Brief ...

A $20 million mixed-use project, “Metro Place,” will be developed at the site of the long-vacant YMCA building on Townsend Street, adjacent to Reutter Park.

The project is being developed by Lawton Group Development LLC.

“Metro Place will be a terrific addition to downtown Lansing’s residential options and add even more vibrancy to our urban core by attracting new residents to live in the heart of the city,” said Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.

“We are thrilled to finally bring this project to fruition after years of hard work and considerable expense,” said Lawton Group representative Dan Essa.

The Lawton Group originally acquired the YMCA site in 2008 and previously planned several redevelopment projects that were stymied by adverse financing conditions during the recession. Funding includes a $3 million loan from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Principal financing of $13 million is from Prudential Huntoon Paige, which will be guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will provide more than $500,000 for environmental remediation.

Demolition of the old YMCA building is expected this spring, with construction next year. The project is targeted to be complete in spring 2016.

— Belinda Thurston

Protesters demonstrate in mall, Saginaw Highway

Approximately 40 people participated in a “die-in” demonstration at the Lansing Mall and along Saginaw Highway for Friday night.

Die-ins are peaceful demonstrations that have been staged across the country recently as a response to the lack of indictments in the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Garner in New York.

Friday’s protest was organized by Lansing residents Alicia Hicks, 26, Nicole Daniel, 25, Bianca Smith, 26, Dionna Hardin, 26, and Anisa Kelley, 26.

"We do feel connectedness with the people suffering around the country and solidarity with those who are hurting,” said Hardin. One of the first activists to arrive Friday was Norma Bauer, 69, Lansing.

“I really admire these young activists who are willing to work with local law enforcement in polite ways to bring to the attention of the American public that we have a broken criminal justice system,” Bauer said.

The group gathered at the Lansing Mall fountain and “died” for four and a half minutes at 6:15 pm. They later “died” in the middle of Saginaw Highway blocking traffic.

"Michael Brown´s body was left in the street for four and a half hours," said Hicks. "We knew we couldn´t be out there for that long so we chose four and a half minutes to symbolize that."

— Courtney Morra

...and briefer

During columnist George Will´s commencement address at MSU on Saturday, a small group of MSU students stood and turned their backs to protest his claim that rape victims at colleges have “coveted status” on campus. In the audience, some read newspapers during the speech; outside others protested. ... Included in the last-minute budget agreement in Washington was another $90 million in funding for MSU´s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). ... As of Tuesday, Michigan´s Legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder still had no agreement on how to fund the state´s needed road repairs. … A Delta Township man was killed and his daughter critically injured in an accident on Wednesday as they refueled their car along I-496. ... On Friday, 1,500 police officers were among the mourners at the funeral of Ingham County Sheriff’s Deputy Grant Whitaker, killed during a high speed car chase. A suspect, John Kelsey II of Stockbridge, was arrested on Monday. … Overriding MSU President Lou Anna Simon´s objection, the university´s board of trustees raised her salary to $750,000 and added a $100,000 retention bonus, a move designed to keep the salary competitive during the next presidential search. ... Citing First Amendment rights, the Michigan State Capitol Commission has approved a satanist holiday display for the grounds.