A small crew of construction workers converged on the site of a vacant building at the City Center II project this morning, starting initial preparations for what officials hope will be demolition of a city-owned property related to the proposed $105 million redevelopment effort.
City Center II would bring a theater, hotel, and office and retail space to the area near the Grand River Avenue and Abbot Road intersection.
Less than 12 hours after the East Lansing City Council approved a predevelopment agreement for the troubled project, a team of four construction workers arrived at 303 N. Abbot Road — formerly a temporary site for (SCENE) Metrospace — preparing to unload rows of metal fencing and secure the site.
Both moves serve to extend the project’s site plan and special use permit, which were set to expire Friday.
Actual demolition of the building is expected to start within two to six weeks, said Scott Chappelle, the president of project developer Strathmore Development Co., at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Along with allowing demolition at the building, the agreement also gives city staff about 89 days to examine all financial documents related to the project.
Despite the approval of the agreement, there is “still lots of work to do,” Chappelle said in an email.
“This is not really a step,” he said in the email.
For more on this story, check tomorrow’s edition of The State News.
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