EAST LANSING, Mich. — At a dangerous building hearing on Wednesday, April 20, WGR Finance LLC – the new owners of the privately owned buildings in the Park District Planning Area – agreed to a Stipulation and Consent Order to demolish the properties at 100 W. Grand River Ave. and 124-140 W. Grand River Ave. by no later than December 31, 2016.
The properties could be demolished sooner than the end of year, depending on whether the owners are able to obtain proper approvals from the state that ensure taking down the buildings earlier than Dec. 31 will not harm the chances to retain previously approved state tax credits. The property owners have agreed to demolish the buildings within 90 to 120 days after that approval if it is obtained.
In March, WGR Finance LLC also agreed to a Stipulation and Consent Order to demolish the former apartment buildings located at 341-345 Evergreen Ave. by no later than July 31, 2016.
“Since becoming owners of the privately held properties within the Park District earlier this year, WGR Finance LLC has continued to be cooperative and willing to work with the City to address this blighted corner in downtown East Lansing,” said East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows.
The hearings with WGR Finance LLC were held in accordance with Chapter 6, Article 3, Sec. 108 of the East Lansing City Code. East Lansing City Council adopted Ordinance 1360 this past December to make amendments to the provisions regarding dangerous buildings in this section of the code.
In addition to the privately owned properties, the City of East Lansing has been awarded a $99,000 Blight Elimination Program grant from the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority to demolish 303 Abbot Road. This property, owned by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), was originally scheduled to be demolished by the end of May, but is now slated for demolition by the end of July due to some unforeseen issues. The demolition will be covered by the grant funds and a $36,000 contribution from the DDA.
“The demolition of these properties will leave us with one less hurdle to overcome as we move toward redevelopment of the Park District Planning Area,” said Mayor Meadows.