What's Happening in Lansing, MI…

Lansing mayor Andy Schor recently said that the city is thinking about selling both the City Market building and the land it sits on.

The reason for the sale would be to allow a private investor to repurpose the property, which sits on a valuable riverfront location. Since it is on parkland, the question of selling it would have to be put before Lansing voters, and there are a number of steps that have to be taken before the measure can appear on the ballot.

First, the boards of the Lansing Planning Department, and the Lansing Parks Department would have to approve the plan, then pass it along to the members of the Lansing City Council. It would then be up to the council to pass the measure, which they have to do before August 13 if they hope to get it onto the November ballot. The fate of the property would then be up to voters.

Lansing has been using tax dollars to subsidize City Market for many years, but the city council voted recently to cut the money going to the market by half. The loss of that subsidy has led to the announcement the market will close around Labor Day.

Mayor Schor believes that selling the property will make it possible to start redevelopment which will spur further growth in the city's downtown area.

Officials in situations like this can use flyer printing to disseminate information to voters.