The below statement was released by Mayor Andy Schor recently about the future of the Lansing City Market.
The Lansing City Market property is an important space on our riverfront. With the removal of the taxpayer subsidy and its upcoming closure, we need to do everything we can to ensure that this space is not vacant for long, and is activated for the future. That is why I previously said that we need to have all options on the table.
This has generated a great conversation in Lansing between our residents, visitors and others who spend time here. I have listened to and have read all public ideas and opinions in person, at meetings, by email, in the newspaper, on TV, on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and at a listening session that I organized last night. There is clearly a passion for Lansing and our riverfront.
While there have been a great variety of ideas and thoughts presented, one belief was common to all of the comments – we value this important building on the riverfront and we want the space to be reactivated.
As such, I have decided that my first priority, when exploring our available options, is for the City and its residents to maintain control of this property. If we are going to have a restaurant or bar, attract retail, try again for a grocery market, create an entertainment venue, or use it for any number of the other ideas that have been presented to me, then the City must remain in control of the space. Sale of the market building is not optimal because the City and its residents would lose control for any future use.
At this time, I am withdrawing the proposal to Lansing City Council to have the option to sell the property where the Lansing City Market building is located. We must reactivate this property while first trying to remain in control of the land and building, which we can do through leasing this space or having the City control and direct the reactivation of this space.
I will issue a request for information (RFI) from the general community at large and will evaluate all proposals and developed ideas to re-use this space. We have already heard many ideas and thoughts from the public, but now we need actual developed proposals.
Priority consideration will be given to those proposals and developed ideas that ensure:
1. Reactivation of this important space on our riverfront
2. Sustainability of the entity or entities using the building
3. Financing of the entities using property without taxpayer subsidy
I am also removing this property from the inventory of Lansing entertainment properties that Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA) manages, as this will no longer be a taxpayer subsidized entity.
Finally, I need to specify that this conversation we are having is about the actual Lansing City Market building and land beneath it. We are not talking about the path next to the water and below the steps of the market building. I want to clarify any confusion that may exist. While the building is on parkland, there is no discussion about the sidewalk path on the Lansing River Trail in the plaza below the building. That space is part of a riverfront revitalization effort that includes a reconstruction of the dock space, a lighted forest, and other improvements. There is no conversation about converting green space in Adado Riverfront park to another usage. Attached is a map of the area we are talking about.
I greatly appreciate the conversation that has occurred both publicly and privately, and all of the feedback that I have received so far regarding the Lansing City Market building. Throughout this process, I will continue to seek input and be transparent about the developed proposal that we receive. Once the collaborative process is complete, I will make the decision that I was elected to make in order to do what is best for the City of Lansing moving forward.
The many exciting possibilities along are riverfront are further proof that Lansing’s time is now!
