The City of East Lansing got a nice “Happy Holiday’s” package in the form of $757,300 worth of grants that will be used to improves the city’s parks system.

A $262,500 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grant will help fund a $350,000 improvement plan for Hawk Nest Park. Hawk Nest Park improvements will include a new playground and picnic pavilion and accessible walkways. The improvements funded by this grant will also include a one-third mile addition to the Northern Tier Trail.

An additional $429,000 MNRTF grant will pay for a 2.93 acre land acquisition from the White Family for the expansion of the park. This expansion will provide a location for a trailhead/park entry plaza and space for additional connections to the Northern Tier Trail.

A final $65,800 grant will pay for a 1.75 acre land acquisition from the St. Paul Lutheran Church on Lake Lansing Road. This parcel will eventually provide pedestrian access to the park from the north.

“Through assistance from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and in-kind donations from the White Family Trust and the St. Paul Lutheran Church we are able to acquire more lands for public outdoor recreation, while also funding improvements and additions to the public amenities already present at the two park sites,” says East Lansing Parks Director Timothy McCaffrey.

“Outdoor recreation for our community members continues to be a priority for the City. This funding will help to improve the quality of life in our community substantially.”

Source: Mikell Frey, City of East Lansing

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

The Eaton County Parks Department finished a $402,000, yearlong renovation of the Fox Memorial Park in Potterville.

The renovation, which is part of the Eaton County Parks Department’s five-year master plan, includes a new restroom and concession building, a new fishing observation deck, a new walkway and new park benches.

“We were replacing some structures that had been built in the late 1970s and early 1980s,” says Dan Patton, director of the Eaton County Parks Department.

The renovations also include a wheelchair accessible water access point.

“This is one of the only outdoor public swimming facilities in the county,” Patton says. “It’s really user friendly and caters to families with young children.”

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board and the Capital Region Community Foundation paid for the majority of the renovations.

Source: Dan Patton, Eaton County Parks Department

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

Restaurateur Curtis Turner chose a prime piece of real estate on Lansing’s Eastside to start his latest restaurant venture.

Turner took over the former lesbian bar, Club 505, located at 505 E. Shiawassee St. Turner’s opened up the once dark 2,300 square foot bar by adding large exterior windows, exposing the ceiling and refinishing the bar.

“We’ve been getting a lot of curiosity type of traffic,” he says. “It’s slowly increasing.”

Turner says he simply couldn’t resist opening a bar in such a well trafficked location. The Corner Bar & Grill is across the street from the Lugnuts Stadium and the City Market. It’s also within walking distance to Downtown Lansing.

“This is what I know best,” Turner says about the restaurant industry. “The location of this is very good and it was a good opportunity financially.”

Turner’s been in the Lansing restaurant business for years. He was the original manager of Troppo in downtown Lansing. He’s also invested in a Pita Pit in Mt. Pleasant and an ice cream shop in Haslett.

Source: Curtis Turner, Corner Bar & Grill

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

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Winalee Zeeb is transforming ZZ Underwater World into the Heart Dance Studio, a fitness, wellness and community gathering space designed to help individuals marry mind, body and spirit.

"I want people to learn to love their body instead of other things," she says.

Zeeb was an avid fitness instructor, teaching a wide range of classes including step. After suffering physical injuries, Zeeb turned to exercise that could shape mind, body and spirit.

Zeeb is now one of only 11 certified Nia trainers in the world. According to the Nia official Web site, Nia “simultaneously addresses the body, mind, emotions, and spirit, and puts them on the 'same page' using music, movement and personal expression to integrate one’s neurology." Zeeb also teaches yoga and plans to offer both classes at the Heart Dance Studio.

Zeeb wants other groups to utilize the space. She’s renovating the building to include a fitness area as well as a community-based, education, or meeting area.

Zeeb and her husband, Ron, ran Zeeb Underwater World for more than 20 years. The Heart Dance Studio will occupy Zeeb Underwater World’s 1806 East Michigan Ave. location. Zeeb is hopeful that the renovations to the building will be complete in January.

Source: Winalee Zeeb, Heart Dance Studio

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

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Amanda Campbell expanded her massage studio, Tranquility Massage, into the space occupied by Profiles Hair Design Studio in Williamston.

Campbell started her business out of her home in Howell in August 2007. She decided to expand her business into the commercial space to accommodate growing demand for her services. She maintains her Howell location as well.

“I’m looking to maybe, within the next three years or so, open a parlor, which would have five rooms to get massages,” she says. “I haven’t decided on a location yet.”

