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a newspaper for the rest of us www.lansingcitypulse.com September 12 - 18, 2018
See page 11
2 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • September 12, 2018
Bringing the best of Folk, Roots & Dance
to the Greater Lansing Area
2018-2019 CONCERT SEASON
Friday, Sept. 21
Friday, Oct. 12 Friday, Nov. 9
Ukes & Steel with
The Wilsons & Co. Jen Sygit Laura Love
Julianna Wilson, Andy Wilson,
CD Release co-produced with
The Women in the Arts Festival
Joe Wilson and Drew Howard
Friday, Oct. 19 Friday, Nov. 16
Friday, Sept. 28 Lonesome Ace Sam Gleaves
Mustard’s Retreat Stringband co-produced with the Peace Education
CD Release featuring banjo virtuoso Center, held in conjunction with its
Alternative Holiday Sale
Chris Coole
Sunday, Sept. 30, 7pm
Jarlath Henderson Friday, Oct. 26 Friday, Nov. 30
award-winning Uilleann piper May Erlewine Joel Mabus
trio performs songs and tunes
Friday, Dec. 7
Thursday, Oct. 4
15th Annual Holiday Sing
Don Julin Quartet Friday, Nov. 2
hosted by Sally Potter wsg
with Joe Wilson, Kevin Gills Christine Lavin Jamie-Sue Seal, Siusan O’Rourke,
and David Collini
Doug Berch & Doug Austin (piano)
Sunday, Oct.7 Monday, Nov. 5
“Music of the 1960s” Moira Smiley hosts a All concerts begin
Two multi-media extravaganzas Monday Community at 7:30pm unless noted
by FBC co-founder Dick Rosemont Sing, 7pm
THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE 2/10/19 Matthew Byrne - Sunday Concert, 7pm
1/18/19 Heartland Klezmorim - 2/15/19 John Gorka
The Musical Journey From The Shtetl 2/22/19 The Seamus Egan Project, featuring Moira Smiley
1/25/19 Matt Watroba & Robert Jones - 3/1/19 Strangers in the Night: The Bands of Elderly Instruments
From Roots to Rap, A Musical Celebration 3/8/19 Annual Pub Sing @ The AMP: 7:30pm: Finvarra’s Wren
of History and Diversity 9pm Pub Sing, led by Sally Potter
3/15/19 The Outside Track - Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day
The 17th Annual Mid-Winter Singing & Folk Festival
3/22/19 Crys Matthews
2/1/19 MWSFF Concert with Joshua Davis 3/31/19 The Fretless - Sunday Concert, 7pm
2/2/19 MWSFF Community Sing with Sally Rogers, 4/5/19 The Matchsellers & Red Tail Ring: Old-Time Duos
Claudia Schmidt, Joel Mabus 4/12/19 Sweet Water Warblers:
2/2/19 MWSFF Children’s Concert with Sally Rogers Rachael Davis, May Erlewine, Lindsay Lou
2/2/19 6-8 Afternoon Workshops 4/26/19 Pete Seeger - 100th Birthday Celebration,
www.singingfestival.com with Mark Dvorak and more
For info on tickets, venues, performers, monthly contra dances, Fiddle Scouts & more, call 517-337-7744 or
44th
visit tenpoundfiddle.org season!
City Pulse • September 12, 2018 www.lansingcitypulse.com 3
finance
Effectively improving your credit score
More often than not, bad credit in collection, limiting credit appli-
scores are major roadblocks to bor- cations, not racking up high bal-
rowing money. Your credit score ances and not canceling or closing
will have a significant impact on your credit cards are effective ways
how much a loan will cost. Bad to improve your credit score. For
credit scores affect the interest more information and assistance
rate of the loan: the lower the with long-term financial planning,
credit score, the higher the inter- I and my colleagues at Dart Bank
est rate. Typically, credit scores are happy to help you plan for a
range from 300 to 850 as calcu- great financial future.
lated by different credit bureaus,
based on your personal financial
history. Those credit bureaus look
at such factors as the timeliness of
In the Know payments, credit usage, total cred-
it accounts, credit inquiries and
negative marks.
Credit scores cannot be
John Blossey
2469 N. Cedar St.
Advice from Local Experts improved overnight. Paying bills
on time, clearing up any accounts
Holt, MI 48842-2103
(517) 694-5083
beauty arts & crafts
Custom hair color by trained professionals Creating connection through glass crafts
Pastel, metallic or ribbons of are willing to get it done again. Delphi Glass was founded in mosaics are all possibilities.
different colors: Whatever your Looking up colors online is a great 1972 on the belief that making art Did you know that tapping into
hair color dreams are, we have it way to get a ton of options, and our glass projects should be enjoyable your creative side has benefits
covered! The experience of five experts will guide you to choose and rewarding for everyone, from beyond being fun? Studies show
Redken certified hair colorists com- the best one for your specific budding makers to professional that engaging in creative activities
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our entire color team is led by a your hair. Check out Instagram for you. If you are looking for a way to a cool piece of art. It’s a win-win.
nationally certified Redken artist, our amazing work and I hope you unplug and spend time with friends We pride ourselves on customer
an achievement that is a profes- will trust us with your hair dreams. and family, we recommend starting service and expert knowledge about
sional milestone. That obscure Please contact Bliss Salon and Spa with a class from the Art Ala Carte the glass art our customers enjoy.
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hair in a magazine? We can totally ments. Also, check out the $20 off es are about two hours in length memories and did we mention cool
achieve the same color for you! hair color coupon in the City Pulse. and you are welcome to bring a art? Visit DelphiGlass.com/Classes
The journey starts with a conver- You can sleep tight tonight beverage of your choice. Groups to see our upcoming classes or call 3380 E Jolly Rd.
sation about what your color goals knowing that Bliss is here for you 5320 Ivan St., of four or more can customize their 517-394-4685 to schedule your Lansing, MI 48910
are, what kind of maintenance you and all of your wildest hair dreams. Lansing, MI 48917 project choices; barware, jewelry or own private class. See you soon! (517) 394-4685
can do for your hair, the lifestyle (517) 323-6388 hip home décor like modern profile www.delphiglass.com
you are leading and how often you www.blisssalononline.com
hot tubs automobile sales & leasing
A truckload of hot tubs on sale! Great back to school deals
Like every other college student, Mid-Michigan region since 1970.
