The variety of shops, restaurants and bars which have sprung up in downtown East Lansing brings pride to all community residents - but the city landscape could always use some more diversity.

After the success of the first City Center, which houses Cosi and CVS/Pharmacy, city officials have plans to create another center: City Center II. The project has been deferred as developers and businesses have not been chosen.

City Center II is the perfect opportunity for city officials to offer an entertainment outlet for underage college students.

In order for this to really work, this center has to accommodate the under-21 crowd. This is a town full of college students looking for a good time and ready to spend their money, however small their income might be.

City officials should recognize this opportunity and accommodate those students. In light of the growing tension between the city, with students running into tougher noise violation penalties and a rule banning upholstered furniture from yards, the center is a opportunity for the city to show students that they are welcome in East Lansing.

Students get a bad rap all the time for being up to no good, when many times, they simply have no place to go. A movie theater would be a great way to do this, as the closest movie theater is far from campus and is a tame recreational activity for both students and families. If a movie theater isn't possible, some other form of underage entertainment should be available.

But those being evicted from the former Old Kent Bank building for this project, such as the East Lansing Film Society, should not be forgotten. Tenants should be allowed spots back in the area if they should want them.

When the City Center II development finally gets off the ground and is done correctly, the benefits could be endless to the businesses, the city and, most definitely, the students.

Officials should move forward with the plans they started two years ago.