Campbell specializes in tandem massage therapy. As the name suggests, this type of therapy involves tag team treatment by two massage therapists.

Three massage therapists work for Campbell. Tranquility massage is located at 110 North Putnam Ave. in Williamston.

Source: Amanda Campbell, Tranquility Massage

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

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

One of the few remaining vacant retail spaces in Old Town Lansing is becoming an underwater haven of sorts.

Connie and John Iszler just opened their new scuba shop, Capital City Scuba, in the 515 E. Grand River Avenue building.

“It had been a few years since we’d been down here, but when we came to look at the building, we saw that it was clearly a growing area,” John says.

Capital City Scuba and its underwater-themed Caribbean décor fit in well with Old Town’s eclectic personality. The shop has a multitude of scuba gear and accessories and knowledgeable staff.

Capital City Scuba will also offer several certification classes in the upper portion of the building.

Capital City Scuba is near the Temple Club, Preuss Pets and the future site of the Old Town Medical Arts Building. The Iszlers bought the building in January 2008 and finished renovations before opening it in November 2008.

Source: Jamie Schriner-Hooper, Old Town Commercial Association

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

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

The Causeway Bay Group of Companies is putting $4 million into the complete renovation of the 1970s-style former Holiday Inn on Lansing’s Southside.

CausewayBay Group recently took over the 300 room, 30,000 square foot bankrupthotel. Ps-Tse Keung, with Causeway Bay, says the Canadian Companyscoped the hotel for about eight months before making the purchase.

The hotel did not close during the change of owners. Keung has no intentions to close the hotel and will work around bookings.

“The place is basically booked for the next six months,” he says. “We’re doing very well.”

Keung suggests that some local businesses have outsourced events to newer facilities in Grand Rapids and Detroit. "We think this will draw back business that left for Grand Rapids and Detroit,” he says.

The renovation of the former Holiday Innincludes a total gutting. Everything, from the floors to the wallpaper,will be modernized.

“We’re remodeling close to a five-star rating, but we’re concentrating on staying in the three-star price,” he says.

Keungsays that, unlike many hotel takeovers, he plans to hire more employeesrather than cutting jobs. The hotel employs 110 people. Keung expectsto double this number.

 “People don’t like to put money in a property like this, draw it out and run away,” Keung says.

Keung will add a fitness facility and other amenities to the hotel. The renovations should be complete by 2010.

“We’rethe one bright spot in the hotel industry—we’re not going bankrupt, andwe won’t because we don’t owe anyone any money,” he says.

Source: Bob Trezise, City of Lansing

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

Arwyn Carr recently opened a more than 22,400 square foot antique mall in Mason.

The Columbia Street Antique Mall spans across four commercial buildings and includes a farmer’s market, flea market and antique vendors. Carr will use an additional 4,000 square feet for office space.

“Sometimes it’s nice if you have an indoor place where you can come to every weekend,” Carr says about his interest in providing an indoor farmers market. The farmers market is scheduled to open in the fall.

Mason is known for having a wide array of antique stores, many of which are too full to accept new vendors. Carr says he’s received lots of interest from local vendors and has already filled more than 50 booths.

Carr had to make some changes to the former lumberyard to make it suitable for vendors. As the space fills and business grows, Carr says he’ll start holding auctions. Carr and his father collect and sell antique tractors.

Source: Arwyn Carr, Columbia Street Antique Mall

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

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Netvantage Marketing moved from its 800 square foot Okemos facility into an 1,800 square foot facility in East Lansing.

The Internet marketing firm has been around for less than a year, but had to move in order to keep up with growth.

“We’re always running into space issues in terms of working with clients,” says Joe Ford with Netvantage Marketing.  “This is a tremendous increase in space for us.”

Ford wants to add three to four new part-time and full-time employees in 2009. He hopes to have a couple on board by February.

The new location is near the corner of Lake Lansing Road and Hagadorn in East Lansing and in the same building as Capitol Research Services (CRS), a full-service market research agency. Ford says he hopes to create a strong relationship with CRS.

“As demand for our online marketing services grows, we have the opportunity to grow our staff, and our new location will accommodate this,” says Ford.  “We are very excited about the prospects of having a synergistic relationship within the complex with Capitol Research Services.”

Source: Laura Sauer, Netvantage Marketing

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

The Meridian Christian Church recently celebrated its 20,000 square foot facility addition by holding its first service in the building.

“This is our first building of any kind,” says Rick Stacy, pastor with the Meridian Christian Church. “This was perfect for the future grow of our ministries and youth program.”

