The Center City District project seen from the north, with Newman Lofts on top of the new parking garage, and retail on the ground floor.

Timeline of East Lansing’s Center City District Project

This is a timeline of the Center City District redevelopment project with links to ELi reporting. The timeline is shown in reverse chronological order.

2020

  • 12/1/20: The refinance bonds close. Hours later, the paperwork is released, revealing elimination of a key financial protection for the City and questionable advice from the City’s external advisors. Read more.
  • 11/30/20: A letter from PFM’s Nate Watson advised the BRA to refinance the Center City District bonds, which the BRA did shortly thereafter. More on the letter.
  • 11/24/20: After the mid-October call to investors, there had been no update on the refinancing of the Center City District. More here.
  • 11/12/20: During a City Council meeting, Council member Lisa Babcock pressed the City’s bond attorney, Bill Danhof, about various aspects of the bonds. She got some interesting answers
  • 11/12/20: During that same City Council meeting, Council voted 4-1 to delay enforcement of zoning violations on Harbor Bay Ballein Management for renting to people under 55 at Newman Lofts. Read on.
  • 10/26/20: After confusion between ELi and BRA Chair Peter Dewan, it was discovered the new City Attorneys from Foster Swift WOULD NOT be looking at the bonds. More on that here.
  • 10/23/20: What did various players in the Center City District deal say about the bonds in 2017, when they were issued? Watch for yourself.
  • 10/16/20: Without a press release or discussion, the City issued a call to investors for $29M or more in refinancing bonds for the Center City District, giving them one week to respond if they were interested. Read on.
  • 10/12/20: A Freedom of Information Act request from ELi yielded a cache of informative documents regarding the Center City District and Newman Lofts and efforts to change the deal.
  • 10/5/20: If there’s a shortfall when funds are due on Dec. 1, 2020 to Mark Bell’s father’s company Scottsdale Capital, the Center City District bondholder, it’s supposed to be solved by Mark Bell’s company paying up. So what’s going on?
  • 9/22/20: The East Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) votes again to refinance the Center City District bond, as the issue is now mired in a myriad of legal disagreements, with former mayor Mark Meadows arguing with the City’s bond attorneys from Miller Canfield. We explain.
  • 9/24/20: Former mayor Mark Meadows tells ELi that Harbor Bay started asking to get out of the 55+ age restriction on Newman Lofts a full year ago.
  • 9/15/20: Steve Willobee and Mark Bell admit to Council they are renting Newman Lofts apartments to people younger than 55. Read more.
  • 9/10/20: Newman Lofts tenants ask Council to deny Harbor Bay’s request to rent apartments in their building to people younger than 55.
  • 9/2/20: Special investigative reporting from ELi shows you what the Center City District developers and Council members said in 2017 about the senior housing.
  • 9/1/20: ELi’s Board of Directors responds to Harbor Bay’s “ethics complaint” against us.
  • 8/28/20: Harbor Bay makes threats and spooks elderly tenants as they try to get out of the 55+ age restriction on Newman Lofts. Read more.
  • 7/15/20: The East Lansing BRA votes to rescind the resolution to refinance the bond and to finally hire a financial advisor, more than three years into the project. Read more.
  • 7/14/20: We report that Mark Bell is pleading with BRA members to help him out. Read more.
  • 7/13/20: Mark Meadows says the bond refinance resolution was off by $6M, and the BRA may be creating millions of dollars in worthless paper. Read on.
  • 7/9/20: Following advice from Brian Lefler of William Baird & Co., the BRA votes to refinance the Center City Bond at a higher amount and higher interest rate. But who is Lefler working for? We report.
  • 7/7/20: We ask questions about the bond refinancing plan.
  • 5/26/20: Barrio Tacos is set to open, but Jolly Pumpkin is delayed. Read more.
  • 5/4/20: We obtain Mark Bell’s communications to Council requesting Newman Lofts be converted from senior housing to open-market housing.
  • 4/17/20: We report that City Council members are firmly opposed to the request to remove the age restriction on Newman Lofts.
  • 4/16/20: ELi breaks the story that the developers want to convert Newman Lofts from senior housing to open-market housing.
  • 1/16/20: The parking system is “barely making it,” in part because the new Center City garage isn’t producing the income that had been hoped. Read more.
  • 1/8/20: Photojournalist Raymond Holt brings a sneak-peak at Barrio Tacos’ murals.

