Plans for new apartments and condominiums along Grand River Avenue and Albert Avenue were approved by the East Lansing City Council on Tuesday night.
"We are pleased they passed it," said David Krause, a partner in Corey Partnership LLC, which is responsible for the projects. "There have been several negotiations with the planning department."
The building located on Grand River Avenue is expected to contain nine two-bedroom apartments, which will be marketed to renters, and the building on Albert Avenue would contain three one-bedroom apartments and 33 two-bedroom apartments, to be inhabited by owner occupants. Both buildings will be near the Taco Bell, 601 E. Grand River Ave.
Construction on the projects is slated to begin in January, Krause said.
Council members also discussed creating an ordinance to remove homeless people from East Lansing's parking facilities and to convert Hagadorn Road to three lanes.
Todd Sneathen, East Lansing's director of public works, said the lane change is being considered because some homeowners are concerned about the flow of traffic along Hagadorn Road. By condensing the road to three lanes — it's currently four — the number of severe accidents most likely would decrease, he said.
The East Lansing Transportation Commission recommended that Hagadorn Road be converted to three lanes.
The change, which most council members were hesitant to approve, would affect the portion of Hagadorn Road stretching from Grand River Avenue to Haslett Road.
Council members announced plans to hold informal meetings with homeowners before approving the measure.
Assistant City Attorney Tom Yeadon is currently drafting an ordinance that would allow police to remove homeless individuals residing in the parking structures.
"These are people who can't go to the City (Rescue) Mission because they are intoxicated or on some drug," he said.
The East Lansing Police Department has recently responded to many incidents in which homeless individuals have taken shelter in the stairways of the city's parking facilities, East Lansing police Capt. Tom Johnstone said.
Although removing the homeless from the city's parking structures is important, East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh said getting them to a shelter also should be a top priority.
Everyone, even if they don't have a home, should be welcome in East Lansing, said Jared Wein, a computer science junior who spoke at the meeting. There should be some place for homeless people to seek shelter within the city, he added.
Homeless individuals often come to the downtown area because they know college students are more willing to give money and handouts, City Council member Beverly Baten said.
"They know where to go," she said.
