During a recent City Council Work Session, representatives of Pierce Education Properties were on hand to give a presentation and answer questions from the public regarding the proposed East Village Project which is a 25 square acre, mixed-use development to be located between Bogue St. on the west, Stoddard Ave. on the east, the Red Cedar River on the south and Grand River Ave. on the north. The Pierce Company is the developer with which the City has been working for the past several years to move this innovative project forward.

“Mixed-use development” might seem like too often used buzzwords. However, research and analysis (and we have done our homework on this!) shows that, in order to achieve economic growth and prosperity, cities need to establish downtowns that attract and retain both “millenials,” and empty-nesters. Both these groups, essentially baby-boomers and their children, are looking for office space, retail, dining and cultural enrichment, all within walking distance of home. East Village proposes just such a development and would include underground parking, a pedestrian promenade, market rate rental units, a winter garden, six acre outdoor park/entertainment venue and more.

As Fred Pierce noted during the City Council presentation, the project is moving out of the Phase I, conceptual stage. Throughout Phase I, the developer and the city have been holding design workshops to gain a thorough understanding of community needs, wants and expectations. The next step is to begin “land assembly” to which end, the Pierce Company has devised several very attractive and creative proposals to incentivize participation by current property owners. These proposals include offers of equity and profit sharing in the final project. Other elements include finalizing the design and financing of the project.

This project has received much community support and input – and community participation in the development process will continue. We view the East Village Project as key to enhancing the appeal of the East Grand River commercial corridor and for attracting a “critical mass” of diverse permanent residents, students and visitors who want mixed-use amenities, literally, at their front doors. This type of development will also attract young professionals in the growing regional knowledge-based and bio-economies who look first at where they want to live and then find a job. East Village will help East Lansing to remain an attractive, vibrant and economically viable area in the region and state.
For more information about the project, please go to www.cityofeastlansing.com/eastvillage