East Lansing City Council members said at a meeting Tuesday they would like to discuss the East Village blight designation with property owners who want to opt out of the area before the decision is made.

Properties qualify for blight designation after meeting criteria that includes physical deterioration of structures, impractical buildings and improper arrangement of spaces, according to city reports.

The 35-acre area considered for redesignation is bounded on the west and east by Bogue Street and Hagadorn Road, and on the north and south by Grand River Avenue and the Red Cedar River. It includes the Cedar Village area and more than 700 rental units that might be converted to new housing and retail space as part of a proposed redevelopment.

The council is expected to vote on the designation on Dec. 21.

Officials from Prime Housing Group and DTN Management Co., which own a number of properties in the area, told the council at a previous meeting that the label would negatively affect their property, and suggested removing the properties from the designation.

But councilmembers said Tuesday that although removing properties from the area would probably weaken the city's case for state incentives, they would like to hear the property owners' concerns in more detail.