After Michigan State University announced plans to add a massive development on its campus, East Lansing residents living near the site expressed fear that their concerns about how the development could impact their day-to-day lives are being cast aside.
A cornerstone of the planned Spartan Gateway District is a 6,000 seat arena near the intersection of Trowbridge Road and Harrison Road. The conceptual plans also include office space, apartments, a hotel, retail space, a parking garage and more. The university hopes that the first phase of the development, the arena, is operating by late 2027.
Residents living near the site say their concerns about traffic, parking and more must be included in the discussion about the development. They also say neighborhood groups and residents in the area should be a part of the conversation, not just city officials.
After MSU announced the development in April, residents of the Red Cedar neighborhood sent university officials a list of 16 questions about the development. The university held a public meeting in June and said answers to these questions would be incorporated into the presentation. However, the presentation mostly centered around the site plan – furthering frustrations…