With extensive East and West Village projects in the making, the city of East Lansing really needs to focus its attention on the 8-year-old City Center II project.
Slated for the corner of Abbott Road and Grand River Avenue, officials are now saying the proposed $180 million City Center II will either house two museums, including the MSU Museum, or a hotel.
In addition, the building would contain retail and office spaces, as well as the city's favorite new accommodation, luxury condominiums.
As one of the more stagnant-looking corners in downtown East Lansing, there's no doubt the area could use some major renovations.
The City Center II project is modeled after City Center I, which includes condominiums, Barnes & Nobles Booksellers, Cosi and CVS Pharmacy. The center rakes in $325,000 a year for East Lansing, and the money is used to pay off the parking structure and other costs the city is responsible for.
Although the success of the first City Center certainly suggests the second would be welcome, the proposed museums or hotel will not do much to stimulate the interests of East Lansing residents.
Museums can create tourism, but it doesn't seem these would generate much money. And why put a hotel there? Sure, move-in days at the beginning of fall semester and football game days bring in quite a crowd, but why not cater to actual residents?
East Lansing needs another good commercial draw. Should the City Center II project be completed, the benefits reaped could be endless for all. Put in a movie theater. Make it possible for students to see a movie without having to travel by bus to Okemos or Eastwood Towne Center.
And perhaps the city could use another popular restaurant. A Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits sounds good to us.
In a 2003 editorial, we expressed the need for more development, stating officials should move forward with the City Center II plans. Now, it's two years later and not much has taken place. Instead, the city has been rifling off large projects left and right.
Set some priorities. Let's pick up the pace a little and produce some results.
