“We’re looking for something that really makes a statement and is something we can all be proud of on that side of the downtown for many years to come,” East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas said.

DTN Management Co. is proposing to use the vacant land to build a 400-space parking structure and a 10-story building with hotel and residential units. Lurvey White Ventures’ proposal includes a year-round farmers market, a 120-room hotel including a 200-person banquet center and new parking and residential mixed-use buildings.

DTN Management Co. Vice President and former MSU offensive lineman Colin Cronin said his company offers greater potential for the vacant land because of deals it has with the old City Center II property.

“We’re also talking about potentially, based on development agreements with the city, we might be able to bring in an urban grocer to downtown, a bank branch and a restaurant or two,” Cronin said. “The city has an interesting decision to make: do they want to do a couple small pieces, or do they want a comprehensive plan for the area and a larger, full-scale project?”

Lurvey White Venture partner Ridgway White said being a “double bottom-line” real estate company separates it from the competition.

“We seek a sound business model in our real estate development, but we love doing projects that benefit the greater community and have a real community impact,” White said. “The (East Lansing) real estate fundamentals are fairly strong, so therefore the incentives allow us to do creative things … that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. ”

Both developing options will be discussed and reviewed throughout the summer at city council meetings, Lahanas said in a previous interview.