Five conceptual designs of a redeveloped East Village have been revealed. Feedback has been given. And now it's back to the drawing board.

The San Diego-based Pierce Company Inc. is working with a Hollywood architectural firm to narrow down the initial designs using feedback from East Lansing community members.

The Pierce Company is partnering with the city to revamp an area bounded by East Grand River Avenue, Hagadorn Road, Bogue Street and the Red Cedar River.

Eliminating some of the design concepts is the next step toward resolving a final East Village design, which won't be available for several months.

When Pierce Company representatives return to East Lansing for their next visit, they said they expect to have less than five conceptual designs to show the community.

The architects at 5+Design envision a revamped East Village with a blend of retail, entertainment and residential properties anchored by a focus on an open Red Cedar riverfront.

"Everything we design is about people, not just the architecture," 5+Design partner David Moreno said Feb. 27. "We're trying to create places that offer a better experience for people than just a shopping mall."

The residential properties would offer housing for students and permanent residents. Each concept calls for a similar amount of student housing already present in the East Village.

In order to do that, the development would need to house about 2,000 students.

"There was some fear or anticipation that this was maybe a project that was going to do away with student housing because there had been historical issues on the site, but it's the opposite," said Fred Pierce, president and CEO of The Pierce Company.

In East Lansing's history, rioting and disturbances have disrupted the East Village area near the Cedar Village apartments.

Council of Graduate Students president Brad Love and other representatives met with The Pierce Company earlier this month to discuss aspects of the project that the graduate student community wants to see in the redevelopment.

"I was really surprised," Love said Sunday. "I didn't think that the city announced the project in a very open and intelligent way, but these people came off in a much different way."

Property acquisitions also were a priority during The Pierce Company's visit. Discussions with property owners ranged from purchasing the land to agreements in which the property owners would own part of the final development.

"If we can't make a deal with them, it's not going to happen," said Theresa Nakata, vice president of marketing and communications for The Pierce Company. "They know it and we know it, and we are upfront and honest about that in every meeting we have with them."

Of the five concepts, three utilize the entire region, whereas the remaining two only show development east of Woodmere Avenue in case the city can't acquire some necessary land.

Several property owners confirmed the discussions but did not go into more detail about the plans.

"We've had numerous meetings, and we're just continuing to look at the possibilities," said Joe Goodsir, president of Community Resource Management Co., which owns several properties in the East Village.

So far, City Council members and university officials have voiced support for the initial plans, while also offering suggestions of their own.

Time will tell how community feedback is utilized in future concepts of the redevelopment.

"They listened very well, but in talking, everyone's open," Love said.