Haven’t you always wanted a and operated. It’s our commit-
are you looking for a pre-owned car Besides being a recipient of the
hot tub of your own? A Michigan- ment to maintain the highest
that is affordable and reliable? Do “Yearly Mark of Excellence” award,
made Nordic hot tub could be level of product and service. In
you also want to know everything we have remained successful for
just the answer — and we have a addition to offering Jacuzzi and
done to the vehicle before it gets so many years because we value
truckload of them rolling this way! Nordic hot tubs, we manufacture
into your hands? We at Shaheen customer service and thrive on the
Check out our Truck Load Sale our own unique Japanese Soaking
Chevrolet provide a CarFax report at satisfaction our customers have with
happening this week, September Tubs. Relaxing, therapeutic, ener-
the time of the purchase. A CarFax their vehicles. In addition to our
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Come pick out your favorite — we Cold Plunge versions. Finally, we
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varieties of colors, shapes and siz- take pride in our fair, profession-
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new vehicles, purchased and leased. your leased vehicle to the original
After 40 years of serving the hot tub perfectly suited for your
2116 E. Michigan Ave. We will beat any written offer from dealership; our Chevy dealer accepts
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free! No gimmicks! No games! vehicle purchase much easier. Please Lansing, MI 48911
Hotwater Works on Michigan (517) 364-8827
www.hotwaterworks.com Shaheen Chevrolet has been a contact Brent Wesley at 517-272- (517) 325-9224
Avenue, founded by our father,
family owned dealership serving the 6867 for more information. www.shaheenlansing.com
James McFarland is family-owned
4 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • September 12, 2018
Have something to say about a local issue or an item that appeared in our pages?
VOL. 18
Now you have two ways to sound off:
ISSUE 5
1.) Write a letter to the editor.
• E-mail: letters@ lansingcitypulse.com (517) 371-5600 • Fax: (517) 999-6061 • 1905 E. Michigan Ave. • Lansing, MI 48912 • www.lansingcitypulse.com
• Snail mail: City Pulse, 1905 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: (517) 999-5061
E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, or email citypulse@lansingcitypulse.com
MI 48912 PAGE CLASSIFIEDS: (517) 999-6704
• Fax: (517) 371-5800
• At lansingcitypulse.com
5 EDITOR AND PUBLISHER • Berl Schwartz
publisher@lansingcitypulse.com • (517) 999-5061
2.) Write a guest column: Developer pushing for January deadline ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR • Skyler Ashley
skyler@lansingcitypulse.com • (517) 999-5068
Contact Berl Schwartz for more information: publisher@lansingcitypulse.com or (517) 999-5061
EVENTS EDITOR • Ella Kramer
(Please include your name, address and telephone number so we can reach you. Keep letters to 250 ella@lansingcitypulse.com • (517) 999-6704
words or fewer. City Pulse reserves the right to edit letters and columns.)
PAGE PRODUCTION MANAGER • Abby Sumbler
production@lansingcitypulse.com
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF LANSING
34 (517) 999-5066
STAFF WRITERS • Lawrence Cosentino
SYNOPSIS OF PROPOSED MINUTES lawrence@lansingcitypulse.com • (517) 999-5065
A look at East Lansing’s Poke Lab Kyle Kaminski • kyle@lansingcitypulse.com
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF (517) 999-6715
LANSING WAS HELD AT THE TOWNSHIP OFFICES LOCATED AT 3209 WEST MICHIGAN AVENUE, Dennis Burck • dennis@lansingcitypulse.com
LANSING, MICHIGAN ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2018, AT 7:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Supervisor Hayes, Clerk Aten, Treasurer Rodgers
PAGE (517) 999-6705
SALES EXECUTIVE
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Trustees: Broughton, Harris, McKenzie, DeLay
None.
27 Lee Purdy • lee@lansingcitypulse.com • (517) 999-5064
ALSO PRESENT: Michael Gresens, Attorney
Contributors: Andy Balaskovitz, Justin Bilicki, Daniel
Take your pick at Taste of Downtown E. Bollman, Capital News Service, Bill Castanier,
ACTION TAKEN BY THE BOARD:
Meeting called to order by Supervisor Hayes. Mary C. Cusack, Tom Helma, Gabrielle Lawrence
Minutes of the meeting held on August 8, 2018 approved. Johnson, Eve Kucharski, Terry Link, Andy McGlashen,
Agenda approved as amended.
Authorized Supervisor to amend sidewalk work agreement with Bees Asphalt. Cover Kyle Melinn, Mark Nixon, Shawn Parker, Stefanie Pohl,
Dennis Preston, Allan I. Ross, Dylan Tarr, Rich Tupica,
Approved Ordinance #36.24 with revision. Ute Von Der Heyden, David Winkelstern, Paul Wozniak
Adopted Resolution 18-23: USDA Loan Resolution.
Approved special use permit SP-18-13.
Art Interns: Shruti Saripalli
Distribution manager: Paul Shore • (517) 999-5061
Approved sidewalk waiver SW-18-14 with conditions.
Approved Amendment to Owner-Engineer Agreement, Amendment No. 1 and authorized West Side Delivery drivers: Dave Fisher, Yvonne LeFave,
By Kimberly Lavon Thomas Scott Jr., Richard Simpson, Jack Sova
Water manager to sign agreement.
Authorized fire chief to sell apparatus at auction.
Claims approved.
Meeting adjourned.
Diontrae Hayes, Supervisor
Susan L. Aten, Clerk
CP#18-219
City Pulse • September 12, 2018 www.lansingcitypulse.com 5
PULSE NEWS & O P I N I O N
Clock ticking on City Hall hotel plan FOR
DESIGN
Developer sets January
as likely deadline
A Chicago-based developer who wants
to transform Lansing’s City Hall into a
large-scale, high-end hotel remains unde-
terred by the announcement of a smaller
hotel just a few blocks away. But he could
divert course by the end of the year.
J. Paul Beitler, president of Beitler Real
Estate Services, said he wants to lock down
plans by January or else he’ll likely take his
development to another city.
Beitler wants to renovate City Hall into a
ritzy hotel that would cater to regional con-
vention crowds. Developer Pat Gillespie’s
latest plans along Michigan Avenue didn’t Eye for Design
change his mind, but Beitler urged officials
to move quickly or miss the opportunity.
Haslett
“If I build, I build. If I don’t, I don’t,” We received several correct and
Beitler declared. “It won’t be the end of the incorrect guesses regarding last month’s
world for me, but it will likely be the end Eye for Design, and Bryan Kurtz of
of the world for the city of Lansing. They’re Laingsburg provided one of each. But
struggling right now. This city has to start he was the first person to locate cor-
thinking strategically, and it has to take a rectly the limestone detail over the
leap of faith forward and do something.” main entrance at the Michigan State
Gillespie’s great land grab
Beitler’s proposal was one of four sub- University Student Union (below). The
mitted to the city a year ago for City Hall. relief work, carved by Samuel Cashwan,
The others would either tear down City depicts Prometheus delivering fire (and
Hall or build in front of it on the plaza. the arts) to humankind.
