While many brewing products include chemicals and pesticides, the products the Barcrofts sell are free of chemicals.

“As far as the organics are concerned, all of our ingredients are organic,” Barcroft says. “I’m not aware of anyone in the state that offers that. I think that will change.”

Barcroft says going organic increases the quality of the beer. Barcroft is in the midst of trying to find local, organic barley suppliers.

“I would absolutely love to source all local ingredients, but that’s definitely something we’re going to strive towards,” he says.

Down the road, the Barcrofts would like to have their own storefront. In the mean time, they’re working on getting booths at local farmer’s markets.

“We’ve had a lot of interest,” Barcroft says. “I was pretty surprised because we haven’t done a lot of advertising yet.”

Source: Brad Barcroft, Materagaia

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

Lansing Architectural Firm Recognized for Historic Catholic Church Design

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In October, Lansing-based design firm, MAYOTTE Group Architects, received the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Mid-Michigan 25 Year Award for its work on the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in East Lansing.

The award recognizes excellent in design for buildings constructed more than 25 years ago. The buildings cannot be significantly modified from their original design and need to be used for their original purpose.

The church has remained virtually untouched since its dedication in 1968. Minor changes have been made to the west end of the church to accommodate the addition of a pipe organ.

“It’s unique in terms of the design,” says MAYOTTE Group owner, Mike Mayotte. “It was created in response to what was going on in Catholic worship at the time.”

Mayotte describes the 40-year-old building as a “modern example of post-Vatican” design. When the church was constructed, it boasted the largest faceted glass window in the world. The window is a mosaic of the life and history of the church.

“It was considered to be a very impressive achievement, especially for Mid-Michigan to have a church with such a gorgeous window,”Mayotte says.

The Mayotte Group has been in the area for more than 50 years and recently designed the $2.5 million renovation of Burcham Hills in East Lansing.

Source: Mike Mayotte, MAYOTTE Group Architects

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

Project Hopes to Add Pedestrians with Trimmed-Down Saginaw Street

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lansing’s NorthWest Initiative is working with the City of Lansing to turn Saginaw Street, a one-way, four-lane street on Lansing's Westside, into a more community-friendly two-way street.

“It’s not friendly to business and it’s not friendly to pedestrians,” says Jessica Yorko with the NorthWest Initiative.

One-way streets, especially large one-way streets with high speed limits (the speed limit on Saginaw is 40 miles per hour) discourage pedestrians and residents from walking through the area. As a result, area businesses have a hard time retaining foot traffic, Yorko says.

The NorthWest Initiative has been trying to trim down Saginaw’s one-way reach for some time. The City of Lansing recently got on board with the plan, agreeing to host community meetings about the plan. The proposed Saginaw “road diet” could be included in the City’s new master plan.

“The goal is to make it more conducive to business development and neighborhood life,” Yorko says.

Many people view the Saginaw/Oakland corridor on Lansing’s Westside as a gateway to Downtown Lansing.

Source: Jessica Yorko, NorthWest Initiative

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