A proposed $20 million development could bring new neighbors to the Northern Tier in the near future.
On Wednesday, the East Lansing Planning Commission could approve a request from Gillespie Development & Management of East Lansing to construct The Beaumont, a development consisting of 448 apartments and town houses, office space and amenities.
The 40-acre community would be built on Coleman Road near Crossing Place Apartments, 3636 Coleman Road in Bath Township. East Lansing has joint-ownership of the property with DeWitt.
Gillespie Development President Patrick Gillespie said The Beaumont will be a high-class, self-serving gated community, including a post office, dry cleaner, workout facility and coffee shop that will be built within the development.
If the commission approves the request, Gillespie will present his plan to the East Lansing City Council. If all plans are approved, Gillespie hopes to start construction by winter and complete development by 2006. Most floor plans in the new complex will have one to three bedrooms and include one or two bathrooms, Gillespie said.
"There's a huge void for upper-scale product here," Gillespie said. "This isn't like every other apartment complex. There's nothing like this in East Lansing."
If approved, rent would be comparable to other Northern Tier apartments, Gillespie said.
But the development won't be student-oriented, he said, because it will cater to families, retirees and professionals.
"That's not our target market," he said. "It won't be like any of the other (apartments) out there."
Students looking to live in apartments with fewer roommates might consider the new area because it will be quiet and convenient, Gillespie said.
The proposal was introduced about two weeks ago and was met with several complaints about possible noise and congestion, said Kevin Beard, chairman of the planning commission. He said the number of students choosing to live in The Beaumont would depend on the floor plans and the amenities provided.
While the debate continues on whether to begin construction of the complex, some students said they feel the new site isn't necessary.
"Families living close to students might cause problems," economics junior Nick Petrovich said.
Petrovich, a resident at The Village at Chandler Crossings, 3839 Hunsaker St., said families who live near students should be prepared for added noise and other inconveniences.
No-preference sophomore Nancy Castellanos said the development isn't a wise idea.
"Young people can't mix with families," she said.
While noisy neighbors might weigh heavily on people's minds, microbiology freshman Samantha Benich said the new site will have its benefits.
"It would be nice for married students, a nice place for a small family," she said. "There will be a problem with noise, but there's not much you can do about that."
Staff writer Meghan Gilbert contributed to this report.
Sarah McEvilly can be reached at mcevilly@msu.edu.