How a developer Ingham Co. Land Bank. But the project Beitler’s is the only one that would pre- The elaborate column capital (above)
may be found in Haslett. The first per-
didn’t gain steam until this year, when serve the building without blocking the
assembled the pieces Gillespie turned his focus south to Barnard view of what preservationists consider the son to correctly identify the location of
Street and made his way down the block. most important example of mid-century the detail will receive a City Pulse Eye
Developer Pat Gillespie knows it’ll take
“I don’t think there were any hard negoti- architecture in the Lansing region. for Design mug. Send your answer to
some work to shape up his latest plans
ations,” Gillespie added. “It was just: ‘Here’s Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said Tuesday daniel@eastarbor.com by Sept. 19.
along Michigan Avenue.
what we want to do. Would you be interest- it is “feasible” that the city can get over Daniel E. Bollman, AIA
It already has.
Blueprints for the first downtown hotel ed in participating? I wouldn’t call any of the hurdle by January, that is holding up
to be constructed in decades — along with that a hard conversation with anyone.” Beitler’s project, which Schor said he still
dozens of apartments and a grocery store to James Brogan, who owned the now-shut- favors. The challenge is finding a place for
anchor the project — will require an invest- tered Brogan’s Tire and Auto Service, the courts and the police lockup, which are
ment he estimated will tally up to $40 mil- jumpstarted Gillespie’s plans in May when housed in City Hall.
lion. The project required his company to he offloaded most of the remaining 600 But he said he will not spend “millions”
purchase nearly an entire city block before block of Michigan Avenue for $600,000, temporarily locating those facilities in
the plans could even be announced. according to city records. By then, only Ed order to accommodate Beitler’s deadline.
“It occurred over a four-year period and Carpenter, the owner of Liskey’s Auto & The Gillespie Group outlined plans last
involved communicating and having dis- Truck Service, 119 S. Larch, was standing month to swallow almost an entire city
cussions with people in the area to see if in the way. block for a nationally flagged hotel, apart-
they had an interest and if they wanted Carpenter ultimately decided to keep ment complex and an “urban market”
to be a part of the project,” Gillespie said. hold of his automotive business. But in Meijer in the 600 block of East Michigan
“It was basically conversational: ‘Is now a mid-August he unloaded a series of com- Avenue. But Beitler — along with a hand-
good time? Not today? Call back in a couple mercial and residential properties along ful of other developers — sees room for
months?’ It was a dialogue.” Barnard and Larch streets to the Gillespie continued growth in the market.
City records indicate Gillespie’s great Group to make the project possible. City “It’s a good start but that hotel is not
“Eye for Design” is our look at some of the
land grab began in 2014 when he acquired records indicate Carpenter was paid about going to be the level of quality that I’m nicer properties in Lansing. It rotates with Eye
the corner lot — a former Mobil gas sta- $500,000 through seven separate sales. looking to bring to the city,” Beitler said candy of the Week and Eyesore of the Week.
If you have a suggestion, please e-mail eye@
tion at the intersection of Michigan Avenue “I would say that a lot of this was his lansingcitypulse.com or call Berl Schwartz at
and Larch Street — for $60,000 from the See Gillespie, Page 6 See Hotel, Page 7 999-5061.
6 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • September 12, 2018
Gillespie
this property is prime and we’d be wasting confirmed both by Gillespie and records plans continue to take shape.
a corner if that was all we did there. He was filed at the City Assessor’s Office. All told, “There’s probably a lot of soil that will
willing to work with us and sell some of the the Gillespie Group paid about $1.9 milion need to be removed where anything has
land. He talked about moving. He talked for 18 separate parcels, including foreclosed leaked,” Gillespie added. “Most of the
from page 5
about staying.” properties. buildings also have lead-based paint and
idea,” Gillespie said. He told Capenter, “I’d Carpenter and Brogan didn’t return calls Gillespie aims to transform the 4-acre asbestos that will need to be removed in a
like to build a 24-unit apartment. He said for this story, but their property sales were space into a four-story hotel with a restau- manner that’s safe for the environment. We
rant and an undetermined mix of one- and need that toolbox to clean up up the site.
two-bedroom apartments. Below them will Obviously, we can’t do anything until then.”
NOTICE OF DAY OF REVIEW OF APPORTIONMENTS
Ingham County Drain Commissioner be a comparatively smaller, “urban market” Amenities like a cafe and a bar area — in
Patrick E. Lindemann version of Meijer, billed under the name addition to spaces for conference rooms —
“Capital City Market.” The brand behind are set to be included in the hotel. Gillespie
Notice is Hereby Given that a Public Hearing of Revision of Drain District boundaries, and
of Apportionment for special assessment of costs incurred by the drainage districts listed below will be the hotel has not yet been announced. said about 300 parking spaces behind the
held at the office of the Ingham County Drain Commissioner, 707 Buhl Avenue, in the City of Mason, Bob Trezise Jr., president and CEO of building will accommodate both tenants
Michigan, 48854, on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, and shoppers. But work will be worth
At the meeting to review the apportionment of benefits, I will have the tentative apportionments against suggested Gillespie would need to pursue rewards, according to Gillespie, who bills
parcels and municipalities within the drainage district available to review. a “very significant” amount of Brownfield the project as a downtown “game-changer.”
DRAIN NAME MUNICIPALITY SECTION NUMBERS
A02-00 ALAIEDON NO. 2 DRAIN ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP 21, 28 funding to clean up the contaminated site “I would love to see more people com-
A03-00 ALAIEDON #3 DRAIN ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP 20 following years of automotive-related spills ing downtown on business trips,” Gillespie
A04-00 ALAIEDON NO. 4 DRAIN ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP 12 and repair work. Gillespie said multiple added. “And they usually bring disposable
A21-00 ADDISON DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 21
B02-00 BARNES AND ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP 22, 23, 26-28, 34, 35 underground tanks still need to be excavat- income that would support more retail and
CARPENTER DRAIN ed. support different venues in the area. The
B04-00 BATEMAN DRAIN AURELIUS TOWNSHIP 14, 15
B15-00 BOTSFORD DRAIN LOCKE TOWNSHIP 7-9, 17, 18 A “significant” loan and grant request hotel is not the main force of business there.
B28-02 BUTTON, PONDEROSA MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 35 from the Michigan Department of We’re optimistic about that, but this start-
BRANCH DRAIN Environmental Quality and the Michigan ed with a grocery store and apartments.”
