A plan to construct a hotel in the redevelopment of the East Village is among many ideas being tossed around by city officials and the project's potential developers.
Proposals submitted by four developers were discussed during a meeting last week, but a final decision was not rendered.
The East Village area 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 contains, among others, the Cedar Village apartments.
The city is considering Strathmore Development of East Lansing, HDC Construction Co. of Novi, Hines of Chicago and Jones Lang LaSalle of Chicago as potential developers.
Building a hotel would allow guests to stay by MSU's campus and have access to the Red Cedar River, said Bob Jacobson, director of development for HDC Construction Co.
The other developers didn't return calls to comment.
Other business establishments have expressed interest in building in the redeveloped area. Lori Mullins, East Lansing senior project manager, said she has spoken with several individuals about the project.
"I had a call from someone who was interested in putting in a climbing center there," she said.
These potential developers will be questioned about what they can bring to the project in follow-up meetings held during the coming weeks, Mullins said.
"We met to talk about what the developers had given us, and we went through their qualifications," she said.
When a developer finally is chosen, it will be responsible for taking the redevelopment from a set of broad specifications to a detailed plan, Mullins said.
The master plan, which describes guidelines for the project, could be passed onto the planning commission at the next East Village Planning Team meeting on March 2, if the team feels it is complete, Mullins said.
Officials plan to discuss the role a developer would play in managing traffic conditions and will conduct a new study of the Red Cedar River's flood plain.
"If you own a property in the 100-year flood plain, you're subject to flood plain guidelines," said Tim Dempsey, a community and economic development administrator for the city.
City officials currently are operating off of a study that is several years old, Mullins said.
It has yet to be decided as to who will absorb the cost of a new study, city officials said.
"It is something the city can work out with the developer," HDC's Jacobson said.
Additional factors, such as the marketability of the area, also will play into a developer's role in the project. A collaboration between city officials, property owners and the developer will be necessary for the project to be completed successfully, Mullins said.
"(A developer) will take the master plan and find out what users will be able to fit into the space," she said. "It is taking the master plan and refining it into a more specific development plan."
