East Lansing tackles major economic development project

A long stalled economic development project in East Lansing may get a push forward tonight.

The “City Center II” project has been in development for more than a decade.

This evening, the East Lansing City Council may decide to approve a pre-development agreement.  The agreement would set in motion a review of the $105 million project’s finances.

Mayor Diane Godeeris likes the development plan that calls for a hotel, theater and additional retail space in downtown East Lansing.

“We’re trying to look at this comprehensively," says Godeeris, "and (we) hope that we can have something that’s new and exciting down there.   But (we) want to make sure the risk to the city is minimal as possible.” 

Godeeris says it would probably take several years for the ‘City Center II” project to become a reality, if the project’s financing backing eventually wins the city council’s approval.