B32-00 BELL DRAIN AURELIUS TOWNSHIP 1, 12
B69-00 BOBOLINK DRAIN VEVAY TOWNSHIP 11 Economic Development Corp. will ulti- Visit lansingcitypulse.com for continued
E03-00 EBERLY DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 8-10, 15-17, 20 mately help float some of the cost, Trezise coverage as development continues along
G03-08 GILBERT, CARDINAL DELHI TOWNSHIP 18
BRANCH DRAIN added. Gillespie declined to provide specific Michigan Avenue.
G07-00 GOODNOE DRAIN ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP 4, 9 financial estimates for those portions as the — KYLE KAMINSKI
G21-00 GRETTENBERGER DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 21 kyle@lansingcitypulse.com
G22-00 GRANDY DRAIN STOCKBRIDGE TOWNSHIP 8, 17, 18
G24-00 GOULD DRAIN WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP 13, 24
H03-00 HANNAH FARM DRAIN
LEROY TOWNSHIP
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP
18, 19
20 WHAT WAS I INKING?
H04-00 HANCOCK DRAIN AURELIUS TOWNSHIP 1, 2
DELHI TOWNSHIP 25, 26, 35, 36
H06-00 HARMON DRAIN LESLIE TOWNSHIP 2, 3, 9-11, 14-16 WE WILL FRAME YOU! Is a regrettable
25% when
H52-00 HUMMELL DRAIN LEROY TOWNSHIP 15, 16, 21, 22 tattoo holding you
H56-00 HEENEY DRAIN BUNKER HILL TOWNSHIP 2, 3, 11 you back from the job of
H64-00 HUBBARD DRAIN VEVAY TOWNSHIP 26, 35
mention
OFF your dreams? Say
I02-00 INDIAN HILLS DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 21
I06-02 INDIAN LAKES NO.2 DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 20 this ad
K04-00 KENT DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 21 goodbye to tattoo
M02-00 MARKLEY DRAIN AURELIUS TOWNSHIP 29-31
M05-00 MARSHALL & WILCOX DRAIN LEROY TOWNSHIP 32
regret with laser
INGHAM TOWNSHIP 1, 12 tattoo removal
WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP 5-8
M06-00 MEAD DRAIN LEROY TOWNSHIP 28, 29, 32, 33
307 E Grand River Ave,
M14-00 MERIDIAN HILLS DRAIN
M18-04 MUD LAKE OUTLET,
TIHART BRANCH DRAIN
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP
10, 15
15 Old Town
(517) 482-8845
Rick J Smith, MD
PLASTIC SURGERY
M19-00 MULLEN DRAIN INGHAM TOWNSHIP 1, 2, 11, 12, 14 www.absolutegallery.net
M20-00 MUTUAL DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 36 1504 E. Grand River Ave. #100
ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP 1
WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP 5, 6
East Lansing, MI 48823
O02-00 OKEMOS PRESERVE DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 32 517-908-3040 • RickJSmithMD.com
CITY OF LANSING 32
P23-00 PIKE STREET DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 3
P24-04 PINE LAKE N. BRANCH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 3 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
P24-12 PINE LAKE, WILDFLOWER MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 10 EAST LANSING PLANNING COMMISSION
P44-00 PINE RIDGE DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 11
P47-00 PINE DELL DRAIN DELHI TOWNSHIP 11, 12 Notice is hereby given of the following public hearing to be held by the East Lansing Planning
R19-00 ROSSMAN DRAIN ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP 30, 31 Commission on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 7:00 p.m., in the 54-B District Court, Courtroom 2,
T05-01 TOWAR SNELL MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 6 101 Linden Street, East Lansing.
CITY OF EAST LANSING 6
W67-00 WELLINGTON ESTATES DRAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP 23, 24 A public hearing will be held to consider Ordinance 1440, an ordinance to amend the Zoning
Use District Map of Chapter 50- Zoning – of the Code of the City of East Lansing to rezone a
Any drain assessments against land will be collected in the same manner as property taxes. 2.9 acre vacant parcel of land on the east side of Coolidge Road south of the southeast corner
of Coolidge and Coleman Roads from A, Agricultural, to B-1, General Office Business.
For assessments to be collected in installments, the Drain Code (Act 40 of 1956, Sec. 154 [e]) provides
that the assessment may be paid in full with any interest to date at any time and thereby avoid further Call (517) 319-6930, the Department of Planning, Building and Development, East Lansing City
interest charges. Hall, 410 Abbot Road, East Lansing, for additional information. All interested persons will be given
an opportunity to be heard. These matters will be on the agenda for the next Planning Commission
Proceedings conducted at the day of review are subject to the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Persons meeting after the public hearing is held, at which time the Commission may vote on them. The Planning
with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation in the meeting should contact the Commission's recommendations are then placed on the agenda of the next City Council meeting. The
Ingham County Drain Commissioner at (517) 676-8395 or the Michigan Relay Center at 711 (TTY) at City Council will make the final decision on these applications.
least 24 hours in advance of the meeting to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other assistance. You
are Further Notified that persons aggrieved by the apportionment may appeal to the Ingham County The City of East Lansing will provide reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as interpreters for the
Probate Court within ten (10) days of the Day of Review. Persons aggrieved by the revision of district hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals
boundaries may appeal to the Ingham County Circuit Court within ten (10) days of the Day of Review. with disabilities upon request received by the City seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting.
Individuals with disabilities requiring aids or services should write or call the Planning Department, 410
Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI 48823. Phone: (517) 319-6930. TDD Number: 1-800-649-3777.
Patrick E. Lindemann
Ingham County Drain Commissioner Jennifer Shuster
City Clerk
CP#18-211 CP#18-220
City Pulse • September 12, 2018 www.lansingcitypulse.com 7
Hotel
from page 5
from his office in Chicago. “Convention
crowds want more of an upscale place they
can stay.”
“For years with only one hotel in down-
town Lansing?” he added. “That has
caused a problem for the Lansing Center.
Lansing has one of the most modern and
beautiful convention centers in the state
but they’re missing out. The Achilles ten-
don to that model is that there are no hos-
pitality rooms within walking distance.”
Bob Trezise Jr., president and CEO of the
Lansing Economic Area Partnership, said
at least a half-dozen developers are con-
sidering plans for additional downtown
hotels “in a serious way.” And the way he
sees it, the addition of a hotel downtown
would only bolster the need for another. Chicago developer J. Paul Beitler wants to turn City Hall into a hotel, but is growing impatient waiting for approval.
And another. “Let the best developer win,”
he added.
