A windowless, all-black building across from Art’s Pub on Kalamazoo Street has piqued local curiosities over its foreboding appearance. And it could soon become lined with up to 1,500 medical marijuana plants.
State regulators earlier this month issued prequalification (a preliminary step to full-blown licensure) to Rehbel Industries LLC. for a growing facility at 738 E. Kalamazoo St. The business already has approval from the city of Lansing. It’ll just need another nod from state regulators before crops can begin making their way to harvest.
State records list Michael Doherty as both the applicant for Rehbel Industries and the registered agent of 738 E. Kalamazoo LLC., the company that bought the three-story building for $30,000 back in 2015. (City Pulse named it an eyesore in 2016.) The parcel is now registered to MD Industries LLC, another limited liability corporation formed by Doherty early last year.
Attempts to contact Doherty for this story — including a visit to the building — were unsuccessful. Pictures posted to Facebook last week showed Doherty with a “Rehbel” branded hat alongside former Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and Robin Schneider, the executive director of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association.
Messages left with Schneider and Bernero were also left unreturned.
Doherty founded the clothing brand “DEFYE” and operated it (primarily from the Meridian Mall) before it went out of business in 2014. The branding stood for DEFine Your own Existence and offered a variety of “alternative, rocker wear” for an “edgy 18-35 crowd,” Doherty previously explained to City Pulse.
3 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Support City Pulse - Donate Today!
DeviRoth
Cough. Discretion. Cough.
I know it wasnt the most subtle paint job, but isnt this creating possible security issues?
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 Report this
Wahooo
Poor fact checking. In Michigan it is Resident agent not registered agent. LLC stand for Limited Liability Company not Corporation.
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 Report this
mackelyn
@Devi Roth
The building has been black for years. Not a choice that was made purely because of current “renovations”
Thursday, May 30, 2019 Report this