HomeMy WebLinkAboutMACIA Meeting Minutes 3.15.24 Andy Schor,Mayor
Michigan Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority
Board of Director's Meeting
Friday, March 15, 2024 -8:30 AM
Foster Community Center
200 N. Foster Ave., Room 211
Lansing, MI 48910
Members Present: Yvette Collins, Scott Gillespie, Joan Nelson, Laurie
Baumer
Mayoral Designee:
Members Absent: Elaine Barr, Dr. Andrea McSwain, Jon Lum (excused)
Facilitator Present: Alex Watkins (LEDC)
Public Present: Lisa Meier, Sarah Beagle
Recorded by: Yvette Collins
Call to Order/Roll call
Vice Chair Nelson welcomed everyone and called the MACIA Board of Directors
meeting to order at 8:36 a.m.
Approval of the February 19, 2024, MACIA Meeting Minutes - Amended (Action)
MOTION: Gillespie moved to approve the February MACIA Meeting Minutes with the
amended correction of the spelling of Laurie Baumer's last name. Motion
seconded by Collins.
YEAS: Unanimous. Motion carried.
2000 Block Facade Update
Gillespie provided an update on the meetings held with businesses regarding the 2000
block fagade estimated costs. Baumer, Lum and Gillespie met separately with the
businesses to share the costs of the project. The meetings were held with: China Flavor
(the Lees), Bill Leech (Susan), Green Door and Everybody Reads (Scott). The businesses
missing from the meetings were Bill Castellani regarding the 2001 and 2003 buildings on
Michigan Avenue. The consensus was that people were shocked by the numbers. There
appeared to be a misunderstanding about what the businesses would be expected to
cover.
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Most of the conversation for the remaining of the MACIA meeting on this topic was how
does MACIA move forward with this project, considering MACIA has raised money to
improve the facades for the buildings. There was discussion about going back to the
drawing board and looking at each space individually.
Baumer suggested that MACIA might approach it the way the city does. Maybe pose it
so the owners can produce a proposal with MACIA offering the funding the MACIA has
as a match.
Watkins also suggested that each business be encouraged to apply separately to the
city's Facade Improvement program. There is funding available for those businesses:
Have them apply to the Facade program. The design committee makes the decision on
the projects.
There was additional discussion about what total dollars are needed for the project.
The board continued their discussion on other ways to approach this project including
looking into some additional incentives/funding opportunities available to the business
owners.
There was discussion about a follow up working committee group that would discuss next
steps in a March 22, 2024, meeting via a Zoom call.
Social District Update
Watkins shared that the signage will be up soon, but it will not be launched for St. Patrick's
Day. The decision has been made to launch mid-April.
New Board Meeting Discussion
No discussion.
Other Business
There was discussion about the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) capture. Much of this
discussion was an extension of the discussion related to the 2000 Block Facade
Improvement discussion. Watkins provided a general update on the MACIA financials
including the capture from 2023 and the years prior as well as the $100,000 in ARPA
funding available to the board.
Public Comment
Ms. Meier and Ms. Beagle had questions about the construction on Michigan Avenue.
Both expressed concerns about the trees being chop
ed down, he
believes there is a process for trees to be put back in and Watkins shared the ered a ethat grants
for trees. There was also information shared by MACIA that this issue would be something
to discuss with the city directly as it is not something in the purview of MACIA directly.
Adjournment
Vice Chair Nelson adjourned the Michigan Avenue Board of Directors at 9:50 a.m.
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