“If we have more hotel rooms, we’ll have
more conventions, which, ironically, will merge facilities with other municipali- lounge overlooking the Capitol could play and shiny building.”
create the need for more hotel rooms,” ties in Mason, East Lansing and Lansing host to a variety of black-tie affairs, Beitler Brett Forsberg, President of Forsberg
Trezise suggested. “Burger King is always Township. Proposed legislation requires suggested. Real Estate Co., also charted ongoing plans
built next to other fast food places. The a symbolic buy-in from each governing Beitler estimated it will take a minimum for another hotel development downtown.
average consumer is also more likely to body, she said. of three years before the building is ready He expects the City Council later this year
utilize a specific space nearby if there are “These are just preliminary discussions,” — assuming officials are even able to OK to review a rezoning request for a 105 to
other like-minded facilities, so they have Chairwoman Carol Wood emphasized. the project before the end of the year. 120 room, moderately priced hotel where
a choice.” “There will be no action.” Schor has a much more optimistic view the REO Town sign sits onMalcolm X
City officials noted the City Hall build- Still, Schor believes downtown is primed of the city regardless of whether Beitler’s Street.
ing regularly siphons a half-million dollars for additional options. He noted two or plans ever come to fruition. He said he “We’re still working on the branding
annually in maintenance costs alone. Last three hotels “makes sense.” plans to honor Bernero’s commitment to of what type of hotel it’s going to be but
year, former Mayor Virg Bernero solicited “I think a hotel on that site would make Beitler but isn’t setting any hard deadlines we’re thinking it’s something that will be
proposals to offload the aging site into the for a great location that a lot of people on the project. If the proposal is still on the a nice, mid-range hotel,” Forsberg added.
hands of developers and to relocate the would want to use,” Schor said. “But we table when plans for the courts and lockup “We feel good about the number of hotels
city’s offices to another, more cost-efficient have to do our due diligence. We can’t sell are decided, he’ll give Beitler a phone call. that are in the works right now, especially
location elsewhere downtown. him the building and not have a court- “We have quite a bit coming for Lansing,” with these being so centrally located to the
Beitler’s proposal — which includes room. I’d like to see this done before the Schor added. “He picked one of the most downtown core. There’s potential there.”
plans to lease the building and renovate end of the year, but I don’t set artificial challenging projects because it’s City Hall. Visit lansingcitypulse.com for continued
it into a high-class hotel and restaurant deadlines because I actually want to get We have stuff all over the city being devel- coverage as developments continue to take
— was selected as the frontrunner before things done.” oped right now. I’d like to add City Hall to shape downtown.
Bernero left office. After Schor arrived in Beitler’s proposal aims to move City that list, but we need to have a court sys- — KYLE KAMINSKI
January, he tapped the brakes on the proj- Hall into the former Lansing State Journal tem before we can ever have a new, bright kyle@lansingcitypulse.com
ect. And Beitler said time is running out headquarters, on Lenawee Street. He
for city officials to stepback on the gas. wants to lease City Hall from the city and
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
“This plan is predicated on a very renovate it into a Hilton or Hyatt — a plan EAST LANSING ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
dynamic environment where interest rates that he suggested would generate revenue
are going up every quarter,” Beitler added. for the city, in addition to better utilizing Notice is hereby given of the following public hearing to be held by the East Lansing Zoning Board of
Appeals on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 7:00 p.m., in the 54-B District Court, Courtroom 1, 101
“The cost to build is going up. At some the prominent downtown space. Linden Street, East Lansing:
point, regardless of how much the city may Gillespie’s upcoming plans might tight-
A public hearing will be held to consider a variance request for the property located at 846
desire to do something there, the cost in en a limited market but Beitler sees an Touraine Avenue, in the R-1, Low Density Residential District from the following requirement
order to complete this project will just be opportunity to collaborate. The state cap- of Chapter 50 – Zoning Code of the City of East Lansing:
too prohibitive.” ital will always have a need for more hotel
Section 50-301. – Minimum lot width. Minimum lot width in the R-1 zoning district is 70 feet.
Schor shares Beitler’s urgency but accommodations, he said. He wants to tap The applicant is proposing to split the property into two parcels where lot 94 is proposed to
stressed the importance of first finding into a more “upper class” crowd but sug- have a lot width of 59 feet and 4 inches and lot 95 is proposed to have a lot width of 66 feet
gested the dueling hotels could refer guests and 3 inches.
another location for the district courts and
the police lockup that share the space with to one another when vacancies run slim. Call (517) 319-6930, the Department of Planning, Building and Development, East Lansing City Hall,
city offices. Those discussions resurfaced “I wouldn’t be knocking on Lansing’s 410 Abbot Road, East Lansing, for additional information. All interested persons will be given an
opportunity to be heard.
this week at a City Council committee door if I didn’t think there was still an
meeting, but it’ll likely take months before opportunity here,” Beitler said. The City of East Lansing will provide reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as interpreters for the
a plan can move forward. The historical integrity of City Hall would hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals
with disabilities upon request received by the City seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting.
Louise Alderson, chief judge at Lansing’s be preserved while contractors reshape the Individuals with disabilities requiring aids or services should write or call the Planning Department, 410
54-A District Court, outlined for Council lower floor into a “glass curtain” adjacent Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI 48823. Phone: (517) 319-6930. TDD Number: 1-800-649-3777.
Jennifer Shuster
members the early stages of a multi-ju- to a plaza that would be kept open to the City Clerk
risdictional plan that could potentially public. A boutique restaurant and cocktail CP#18-221
8 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • September 12, 2018
Younger voters tripled turnout in state primary than 20 staff and fellows on the ground.
“It’s not necessarily about the num-
bers,” Winters said. “It’s more about pre-
More younger rate. In 2014, the 5.63 percent of primary Pennsylvania is reporting that registered paring people to vote and to help them
voters participated voters were 30-somethings. In 2018, that voters 34 and younger now outnumber realize that politics is not some far-away
in last month’s percentage shot up to 9.18. those 65 and older, according to The New thing. It impacts our lives every day.”
Michigan election Since 1998, the highest primary elec- York Times. Arizona, New York, Florida Take the cost of college tuition, for
than in any pri- tion turnout was in 2010, when 1.63 and Virginia have also “seen sharp example. Winters had helped lead a sur-
mary in at least million voters showed up to vote in con- increases,” the Times reported. vey of 12,654 college students and found
the last 10 years, tested Republican and Democratic guber- “Not to use a corny word, but they’re that 71 percent are concerned about the
a surge one statis- natorial elections. The 2018 number is pumped,” said Cayley Winters, a recent cost of going to college and don’t believe
tical expert called 30 percent higher than that. 23-year-old Michigan State University Congress is doing enough about it.
a “pretty dramatic “In the primary, I kept guessing 1.85 graduate who returned to her hometown, Those considered Millennials and
change.” million voters, with the possibility of as Battle Creek, last year to work as a nurse Generation Z are not represented with
Voters age many as 2 million, and I was scoffed at,” aide until realizing she liked politics any notable numbers in Congress.
