“Think about the community that we reside in and our students having a much more dynamic sense of place (in a community) that supports students and also supports them as young professionals,” Simon said.

In order to create this sense of place, Simon encouraged the School of Planning, Design and Construction to help develop a new vision for downtown. About two weeks ago, an academic exercise began within the school allowing faculty and students to dream up what redeveloping parts of East Lansing could appeal to students, community members and young-working professionals.

The project is termed as part of the Michigan Corridor Project, with an area that runs from Hagadorn Road, down Grand River Avenue and Michigan Avenue, all the way to U.S. Route 127. It includes the re-envisioning all of the vacant and underdeveloped properties along that corridor, Pat Crawford, the associate director of the School of Planning, Design and Construction said.

Crawford said the project still is in its information-gathering phase with no set plans for development. The school is not planning to tell property owners how to develop their lands, she said.

Simon said the project is being funded from donor dollars and, according to Crawford, the cost of the project is unavailable and still in flux.

“The goal of the project is to explore what would a model community look like that involves the town and the university (and) what could make us one of the top ten university communities in the world,” Crawford said.

Although there is no solid plan to begin redevelopment, East Lansing Planning, Building and Development Director Tim Dempsey said these types of developments could be actualized in the future.

“If the plan is one that’s embraced by the community, that works financially and where there are people willing to invest in it because it does work financially, there is a potential for those plans to come to fruition,” he said.

Crawford said the group will pay attention to vacant buildings, such as the former City Center II redevelopment site, located on Grand River Avenue and the vacant Red Cedar Golf Course property located on Michigan Avenue.

When walking down the streets of East Lansing across from MSU’s campus, it’s hard for one not to recognize the underdeveloped properties, said graduate student Kevin McKenna, who is involved in the project.

“I like the downtown district, and I feel like it should be very vibrant and friendly to students as well as the rest of the community,” McKenna said. “With all of the empty buildings, it’s not very friendly.”

The second phase, or the drawing phase, will commence in the beginning of April, when faculty and students will begin visualizing and drawing up plans – including ideas for new businesses, housing, outdoor public spaces and water systems, among many other facets of the city, Crawford said.

“We don’t have answers, and that’s what’s kind of fun,” she said. “We will say, ‘Here’s how many different things could look if they were brought to this corridor.’”