2019

  • 11/15/19: Area real estate expert Van Martin criticizes the Center City District deal, suggesting East Lansing officials used an approach that ultimately cheated the public.
  • 10/8/19: Target and Jolly Pumpkin, retail tenants of Center City, get approval to sell alcohol, following Target selling without the proper local permits.
  • 9/21/19: Foster Coffee, the first Albert Ave. retail tenant of Center City, opens for business.
  • 9/17/19: City Council has to amend the agreement to get the developers to start paying (partial) rent on the public land. Read more.
  • 9/16/19: The City of East Lansing is reporting “news” on Center City that doesn’t check out. Read more.
  • 8/9/19: Director of Planning Tim Dempsey, who shepherded the project through the system, leaves the City’s employ. Read more.
  • 8/2/19: Mackerel Sky’s owners announce they are closing following unrelenting stress from the Center City District construction. Read more.
  • 7/21/19: We bring a special investigation into why the developers still aren’t paying for use of the public land.
  • 7/19/19: Center City co-developer Greg Ballein says there isn’t enough parking. Read more.
  • 7/17/19: Target store opens.
  • 7/1/19: The City offers free parking in an attempt to relieve some of the stress on local businesses from the construction.
  • 6/4/19: The alley won’t look like it was promised to look when the project was approved. Read more.
  • 5/10/19: Albert Ave. won’t look like it was promised to look when the project was approved. Read more.
  • 4/18/19: We report that the developer is trying to get permission for less expensive amenities in the public infrastructure build-out.
  • 4/11/19: Changes to the public portion of the Center City design come to Council.
  • 3/4/19: We take a look at the native and non-native plantings used at Center City in response to a reader question.
  • 2/26/19: We bring a construction update.
  • 1/29/19: We answer a reader’s question about how the fire department will handle tall buildings like those in Center City.
  • 1/7/19: We report on Barrio Tacos plans to locate in Center City. Read more.

2018

  • 12/4/18: We explain what would happen if the developers don’t build the senior housing. Read more.
  • 12/3/18: The developers are looking for tenants for the rental apartments in the “active adult” 55+ senior housing. Read more.
  • 11/14/18: The developers announce that Foster Coffee will be a tenant in the Albert Avenue retail space. Read more.
  • 10/29/18: We bring an update on the development, including what we know about the Target move-in and the senior housing. Read more.
  • 10/19/18: ELi shows that the fire prevention law isn’t being followed in East Lansing, including on the Center City District project. Read more.
  • 9/11/18: Now, The Landmark isn’t just looking for students, but is also seeking “young urban professionals.” Read more.
  • 9/10/18: We report that Council is expanding the free and discounted parking programs downtown, in an effort to support struggling businesses during construction. Read more.
  • 9/7/18: We explain how things were supposed to change in terms of the Planning and Building Department after the debacles of St. Anne Lofts. Read more.
  • 9/1/18: Center City meets the Target store lease deadline, and we hear from Target about what to expect from the store. Read more.
  • 8/30/18: We report that the project is missing Fire Marshal reviews. Read more.
  • 8/21/18: City Council debates what to do about businesses struggling downtown during construction. Read more.
  • 8/15/18: Downtown business owners are “panicking” over the downturn in business due to construction. Read more.
  • 7/30/18: The City’s Planning Director says the City has overbuilt downtown parking. Read more.
  • 7/27/18: The developer starts openly advertising the Grand River Avenue building (The Landmark) as “purpose-built student housing.” Read more.
  • 7/10/18: We report that downtown businesses are seeking financial relief from construction-related losses. Read more.
  • 7/5/18: Road closures happen to allow for infrastructure rebuilding. Read more.
  • 6/13/18: Facing delays, lead contractor Christman Company leases land from the DDA to expand the construction space available. Read more.
  • 6/12/18: ELi reports that lead contractor Christman Company wants the DDA’s help dealing with construction traffic congestion. Read more.
  • 5/15/18: The partners in the Center City District project reunite for a celebration at the work site. Read more.
  • 4/30/18: We provide an update on the project, including where the Arts Festival is being moved, what’s planned for Albert Avenue, what to expect when the project is done, and why Council authorized about $100,000 for a water main replacement to be paid out of the General Fund instead of out of the project fund. Read more.
  • 4/19/18: City staff present work done on the Buzz P.R. campaign, and we talk to local businesses about how it’s all going. Read more.
  • 3/26/18: ELi breaks the news that the Great Lake Folk Festival is cancelled for 2018 in part because of construction from the Center City District project. 
  • 1/31/18: ELi finds that $700,000 in payments from the bond went to the developer’s attorneys, financial advisor, and father’s company. Read more.