The 16-year-old organization got its start in Meridian Mall, then moved its services to Chippewa Middle School. This is the first time parishioners have worshiped in a place of their own.

The Meridian Christian Church also acquired an 11,000 square foot children’s center from the Okemos Christian Center (OCC). The Meridian Christian Church moved some services into the former OCC building in October.

Stacy says they hope to have a youth center in the facility as well as a worship center and gym. Right now the gym houses the church’s large motor skills preschool program.

The church’s former address is 2630 Bennett Road. The new address is 2600 Bennett Road.

Source: Rick Stacy, Meridian Christian Church

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

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Braden Lentz recently started the Party Cab Company, a different kind of cab company that he hopes will be defined by a “party doesn’t stop at the cab ride” mentality, allowing users to pick their own music, smoke and enjoy themselves while catching a ride home.

“Business 101 says, how do you break into the market?” Lentz says. “At any given time there’s probably 50 or 60 cabs out there.”

“I decided to just be nice to people and give them a reason to choose me over them,” he says.

He officially started running his first cab inSeptember. He hopes to have a second by New Year’s, a third by St.Patrick’s Day and a fourth by Michigan State University’s (MSU) 2009 welcome week.

“I’m trying to figure out how to expand without losing quality of service,” he says.

Lentz’s company is based out of his East Lansing home, but he’s looking for a building to house his growing company.

Source: Braden Lentz, Party Cab Company

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

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce recently recognized six of the area’s most prosperous organizations, together representing more than $120 million in Capital region investment.

At its third annual Economic Development Celebration Luncheon, the Chamber recognized the following organizations: the Capital Region International Airport; Delta Dental of Michigan; Mahle Engine Components USA Inc.; Niowave Inc.; Two Men and a Truck International Inc.; and Michigan State University's (MSU) Wharton Center.

Okemos-based Mahle is investing $18.2 million to expand its St. John's plant. Delta Dental is investing $85 million to expand its Okemos headquarters, and the Wharton Center is investing $18.5 million to expand its performance facilities.

The Capital Region International Airport was recognized for attaining status as an international port of entry by adding a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station to the facility.

Niowave, which produces equipment for atomic research, was recognized for purchasing and renovating the Walnut Street School from the Lansing School District as well as receiving a $41 million contract from Illinois-based FermiLab.

Two Men & A Truck International, a moving company that frequently stands in the national spotlight, was recognized for its many accomplishments, including growing sales to $198.2 million in 2007.

Source: Sarah Smith, Lansing Regional Chamber

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

Lansing’s Potter Park Zoo has plans to invest $1.1 million in a rhinoceros exhibit expansion.

The project would include a 500 to 600 square foot addition to the existing, 1,560 square foot rhino building. It would also double the size of the current outdoor rhino yard.

Zoo Director Gerry Brady hopes to add a black rhino to the exhibit. Only 520 black rhinos exist in the wild. More than 60,000 wild black rhinos existed in 1960, Brady says.

“Every single rhino in Kenya has a bodyguard,” Brady says.

Brady is working with the International Rhino Foundation to get a black rhino in the zoo. Brady says doing so will help with breeding and preservation of the rhinos.

“It’s very important for Potter Park Zoo to get this done,” he says. The zoo wants to make sure that it has proper space and accommodations for the black rhino before bringing it to the zoo. “If we’re going to have black rhinos, we’ve got to do it right.”

The Potter Park Zoo has had rhinos since 1990. Brady hopes to have the expansion complete by the fall of 2009.

Source: Gerry Brady, Potter Park Zoo

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

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Auto Body Credit Union opened its 4,000 square foot DeWitt branch in July, giving its growing membership access to an additional branch.

“We wanted to be able to offer our members a full service branch,” says the credit union's president and CEO, Margo Kleinfelt. “We do have membership in that area that we wanted to service in a more convenient way.”

The new branch is on Lindsey Lane and is modeled after Auto Body Credit Union’s 5,000 square foot, Marketplace Blvd. branch, which opened a few years ago.

To staff the two new branches, Auto Body Credit Union added five employees to its payroll.

“We’re experiencing some membership growth,” Kleinfelt says. “We have expanded with serving selected employer groups and their employees, and this positions us to be a more convenient facility.”

Auto Body Credit Union recently merged with an Ionia-based credit union and is ready to start growing each location.

Source: Nicki Badgero, Mayotte Architects

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

The Downtown Lansing YMCA is working on a 3,000 square foot expansion that, if all goes well, should be complete just in time to accommodate the January rush.