18-29 made up Grebner noted. “This fall, I’m guessing more. According to a 2016 Bloomberg report,
6.77 percent of the universe of voting 3.5 million voters, roughly half a million Now, her full-time job is political five members of Congress were 25 to
Michiganders on Aug. 7, a higher per- more than previous gubernatorial elec- organizing and getting college students 35 years of age. The U.S. Constitution
centage than Michigan has seen since tions. The electorate will be younger and to register to vote. She’s working for requires a person be at least 25 to serve
at least 1998. But it’s the raw numbers more Democratic than recent gubernato- NextGen America, a 5-year-old environ- in the House.
of voters that struck Mark Grebner of rial elections. And, who knows, I may be mental and progressive advocacy political Still, 270 members of Congress, more
Practical Political Consultants in Lansing. wrong again, on the low side.” action committee funded by billionaire than half, were 52 to 70 years. The col-
In 2014, 49,000 18-to 29-year-olds As it has done for several years, the fund manager Tom Steyer. lege students Winters runs into on the
voted in the primary, making up 3.72 Lansing Clerk’s Office set up a table on With an initial $3.5 million invest- campuses of MSU, LCC, Aquinas and
percent of the 1.3 million voters. Keep the Lansing Community College campus ment, NextGen Michigan is registering other schools on the state’s west side
in mind the Republican and Democratic to make it more convenient for interested and organizing voters across the state understand what’s going on, she said.
gubernatorial contests were not contest- students to register to vote. In years’ past, with a focus on flipping the 7th, 8th and “The older generation has said they
ed that year. However, this year, almost they’ll see five or 10 students register a 11th congressional districts. The south- would take care of politics for us, but they
three times as many younger voters — day. If they got 50 students to register, it’s east Michigan 7th includes Eaton County. are not representing us in Congress,” she
143,000 — cast a ballot in an election a good turnout. The 8th comprises Ingham County, said. “They’re not talking about the issues
that drew a modern-day record 2.209 This year, Lansing Clerk Chris Swope Livingston County and northern Oakland we care about so we have to take matter
million people, according to final num- said they registered 300 students over County. into our own hands.”
bers from the secretary of state. four or five days. NextGen has registered 26,776 Kyle Melinn of the Capitol news service
Meanwhile, the percentage of 30-to “They really seem more into it,” he said. Michigan voters since January with more MIRS is at melinnky@gmail.com.
39-year-olds increased at about the same Michigan is not an anomaly in this.
City Pulse • September 12, 2018 www.lansingcitypulse.com 9
Lansing pot market withers on regulatory vine
State approves 12 dispensaries elsewhere; their licensing bid. The would-be shops
were also turned down based on a percep-
submitted a license application by June 15
will be able to continue business.
Wild Bill’s Tobacco applicant big loser tion of poor “moral integrity.”
Calls to Samona and Weisberger at Wild
Bureau of Medical Marihuana
Regulation Director Andrew Brisbo said
A dozen medical marijuana dispen- to open a dispensary, records state. Those Bill’s corporate offices were not immedi- the latest round of approvals should quell
saries this week were granted operating who were turned down will need to fit into ately returned this week. It’s not clear why concerns over a lack of marijuana availabil-
licenses by Michigan’s Medical Marihuana the limited regulatory scheme should their city officials didn’t deny the business on the ity for patients statewide. The decision to
Licensing Board, but hiccups in the local appeals succeed, essentially freezing the same basis. Swope couldn’t be reached for extend the deadline, instead, was based on
regulatory system ensured none of them market in the meantime, he said. clarification. ensuring businesses can operate while the
were in Lansing. Oasis Wellness Center of Lansing — a A total of 37 medical marijuana-related regulatory system catches up, he said.
The board on Monday granted prelim- company that was already locally approved licenses have now been granted statewide “I think there is availability, particularly
inary approval to nine medical marijua- for two growing operations and two pro- and 73 different businesses have received based on the number of approvals we had.
na-related business ventures around the cessing facilities —was denied prequalifi- the nod for prequalification. State officials But more certainly couldn’t hurt,” Brisbo
state, including pre-qualification for a cation status on Monday by state officials also opted to provide some leniency to cer- added. “We’ve heard a lot of concerns over
growing operation along Turner Road in for a range of business ventures across tain pools of applicants, extending a dead- the past month, and we want to make
Lansing under the name R&A Distributing mid-Michigan, including plans for pot line that would have initially forced every sure those concerns are heard and consid-
LLC. But none of the 19 full-fledged dis- shops centered around Beech and Hazel unlicensed operation to close by Saturday. ered and that we’ve taken the appropriate
pensary licenses that have been awarded so streets in Lansing. Emergency rules governing the market action.”
far have been distributed within the state The state-registered agent behind Wild — already twice extended by Michigan’s Visit lansingcitypulse.com for more pre-
capital. Bill’s Tobacco, Mazin Samona, was listed as Department of Licensing and Regulatory vious and continued coverage on medical
City Clerk Chris Swope has yet to grant a co-owner of those businesses, along with Affairs — were again extended two months marijuana regulation.
local licensure to any of 27 remaining appli- Paul Weisberger. The state board suggest- to Dec. 15. Applicants who have applied — KYLE KAMINSKI
cants who haven’t been denied in their bid ed two undisclosed arrests ultimately nixed for operation on or before Feb. 15 and have kyle@lansingcitypulse.com
Unfair to Dems
district and – in an ironic touch – as sentation in the U.S. House — a shameful,
HuffPost reported, “he and his four-per- inexcusable, outrageous denial of their
son staff camped out in spare cubicles” in rights by our Republican governor, Rick
Conyers’ office. Snyder.