2017

  • 12/18/17: ELi lays out the expected benefits and costs of the Center City District project. Read more.
  • 12/13/17: The bond closes and construction is officially started. Read more.
  • 12/7/17: The East Lansing DDA and BRA agree to the addendum to the Master Development Agreement. Read more.
  • 12/5/17: City Council agrees to amend the Master Development Agreement to allow the developer a different way to provide the City financial guarantee of completion of the public infrastructure portion of the project. The addendum also fixes other perceived problems in the Master Development Agreement. Read more.
  • 12/1/17: The City releases a proposed Addendum to the Master Development Agreement, confirming ELi’s reporting on problems with that agreement. Read more.
  • 12/1/17: We report that the City is looking amend the development agreement with the developer.
  • 11/30/17: The closure of Lot 1 is causing stress for downtown businesses. The State News reports that Lotsa Pizza is closing for lack of parking. Read more.
  • 11/17/17: ELi reports that the lease agreement with the developer is not what was expected. Read more.
  • 11/15/17: ELi obtains correspondence between the developer and the City through the Freedom of Information Act and shows that developer Mark Bell “walked away” from the deal because he discovered he could not obtain the financial guarantees the City sought. The City decided to let him go ahead and demolish Lot 1 anyway. Read more.
  • 11/6/17: The City closes Lot 1 and one lane of Albert Avenue, saying the developer has provided a “performance guarantee” for demolition (but not construction). Read more.
  • 11/1/17: The City posts on its website the signed Master Development Agreement with attachments.
  • 10/31/17: The City announces demolition is likely to start next week, now that the developer and the mayor have finally signed the Master Development Agreement. Read more.
  • 10/26/17: City staff and the Mayor say the project is not dead. Read more.
  • 10/24/17: We explain the troubles with the Center City District deal. Read more.
  • 10/23/17: The Mayor tells the Council of Neighborhood Presidents what’s going on. Read more.
  • 10/21/17: We report developer Mark Bell of Harbor Bay claims he’s “walking away” from the project. Read more.
  • 10/18/17: City parking staff announce Lot #1 will be put back into regular use. Read more.
  • 10/17/17: The developer has not yet produced the performance bonds required by the City. Read more.
  • 10/16/17: Lot #1 is left open to allow for disconnections of utilities in anticipation of demolition. Read more.
  • 10/11/17: We report that uncertainty is persisting around the project, causing stress for downtown businesses. Read more.
  • 10/10/17: City Council votes on an amendment to the lease agreement with the developer. Read more.
  • 10/6/17: We report that the “outside investor” set to finance construction of the public infrastructure is Mark Bell’s father, Peter Paul Bell. Read more.
  • 10/5/17: The East Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority votes to provide bonds to support the project. Read more.
  • 10/2/17: We report on signs that major parts of the deal are still up in the air, including, apparently, the finances. Read more.
  • 9/28/17: East Lansing BRA passes an “intent to bond.” Read more.
  • 9/26/17: Michigan Strategic Fund approves the tax increment financing plan and a loan for the project, even though key local agreements are still not settled and the financing isn’t worked out. Read more.
  • 9/19/17: We report that the Center City District proposal is going for state-level tax incentive approvals before local level approvals are complete. Read more.
  • 9/12/17: Charlie Kang’s gets permission from City Council to sell alcohol at its new location. The business is moving because of this project. Read more.
  • 8/24/17: A public relations firm is hired to try to help downtown businesses survive two major redevelopment projects, including this one. Read more.
  • 7/25/17: Council member Susan Woods, who is running for re-election, says her failure to disclose a landlord-tenant relationship with the Balleins was “an oversight.” Read more.
  • 7/21/17: Reconstruction at the corner of Abbot Road and Grand River Avenue happens in order to move businesses out of buildings set to be demolished for the Center City project. Read more.
