East Lansing is hoping to create more foot traffic downtown with what is being termed “City Center II.”
East Lansing City Council approved an application for a Core Communities Grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
If East Lansing receives the $700,000 it’s asking for, the city would purchase the building at 303 Abbott Road, which housed the Old Kent Bank.
“We would use it as part of a redevelopment,” City Manager Ted Staton said.
The city is considering using the land for a movie theater, retail space, condominiums and a parking area.
“I think it is a good idea because we are looking for additional space for owner-occupied housing downtown and looking for space for a theater,” Councilmember Beverly Baten said. “I am looking forward to seeing this project go ahead.”
The city is currently involved in the City Center Project, which is a $30 million redevelopment that also includes retail, condominiums and parking space.
Baten said she hopes this redevelopment brings more people to the downtown.
“People love walking around downtown,” she said. “With this project they might walk downtown, eat and go to a movie. Then they could still walk home and feel comfortable.”
But for the city to be able to start this redevelopment, it needs to be approved for the core communities loan.
Jennifer Kopp, spokeswoman for the Michigan Economic Development Corp., said the corporation has a $50 million fund to be given or loaned to communities that fit the grant’s criteria, such as job creation and enhancing the quality of life.
Eighty-eight Michigan communities are eligible to apply and so far, 15 communities have applied during this quarter.
“We look at each project and if we think the project has merit then we try to fund it,” Kopp said. “We receive several projects and the competition is very stiff for the fund.”
Kopp said the cooperation will hopefully announce the grant winners by the end of August.
The location of the possible theater would be adjacent to where the State Theater used to stand, at 215 Abbott Road. The State Theater opened in 1927 and closed 57 years later, in May 1984.
Staton said the demise of the State Theater was brought about by free movies being offered in residence halls, and the fact that the theater was an old-style single screen.
“I think something more modern is what people are looking for,” he said. “A project like this would meet the modern cinemagoer’s expectations.”
Dave Runyon, a lifelong education graduate student, said he would go to the theater if it was built.
“It would be a good idea for students,” he said. “There is nothing to do here at night except drink.”
State News staff writer Kevin Tuczek contributed to this report.
