Watch this video about the redevelopment of the downtown Knapp’s Building and it’s easy to smile and say, “Wow.” The building brings back positive memories for anybody who has lived in Lansing for a while and the plans to bring back the building for retail, restaurant and apartment space sounds like a logical next step.
It’s easy to look at all the development in downtown Lansing and forget other parts of town that are struggling and gasping for economic air. One is Logan Square, a once proud shopping mall at Martin Luther King and West Holmes Road. It has been allowed to become dowdy and gives the impression for the 20,000 cars passing each that that it’s a gateway to a southside ghetto.
Nick Eyde and his family are redeveloping the Knapp’s Building and are using many government tax breaks and loans. In this video, Nick talks about how he was influenced by the downtowns of European cities where he once lived.
What would he do for Logan Square? Fair question? He, apparently, has the expertise and the vision to redevelop aging developments.
Nick, we need to hear your ideas. The southside is starting to feel like it is being balkanized by Lansing City Hall. We need some developer love too.