Republican Kerry Bentivolio of Milford It was Snyder who decided to delay
Snyder denies quick election ry and will leave Capitol Hill less than two lost the special election to Curson but holding the primary for the balance of
months later, on Dec. 31. won the full term, only to be defeated for Conyers’ term until August, eight months
to replace Conyers That should be Detroit City Council reelection two years later. after the beleaguered Conyers stepped
When U.S. President Brenda Jones, who won the But Jones — again, assuming she takes down.
the job — won’t be setting any short- By contrast, it took only one month
Guest Column
Rep. John Democratic primary for the balance of
Conyers Jr. of Conyers’ term but lost the nomination for termer record. That’s held by Effingham from McCotter’s resignation in July 2012
Detroit resigned a full two-year stint to former state Rep. Lawrence, a Democrat from Louisiana, for the Snyder-scheduled primary in the
amid scandal Rashida Tlaib. who served for a single day after a two- usually Republican suburban district and
last December, Assuming Jones does win in year fight to contest the election of a only three months more to hold the gen-
he had served November and is willing to surrender Republican rival. eral election that gave Curson his brief
in the House of her City Council seat for a brief stint Lawrence’s fleeting tenure, March 3, and unexpected moment in the D.C. spot-
Representatives in Washington, she’ll join the ranks of 1875, was the last day of the congressional light.
for 52 years, another recent Michigan short-termer, session A Democratic district — 11 months
336 days — lon- ex-U.S. Rep. Dave Curson of Belleville, For comparison, House members on without representation. A Republican-
who spent a mere seven weeks in average had served 9.4 years as of 2017, leaning district — four months without
Eric Freedman ger than all but according to a Congressional Research representation. Does that sound fair?
two members Congress in 2012 after winning a special
in history. Only election to replace U.S. Rep. Thaddeus Service study. — Capital News Service
Michigan’s John Dingell and Mississippi’s McCotter. Meanwhile in Michigan, the over- (Eric Freedman, who won a Pulitzer
Jamie Whitten had longer House careers. McCotter, a Republican from Livonia, whelmingly Democratic and predom- prize at The Detroit News, is a journalism
The winner of this November’s election resigned amid scandal, as did Conyers. inantly African-American residents of professor at Michigan State University.
to fill the balance of Conyers’ term will His Democratic replacement, Curson, Detroit’s 13th Congressional District will A modified version of this commentary
serve one of the shortest tenures in histo- didn’t seek a full term in the suburban have gone for 11 months without repre- appeared in Domemagazine.com.)
B/19/024 IMPRINTED TSHIRTS ETC as per the specifications provided by the City of Lansing. The CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN
City of Lansing will accept sealed bids at the CITY OF LANSING, C/O LBWL, PURCHASING OFFICE, NOTICE OF POSTING OF TOWNSHIP BOARD MINUTES
at 1110 S. PENNSYLVANIA AVE., LANSING, MICHIGAN 48912 until 2:00 PM local time in effect on
SEPT. 18, 2018 at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Complete specifications and On September 5, 2018 the approved minutes of the following proceedings of the Meridian Township
forms required to submit bids are available by calling Stephanie Robinson at (517) 702-6197, Board:
email: stephanie.robinson@lbwl.com or go to www.mitn.info . The City of Lansing encourages
bids from all vendors including MBE/WBE vendors and Lansing-based businesses. August 21, 2018 Regular Meeting
CP#18-223
were sent to the following locations for public posting:
B/19/027 DELL MEMORY UPGRADE as per the specifications provided by the City of Lansing. The Meridian Township Municipal Building, 5151 Marsh Road
City of Lansing will accept sealed bids at the CITY OF LANSING, C/O LBWL, PURCHASING OFFICE, and the Township Web Site www.meridian.mi.us.
at 1110 S. PENNSYLVANIA AVE., LANSING, MICHIGAN 48912 until 2:00 PM local time in effect on
SEPT. 21, 2018 at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Complete specifications and
forms required to submit bids are available by calling Stephanie Robinson at (517) 702-6197, BRETT DREYFUS, CMMC
email: stephanie.robinson@lbwl.com or go to www.mitn.info . The City of Lansing encourages TOWNSHIP CLERK
bids from all vendors including MBE/WBE vendors and Lansing-based businesses.
CP#18-222 CP#18-218
10 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • September 12, 2018
Not keeping up with
Online?
Here’s what you missed.
Williamston Schools recall heads to ballot
Williamston voters will decide in the November general
election whether to recall four school board members East Lansing police nab suspected ‘window
for supporting transgender rights. peeper’
A 56-year-old man could soon face a criminal prowling charge
after authorities said he was caught “peeping” into local neigh-
borhood windows before he was picked up on unrelated traffic
violations.
REO Town Art Attack brings music and art
together for good cause
Working with the Capital Area Partnership nonprofit, Good Samaritans unite to ‘Serve Lansing’
the REO Town Commercial Association’s Art Attack Looking for volunteer opportunities? The city of Lansing, along
saw the community paint murals on thin sheets of wood with a host of other local nonprofit community organizations,
to board up the Walter French Academy’s windows — has you covered.
beautifying the building while it awaits renovation.
Visit lansingcitypulse.com for moreCity Pulse • September 12, 2018 www.lansingcitypulse.com 11
WITH OR WITHOUT CONNXCTIONS,
LANSING COMEDY STRIVES
By SKYLER ASHLEY makes it easier to welcome new.”
No comedy club? No problem. Since the The Lansing comedy includes more than
2014 closing of Connxctions, the de facto prototypical “that’s my life” standup. The
n
Lansing comedy headquarters since 1984, Comedy Coven, which began as a house
i
local comedians have survived off support show in 2015, made a name for itself with
y
from fellow performers and a cavalcade of regular performances — blending improv
d
comedian-run standup nights at bars and and sketch comedy — at the Robin Theatre.
e
concert halls. Formed as a haven for some of Lansing’s
m
“People put on all kinds of different shows women comedians, the Comedy Coven is a
C sing
o
that reflect their style. If you want a specific refreshing juxtaposition to male oriented
kind of comedy, you can find it within this stand up comedy, a la countless imitators of
city,” said Pat Sievart, a Lansing comedian Louis C.K. and Bill Burr.
n
who hosts shows at BAD Brewing Co. and “We wanted a social space where we could
Mac’s Bar. talk about our experiences as women in
a
Attempts to replace Connxctions, which the scene. It very quickly developed into us
L
hosted comedy titans such as Drew Carey planning and organizing the show,” Comedy
and Kevin Hart, have proven unsuccessful. Coven member Emily Syrja said.
The biggest push thus far, Tripper’s Comedy Comedy Coven members say they view
Club — an addition adjoined to the Tripper’s comedy as an easy way for ideas to permeate
Bar launched in 2014 — closed down with one’s mind.
the rest of the restaurant in 2016. Funny- “Maybe you’re not a feminist; maybe you
Business Agency, which has long booked don’t understand these issues. But if you hear
acts in the Lansing circuit, has a 2016 post- someone talk about them in an enlightening
ing on its website seeking out somebody and hilarious way, you tend to listen,” said
brave enough to open a new comedy club in Comedy Coven member Tricia Chamberlain.
Greater Lansing. Despite its sometimes provocative polit-
But Lansing hasn’t yet crept into a ical nature, the Comedy Coven’s members
laugh-dystopia. Without a city-defining said the group is hardly just doing political
comedy haunt to call home, comedians have comedy.
consolidated into a tightknit circle of per- “A lot of the things we do are absurd. Not
formers. The scene is interconnected with everything has a political statement attached
gigs hosted anywhere from the Unicorn to it,” Chamberlain said.
