LOCAL

What's happening with projects meant to transform downtown Okemos, Haslett Village Square?

Megan Banta
Lansing State Journal

MERIDIAN TWP. – There's still ongoing progress on projects intended to transform downtown Okemos and Haslett Village Square despite the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Village of Okemos hit a slight hiccup not related to COVID-19, according to Ken Lane, director of economic development for Meridian Township. 

People should see demolition work continue and keep that development moving along soon, though, he said. 

Pine Village — the senior living community proposed for part of Haslett Village Square — is still going through the approval process, Lane said.

Cypress Partners, the developer for that project, hasn't been impacted by the pandemic yet, he said. 

"They’re moving ahead at a normal pace," he said. 

Here's where each project stands. 

Village of Okemos: Environmental work more than expected

Crews started demolition and environmental cleanup last year to make way for the $110 million Village of Okemos development. 

Workers successfully demolished a former dry cleaner, Lane said, but work stalled after the developer learned the environmental clean-up would be more extensive than called for in the original plans. 

The former Bottoms Up dance wear store, the former Okemos Ace Hardware and other buildings still remain on the site, Lane said. 

"The goal, I think of everyone, is to try to get those buildings demolished as soon as possible," he said. "They don’t live up to the standards of buildings in Meridian Township." 

It's not clear exactly when next steps will happen, Lane said. 

The developer and the state are close to working through the remediation process, he said, and should be able to restart demolition work once those details are hashed out. 

"It’s not an if, it’s a when," he said. 

Lane estimates new building there could start next construction season. 

In total, the project is slated to include seven buildings totaling nearly 290,000 square feet. 

Read more about the project:Four key takeaways from development proposed for Four Corners in Okemos

The area is bordered by Ardmore Avenue and Okemos Road to the east and west and by Methodist and Clinton streets to the north and south. Part of the site is the former home to Bottoms Up dance wear and the Okemos Ace Hardware. 

This rendering shows the developer's vision for the future of downtown Okemos

Most of the buildings in the project, a mixture of residential and retail space anchored by Douglas J Salon that's set to create about 100 new jobs, will be four stories tall. Some will have a fifth story. 

Pine Village: 'Exciting,' 'sharp looking'

The plans for Pine Village are still going through the township's approval process. 

Developers hope to invest $12 million to build a nearly 150,000-square-foot residential complex for people 55 and older on 9.6 acres of Haslett Village Square.

Read more:Can an independent living community for seniors spark redevelopment in Haslett?

The proposal from Cypress Partners includes plans to demolish a 23,415-square foot building that houses a handful of tenants — Mr. R's Driving School, Hungry Howie's Pizza, Edward Jones, Tari's Dance Studio and Patriot Ambulance.

In the strip mall's place, the developer plans to build a single, three-story building with 133 residential units, nearly all of which would be one-bedroom apartments. 

This rendering of Pine Village was included in the Meridian Township Board's packet on May 5, 2020.

It also would have 9,558 square feet of amenities, including an art studio, salon, pub, cafeteria, fitness room, library and game room. The developer would offer residents transportation options, including a shuttle service and a bus stop.  

"It's a really exciting project," Lane said. "Those buildings are really going to be sharp looking." 

There's some commercial space included with the project, with developers having told officials that an art studio and salon, at least, would be open to the public. 

Meridian Township Board members are working with the developer to increase the square footage on that public space a little bit, Lane said. 

He expects Cypress Partners to come back with some modifications in June.

At the moment, "both developers and the township board and staff are doing the best we can given the circumstances," Lane said. 

"We’re working on them," he said. "As soon as things get back to some sense of normalcy, these projects will move forward at a usual pace as much as possible."

Contact reporter Megan Banta at mbanta@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.