The East Lansing City Council furthered several redevelopment projects at its meeting Tuesday night.
Approving measures for the East Village, Stonehouse Village and Virginia Avenue projects, the council is working to change the feel of the downtown.
The specific actions they took include the following:
• The council entered into a memorandum of understanding with The Pierce Company to begin work on the East Village project. The memorandum, which gives the company 18 months to complete market, traffic and environmental studies, among others, ultimately will be approved by the council.
A memorandum is an informal contract between the city and contractor.
"We are still in the driver's seat," East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh said.
The East Village is bounded on the north and south by East Grand River Avenue and the Red Cedar River, and on the east and west by Hagadorn Road and Bogue Street. The project itself calls for an overhaul of the 35-acre area that houses the Cedar Village apartments.
• By approving buyout perks for residents of the 600 block of Virginia Avenue, the city will now absorb some of the costs normally associated with moving.
The city will pay for the transfer and state taxes, recording fees, title charges and closing costs when a home is sold.
People who move away would also be eligible for up to $1,000 in moving costs, and rental property owners would get $250 for the removal of personal property.
There are 23 homes on the 600 block of Virginia Avenue that city officials are trying to acquire. In their place, city officials want to build 39 new homes and condominiums.
• The council also set a public hearing for the construction of Stonehouse Village II and III. The hearing is scheduled for Sept. 5.
Stonehouse Village II will be built directly next to the Stonehouse Village I development on the corner of Bailey Street and East Grand River Avenue. Both projects will be inhabited by renters.
The building expected to be constructed along East Grand River Avenue will contain nine two-bedroom apartments. The first floor will have space for businesses and 12 parking spaces in the back.
The Stonehouse Village III development will contain three one-bedroom units and 33 two-bedroom units. It, unlike the Stonehouse buildings along Grand River Avenue, will be marketed to older occupants and is planned for construction in the city parking lot behind Stonehouse Village I and II.