Lounge to private homes bearing catchy What makes comedians stay once they’ve
names such as the Salsa Parlor. dug their heels into the Lansing? Aaron
Michigan Comedy Co-op is a name oft- wheels turning. Co-op’s promoters. “Instead of listing our Putnam, who makes his living off comedy,
found on fliers for Lansing comedy shows. “In Maine, we had the same problem as names, which no one knows, we decided to spends his time frantically traveling between
It’s organized by three independent come- Lansing. There was no comedy club. We put all of the shows under one name. And Chicago and Lansing — booking shows and
dians — two of them transplants from had to put on and promote our own shows,” hopefully, we can get that name out there.” performing as a standup comedian. Despite
Portland, Maine — trying to keep Lansing’s said Will Green, one of Michigan Comedy The group splits responsibilities. Members dabbling in markets as large as New York
aim their sight on different regions of City and Los Angeles, he still returns to the
Greater Lansing. Green promotes shows Lansing scene.
at Windwalker Underground Gallery in “It’s special. There is just a bunch of people
Charlotte, while Nick Leydorf and Aharon just really going after it. There is a passion
Willows-Hebert put on shows at the Fledge, for it. Honestly, it’s not about where you’re
a newer venue near Sparrow Hospital at; where you’re doing it — it’s all about how
described as an “incubator” and “maker you’re putting down the work.”
place.” While Putnam argues the lack of a flag-
“When you have one club, everyone tries to ship comedy club hasn’t negatively impacted
get into that club. When you don’t have that the spotlight on local talent, he said it’s made
one club, everyone just kind of goes off on attracting to stars to Lansing daunting.
their own,” Green said. “Everyone is trying to “Since Connxctions closed, you can’t get
make their own stage time, so the city ends headliners from other parts of the coun-
up with more shows.” try. There’s no place for them to perform,”
Michigan Comedy Co-op hopes the DIY Putnam said. “They’re going to Detroit or
spirit of its shows signals the door is open for Grand Rapids, and there’s no reason for
anybody seeking a make a stab at live com- that, considering Lansing’s the capital and
edy. home of a large university. If there was a club
“We’re trying to make it as welcoming as again — and it was done right — I think it
possible for people that want to participate would do well.”
and help each other out,” Leydorf said. “I With much of the control over booking
don’t know if the lack of a club makes the shows spread between different local come-
Photo by Julia Kramer scene stronger or not, but when everyone’s
Lansing's Comedy Coven performing at the Robin Theatre. working to help each other out, it definitely See Comedy, Page 1212 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • September 12, 2018
UNDERGROUND HOUSE SHOWS KEEP
COMEDY ALIVE IN GREATER LANSING
By DENNIS BURCK scene mostly in the hands of comedy nights
Between two purple sconces and a shelf of at local bars. Michigan State University stu-
hot sauce in East Lansing, comedy thrives. dent Tom Gannon started the first Lansing
The Salsa Parlor comedy show is the latest house comedy show entitled the “825 Albert
evolution of monthly house shows in East Comedy Show” in 2014, within months of
Lansing booking national and local acts Connxctions closing.
from the big stage to the living room. “I was 20 at the time and any bar or com-
The donations funded venue is the clos- edy club was 21 plus. I had difficulties find-
est thing Greater Lansing has to a dedicated ing anywhere to perform in Lansing,” Gan-
comedy club. non said.
“People ask me if I want to open a club The age difference between him and co-
and I say, ‘Not really, but someone should,’” medians above 20 lead to a disparity in co-
Louis Michael, show organizer and home- medic taste. “College students like the jokes
owner said. “There is clearly a market for it.” college students tell and I started the show
For Michael, a touring comedian himself, to provide college students a place for com-
Salsa Parlor is comedy first and business edy.”
second. For Gannon, hosting the first show was
“A donations bucket, snacks and comedy “terrifying.”
in my living room is the farthest I want to With a budget of $300, Gannon bought a
go.” microphone and amplifier and used the re-
In 2014, Lansing comedy club Connxc- maining $200 to pay Stewart Huff, a tour- Photo courtesy of Salsa Parlor
tions closed, leaving Lansing’s comedy See Underground, Page 13 Attendees watch comedians perform at the Salsa Parlor’s first house comedy show.
Get Healthy - Stay Healty Comedy and one of them is a woman. I think that’s
important to have that representation,”
energy to live comedy you don’t get from
taped performances, whether you’re watch-
Jenkins said. “The more diverse your lineup ing a comic bomb disastrously, or skillfully
is, the more diverse your crowd is. When you slay their audience with laughter.
from page 11 open up the pools of comics you book, you’ll “The comedians are being their true selves
have a bigger number of performers that are — they’re working things out. It’s fun to see
30
dians that double as promoters, small names good. It’s that easy.” people grow over time,” Sievart said. “You
% One bottle of and first time performers are finding ample
opportunities to get on the mic.
Putnam said he has the same consider-
ation when he books his shows.
can get on the ground floor, see where they
started and watch them evolve. What you’re
OFF Biote supplements Mac’s Monday Comedy Night is weekly, “Nobody really wants to see a lineup of getting on Netflix might just be the end
free and invites a wide variety of sometimes back to back white guys in hoodies,” Putnam product of all of that work.”
completely unknown comics up to the stage. said. Jake Ford, who helps run the Unicorn
“It seems like maybe there’s more oppor- But nothing’s ever perfect, and some Lounge’s weekly Wednesday comedy night,
3955 Patient Care Drive tunity. The show we do at Mac’s has a good comedians have experiences that suggest agreed.
Lansing, MI 48911 audience. I think having a strong show like Lansing needs some improvement. “With the live aspect you get hecklers
(517) 374-7600 that is a marker, or a flagpole, for people “When I was doing standup, I did feel like and other weird things that can happen. It’s
www.cimamed.com to see and gravitate toward,” said Robert I wasn’t part of this sort of boy’s club. I always a much more uncontrolled environment,
Jenkins, one of Mac’s Monday Comedy kind of felt like a little sister,” Chamberlain which makes for a completely different expe-
Night’s organizers. said. “If you didn’t fit into that little sister rience.”
Comedians say a diverse cast of comics role, people would say, “Oh, well I’m going And above all, Lansing’s comedians just
provides more fodder for laughs. to teach you. You can’t be better than me and want you at their shows. “There’s a lot of good
“I’m part of a show that’s run by four you can’t try these things.’” opportunities to see comedy in Lansing, and
people — two of them are people of color Lansing comedians attest there’s a special people should check them out,” Sievart said.
40
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