  • 7/11/17: City Manager George Lahanas indicates he’s satisfied by what an external consultant found in a “due diligence” review of Harbor Bay and the project.
  • 7/7/17: The City receives a consultant’s “due diligence” report on Harbor Bay and the project.
  • 6/22/17: The East Lansing Downtown Development Authority (DDA) debates whether to change one word in the development agreement, but ultimately votes to approve it. Read more.
  • 6/20/17: Council unanimously approves the site plan, special use permits, $58 million tax increment financing (TIF) plan, and development agreement for the project. A number of details are yet to be worked out.
  • 6/14/17: The City releases more information about the project, including a draft development agreement, which we analyzed.
  • 6/13/17: One week before Council is expected to vote on the project, we are still trying to find out what the site plan and public-private partnership might look like.
  • 6/13/17: Asked about why his claims about the TIF do not match the BRA-approved TIF plan, developer Mark Bell tells ELi, “I am making no representations that should be mistaken as facts.”
  • 6/12/17: The City posts a memo dated June 6 suggesting what the development agreement might contain.
  • 6/9/17: The City announces that both the public hearings, which had been scheduled on the project’s site plan, and $56 million TIF plan have been postponed from June 13 to June 20.
  • 6/6/17: ELi reports what is and isn’t known at this point in this complex project.
  • 5/25/17: East Lansing BRA approves a revised $56 million TIF plan for the project.
  • 5/23/17: The Ballein family business is rehabbing the building at the northeast corner of Abbot Road and Grand River Avenue (former home of Conrad’s Grill) in preparation to move Noodles & Company and Cellular and More to that location.
  • 5/22/17: ELi reports City has withheld key data on the project, specifically the tax assessor’s estimate of taxable value and of rental income.
  • 5/16/17: ELi talks to Target and confirms the project would bring new grocery options to downtown.
  • 5/15/17: ELi reports Harbor Bay’s Mark Bell made false representations to East Lansing’s Planning Commission with regard to business endorsements.
  • 5/9/17: Although the developer makes no presentation, City Council holds public hearings on the project. Council splits on views of it and votes to do another round of public hearings on June 13.
  • 5/8/17: Harbor Bay hosts a pizza event about the project and announces they are not ready for the public hearings the next night. The City Manager says the hearings will go on anyway.
  • 5/7/17: ELi obtains key financial information on the project via the Freedom of Information Act, showing an additional irregular process at the local review level.
  • 5/5/17: The developers announce they’ll provide to the public the updated site plan for the May 9 public hearings on May 8, at a pizza event.
  • 5/4/17: The City Attorney tells ELi the Center City project doesn’t require voter approval because it doesn’t involve a land sale.
  • 4/26/17: Planning Commission votes against recommending the project to City Council.
  • 4/12/17: The developers and City announce that Target is set to be the commercial tenant in the south building.
  • 4/11/17: Heavily redacted reports are said by the developer to show a market for the senior housing and market-rate rental housing.
  • 3/31/17: ELi looks at unanswered questions on the Center City project.
  • 3/23/17: The BRA approves a $55 million TIF plan for the project.
  • 3/22/17: The developers present a new version of the site plan to Planning Commission.
  • 3/20/17: ELi reports on the $52 million TIF plan proposed for the project.
  • 3/8/17: Planning Commission begins review of the proposal.
  • 3/7/17: MSU says it won’t be part of major downtown developments.
  • 3/6/17: ELi reports on small business owners worried about the project.
  • 2/23/17: ELi produces a major report showing how the Park District and Center City District plans have been treated differently by City officials.
  • 2/20/17: In an unusual move, the City holds a press conference to announce this redevelopment project. At this point, it is called the “Downtown Lifestyle District” proposal.

2016 (background)

  • 11/9/16: City Council amends Ordinance 1384 to reduce the requirement for non-student-rental housing in big downtown developments from 50% of units to 25%. This means big new housing projects downtown will need to meet the 25% requirement, not a 50% requirement.