Corr Commercial Real Estate, the owner of Lansing shopping complex Frandor, announced last month it was removing two CATA bus stops on the premises on Oct. 17, citing vagrancy and related concerns. Those who frequent the stops have varied opinions on the removal.
Michigan State University pre-veterinary freshman Maxwell Nisenbaum said he uses the Frandor bus stop every day to take the bus to campus, and said the removal could drastically impact his daily routine.
“Without having to go to downtown, this is the quickest route,” Nisenbaum said. “(If this bus stop were to be removed, the trip) would go almost to an hour.”
Not everyone feels so negatively about the removal. HomeGoods employee and Lansing resident Katrina Manke said she’s against stopping service to the shopping center altogether, but thinks removing the bus stop shelters would reduce the amount of “loitering and crime.”
“I think taking those structures, though, will help getting rid of the people that don't belong here,” Manke said. "They're not actually taking the bus. They just sort of seek shelter here and hang out in here and cause problems."
However, Lansing resident Margaret Zetterholm pushed back on Manke's prediction. She said removal of the bus stops wouldn’t change the frequency of crimes at the shopping center.
“I am upset. I want this bus stop here,” Zetterholm said. “There’s crime everywhere.”
In addition, she said removal of the bus stops would take away business from the shops located in the center.
“They serve a purpose,” Zetterholm said. “I know a lot of people that do business here, ride the bus.”
Lansing resident and everyday CATA rider Caleb Ligget said the removal of the bus stop shelters wouldn’t change a lot.
"It just wouldn’t be the same if (the bus stop) was removed,” Ligget said.
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