East Lansing city government is considering a proposal to build apartments at 530 Albert Street, currently a much-used parking lot that gives access to small businesses in the 500 block of Grand River and more.
Small, locally owned businesses – retail, service and more – are the lifeblood of downtown East Lansing. Without their success, the city will lose its vital character as a great place to live, work and play. Some of the oldest businesses on the East Lansing Grand River corridor are in this block, from the Peanut Barrel to the first Moosejaw store in the nation. They and others rely on a diverse group of customers having access to their business to succeed, create jobs and add to the culture of the community.
That success is being threatened by the plans of a Detroit-based development company to take over the parking lot, which is jointly owned by East Lansing and private owners, to build a five story apartment building with no additional parking and no additional retail space (contrary to current city planning requirements).
This apartment building will destroy parking that is vital to customers of the businesses along Grand River and more, driving those customers out of the city to strip malls and other locations.
In addition, it will usurp open space needed for cultural events (such as the Art Fair, Music festivals and fundraising initiatives that improve the quality of life in our city), and hinder access for the impaired.
Downtown East Lansing must remain accessible to all if it is to be successful. If you are opposed to the plans of American Community Development to reduce access to small businesses in East Lansing by building more apartments on the site of the 530 Albert Street lot, please sign below.