Buildings were razed. Cranes are moving otherwise immovable objects. And grounds are being cleared to lay the foundation for a new development that will transform a gateway corridor between East Lansing and Lansing.
By the summer of 2017, a completed nine-story, 667,000 square foot mixed-used building will rise from the site of the former Story Oldsmobile facility that sat vacant for more than 8 years. The $90 million SkyVue on Michigan project will feature about 340 one-, two- and four-bedroom residential units; 4,000 square feet of retail; and parking on the north and south end of the development.
"This project creates a vital connection between Lansing, the state Capitol, and Michigan State University," says Steve Willobee, chief operating officer with the
Lansing Economic Area Partnership. "When we look at strong urban areas, we see they have that strong corridor that creates a sense of place, a hub. This development will add to the definition of what Lansing can be."
Led by the Georgia-based developer
Rise Real Estate, the SkyVue project resulted from months of work and cooperation with LEAP, the City of Lansing, Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Lansing areas leaders say the development adjacent to the Frandor Shopping Center will complement the Midtown and Red Cedar Renaissance projects, while eliminating blight on a gateway corridor.
About a third of the planned residential units will be specifically targeted toward young professionals looking to live and work in Lansing. Roughly 1,000 people will live in the SkyVue development when completed.
"We hope that projects like this that involve out-of-state investment will create a lot of excitement about what will be coming, particularly with increasing the density," says Willobee. "The conversation is evolving through these types of projects, and we have a positive outlook of what Michigan Avenue can become."
Source: Steve Willobee, chief operating officer, Lansing Area Economic Partnership
Writer: Ann Kammerer, News Editor
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