$100 million development heads to Lansing

Plans for the former Waverly Golf Course could continue for a decade and include hundreds of various residential housing units, a senior center, community gardens, a gas station and car wash and more. More than $2 million in proceeds from the sale will be funneled into Lansing’s parks and recreation department.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 20 —A $100 million mixed-use development is headed to Lansing Township, despite concerns from local residents, following the sale of the former Waverly Golf Course and Michigan Avenue Park.

Florida-based developers at Northern Capital Investments yesterday finalized a $2.2 million sale with plans to transform the 120-acre plot into retail, office and residential space, including a gas station, car wash, restaurants and a senior center. Developers indicated construction on the “big project” could continue for up to a decade.

“I’m happy that we were able to finalize this deal and raise $2.2 million for the city of Lansing’s Parks and Recreation Department,” Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said in a statement released from his office on Wednesday.

The golf course closed more than a decade ago. Local residents voted to authorize the sale of the city-owned park property in 2012. Some residents voiced concerns surrounding traffic flow, property values and preservation of green space. But complaints, apparently, have done little to halt progress.

The development is slated to include 100 single-family homes, more than 200 apartments, 60 multi-family duplex units and 76 townhomes — totaling to more than 500 units. Developers said green space, including walking and biking trails, would also be preserved throughout the site.

Lansing Township Planning Commission minutes indicate developers have intentionally preserved the lower areas of the property — including wetlands and an abundance of green space — to accommodate a “sensible mix” of various residential components, senior living and a “moderate amount” of commercial space.

Instead of removing earth, Northern Capital will instead use it for berming and landscaping along the perimeter while preserving wetlands, natural ponds and as many “nice trees” as possible, records state.

Plans also call for a traffic signal at the primary driveway along Saginaw Highway, a northbound right turn lane and a center turn lane along Waverly Road and right turn tapers on Saginaw, Waverly and Michigan Avenue. With timing adjustments to existing traffic lights, developers suggested congestion could actually be reduced.

The development also includes plans for community gardens that would be maintained by a newly introduced homeowners association, which would also be charged with duplex lawn care, walkways and trails. Another goal discussed earlier this year included enhancements to Bon Air Park, including biking and walking pathways.

Prior appraisals listed the property at $2.74 million and $3.16 million. Schor indicated that although the property is located in Lansing Township, it was owned by the city It’s still unclear, however, how the parks department will use the $2.2 million proceeds of the sale.

“There’s nothing that we’re ready to disclose at this time,” the parks director, Brett Kaschinske, said. “We’re one day out from that sale. We’ve had preliminary discussions, but it’s nothing that we’re ready to announce right away.”

Lansing Township officials also supported the sale and have already agreed to appropriate rezoning to provide for commercial and residential development, Schor said.

Visit www.lansingcitypulse.com as the development plans continue at the former Waverly Golf Course and Michigan Avenue Park.

Photo courtesy of Northern Capital investments.