LANSING — A crowd gathered in south Lansing on July 29, noticing obvious progress on a $3.8 million redevelopment project intended to bring respectable business to a formerly blighted parcel.
Speakers at a groundbreaking ceremony included Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, Councilmember Adam Hussain and other local leaders.
They thanked the community for supporting James Denning and Melissa White, the couple who stuck with their plan to transform a corner of West Miller Road and Washington Avenue into a thriving mixed-use development with commercial and event space ... and a laundromat.
The site once was home to Binni's Bar and Grill, which city officials complained was a site for criminal activity. Between 2016 and 2018, the bar generated at least 49 police calls.
The couple, who participated in the Lansing Economic Development Corporation's SEED Academy for emerging developers, envisioned years ago a new look for the parcel.
"I was immediately energized by their vision — right? — for this space," said Hussain, who represents the ward where the development is. "They are some of the most sincere, caring, hardworking, resilient, and determined people I've ever met."
Applause was plentiful, and Denning and White also shared some comments. Their Novi Properties LLC is named after their oldest daughter, Novi. They hope to have their project essentially done around the start of 2027.
"It's been a long time coming," Denning said. "It's just the beginning. There's a lot ahead to look forward to. We just appreciate everybody coming out to celebrate the groundbreaking. There's definitely more to come, so stay tuned."
Financial support for the project includes a $1 million Michigan Economic Development Corporation revitalization grant, about $380,000 in state and local brownfield tax increment financing incentives and about $30,000 through the Lansing Facade Improvement Program.
Work began about two weeks ago and the facade should be done by the end of September, project manager Kevin Dygart of RC Contractors in Lansing said.
"We'll be starting immediately on the laundromat," he said.
Contact editor Susan Vela at [email protected] or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Couple redeveloping blighted south Lansing bar site. What's planned