The City of Lansing is using $6 million from the federal government to invest in a Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) that’s intended to redevelop neighborhoods hardest hit by the mortgage crisis.

“We have target areas and they have to be identified on a rate of foreclosure occurrence of sub-prime mortgages and the risk of foreclosure over the next 18 months,” says Lansing's director of Planning and Neighborhood Development, Bob Johnson.

The targeted areas include the following neighborhoods: Southwest Lansing, Vision 2020, Comstock Area, Prudden East Village, Oak Park, Urbandale, Baker Donora and Potter Walsh. The funds will allow the city to acquire, rehab and demolish homes in these areas. It will also allow the city to help with financial assistance.

Johnson says the City already had plans to address issues in five of the eight areas.

“This allows us to address them more quickly and helps us leverage existing resources,” he says.

The City of Lansing received the funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The money is part of the $3.92 billion bailout the federal government gave to assist with housing and economic recovery.

For a detailed look at the City’s plans for each community, click here.

Source: Randy Hannan, City of Lansing

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.

Message Makers President Terry Terry is the midst of a 3,000 square foot expansion and renovation of the 1215 and 1217 Turner Street buildings in Old Town Lansing.

The buildings house Message Makers, a creative group that specializes in creative, media and production solutions for a variety of national and international customers including Harley Davidson. Message Makers has 16 employees.

Terry is adding 3,000 square feet to the 1215 building by renovating the upper floor and finishing the lower floor. The upper level renovation will include a TV studio and finished rear balcony that overlooks the Grand River.

The 1,500 square foot lower-level renovation will include space for video edition suites. The balcony will be continued to the 1217 building.

Nearby, the 1213/1215 Turner St. address, which formerly housed the Mustang Bar, is ready for a renovation, but Terry is hoping to find a tenant before diving in to the renovations.

“We hope to get a restaurant down here, and that space is available,” he says.

The 3,000 square foot space has plenty of space for a restaurant and also overlooks the river. It also has a 1,500 square foot basement. Terry would like to see the 1215 Turner St. expansion completed by December.

Source: Terry Terry, MessageMakers

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.