The YMCA is expanding its second floor exercise and fitness room space. The 3,000 square foot expansion will include a stretching room, a "mind, body and spirit" room for group yoga and pilates classes, and an area for suspension training and self-defense classes.

Suspension training is the latest in the group fitness trend. Participants use suspension straps that are hung from the ceiling to work various muscle groups. The straps allow them to use their body weight to increase their strength.

YMCA Assistant Executive Director, Ben Wheeler, says the expansion will accommodate growing fitness classes and give members access to a much-needed stretching space.

“It’s across the board that our classes are growing,” he says.

The expansion will also include a second floor bathroom. In 2007, the YMCA expanded the upstairs fitness area by 4,000 square feet. That expansion primarily included additional space for fitness machines and weights.

The Downtown YMCA is hoping to have the latest expansion opened by January.

Source: Ben Wheeler, YMCA

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

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

A+ By Design, a tutoring company, has moved into a 2,567 square foot space in Okemos. A + By Design seeks to help K-12 students succeed at their schoolwork.

“The whole concept is providing supplement teaching or education to any level,” says the owner of A + By Design, Maher Abdmahmoud. Before Abdmahmoud opened his tutoring company, he surveyed area teachers who overwhelming indicated a need for his services.

“I had a big line of teachers coming forward with all subjects,” he says.

Abdmahmoud’s pool of tutors includes teachers who have varying certifications. He also has some graduate students and teacher’s aids. Parents decide which subjects their child needs assistance with, and Abdmahmoud develops a personalized curriculum for the student.

Abdmahmoud has about a dozen clients, but sees continued interest in his services.

“I’m in the process of building the business,” he says, adding that he will invest heavily in the new school year. He also wants to provide summer programs. “The plan is not to stop here. We’re looking at other options. Maybe East Lansing, Lansing or Haslett. The main operations will take place in Okemos.”

A + By Design opened in October.

Source: Tarwyn Rouse, CBRE

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

Former state legislator Lingg Brewer is taking on a massive project in Lansing's popular Old Town neighborhood. Brewer is gutting and completely renovating the 308 Grand River building.

The 308 building is one of the few remaining Old Town buildings in need of acomplete renovation. Lingg wants to turn the bottom floor intoexpansive retail space and add several lofts to the upper floor.

The roughly 4,000 square foot building is inbad shape. When Brewer first went into the building, he removed 20semi-loads of trash.

Brewer doesn’t have a deadline for thebuilding’s completion, but he’s renovated a destitute Old Town buildingbefore. Brewer successfully renovated the 317 Grand River building, aformer check cashing store that was covered in bulletproof steel.

“It shook the whole neighborhood when it came down,” Brewer says about removing the bulletproof steel.

Brewer recently found a tenant to fill the bottom half of the building. Vintage clothing store, Scavenger Hunt, is putting in a second location at the 317 location. The beautiful upstairs apartment and rear loft are also occupied.

Source: Lingg Brewer

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

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Michigan State University (MSU) football is well into a successful season, and one that started with the opening of the new $15 million expansion of the Duffy Daugherty Building.

The expansion included the 25,000 square foot Skandalaris Football Center. The Center hosts team meeting rooms and offices. It also houses the Demmer Family Hall of History.

Bloomfield Hills residents and MSU alumni Robert and Julie Skandalaris contributed $5 million towards the Center.

The Duffy Daugherty Football Building's weight room more than doubled in size, going from a 9,000 square foot facility to 16,500 square foot. The $2 million weight room expansion was completed in September.

Renovations on the building started in June 2007. The team moved into the offices in August of this year.

Source: MSU

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

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

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.

Just a few short months after breaking ground on a $1.25 million renovation of its car dealership, Crippen GMC is sporting a much more modern look.

The dealer, which is located at 8300 W. Saginaw, has a new front entry, six additional service bays and additional offices and waiting areas. New metal panels were used to update the exterior of the original building.

The dealer also boasts a new 5,000 square foot building to house the Mazda and Volvo car showroom. Grand Rapids-based Wolverine Building managed the renovation. 

“This was a fun project and a great Design/Build collaborative effort between the owner and our staff at Wolverine Building,” Jim Ziegler, project manager for Wolverine. “Joint efforts went into upgrading the GM showroom with the goal of separating themselves from the competition.This allowed Wolverine to create a much cleaner and truly distinctive dealership incorporating the latest GM image package.”

Source: Danielle Millisor, Wolverine Building Group

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