“People (have) to realize it does not mean the land will actually be sold if they vote yes,” city council member Kathleen Boyle said. “It just means the city will be allow(ed) to sell the land assuming there is a suitable project and the developer is willing to have a fair price for it.”

Although the ballot proposal is not linked to the Park District project, if voters approve the selling of the parking lots, the city will consider selling the properties to DTN Management Co., the private developer looking to be chosen for the construction of the Park District.

The parking lots on sale, if approved on the November election, are parking lot 4, 8 and 15 in downtown East Lansing.

Although Boyle emphasized that the proposal does not requires the city to sell the lots, she recognized that the redevolopment plan of DTN Management Co. is an ambitious one — one that involves the parking lots.

“I’m very encouraged by this — the plan. I think it (has) got a lot going for (it), so I see something eventually placed there,” Boyle said. “I think DTN is moving in the right direction ... but yes, the sale of the property will allow DTN to go forward with the project assuming all the other pieces will fall into place.”

Parking lot 4, located on the northwest corner of Abbot Road and Albert Avenue, is intended to become an eight-story building that will house retail stores and office space.

A walkable and bike-friendly street is intended to be placed on parking lot 8, located north of The Peoples Church, in DTN’s redevelopment plan.

Parking lot 15, across from City Hall, would have the biggest redevelopment and create living space. A building that will house people older than 55 years has been proposed, too.

Boyle said the redevelopment plan by DTN Management Co. needs some changes before it can go under review.

Park District Investment Group LLC has also proposed a redevelopment project. The group has the same investors that proposed the failed City Center II project.

“The financial circumstances last time this project was proposed in 2008 were different ... (PDIG) is still the owner of those properties where they are proposing a project and because of that we have a legal right to process that application and to review their project,” said Timothy Dempsey, the planning, building and development director.

PDIG does not need any of the parking lots for their project. However, Dempsey said they will work with DTN Management Co. to create the concept of Park District Area.

On Wednesday, the Planning Commission will have both of the projects under construction.

East Lansing Citizens Concerned Co-chair Chris Root said the residents should vote on this proposal because of the rarity of the issue.

“This does not happen very often,” Root said. “Usually development proposals made by companies are for land that the company owns, but in this case almost all of the land is publicly owned so that’s why this is very, very unusual.”

East Lansing Citizens Concerned will be hosting a citizen discussion from 7–9 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Hannah Community Center.