Developer Gene Townsend is starting 2008 with a full
plate. The green developer has announced plans to put up a $12 million mixed
use development near the Hall of Justice in downtown Lansing.
This is the second green development Townsend plans to
start in 2008, the first being the $13 million Kalamazoo Gateway project in
downtown Lansing.
Townsend’s latest plans include developing 5.6 acres of
land bordered by Ottawa Street, Ionia Street, Butler Boulevard and Sycamore
Street. The area includes undeveloped green space and five houses. Two of these houses will be demolished.
Townsend’s plans include adding 65 new condos and flats
that will sell at prices that are attractive to different economic groups.
“Urban developments typically do well when there’s a wide
range of housing types and therefore a wide range of people,” Townsend says.
Creating a neighborhood that includes college students,Michigan State University (MSU) professors and retirees is a good way to create
a stable neighborhood, he says. Fostering economic diversity through development has worked for his highly successful
Printers Row development in downtown Lansing.
The smaller condos will be 1,100 square feet, and the
larger flats will be 2,000 square feet. All of the units will encircle a
community park. Townsend hopes to break ground on the project in the spring of
2008.
Source: Gene Townsend, Odeena Development Group
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
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