Kids in the Hall

Monday, Oct. 29 — Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero wants to put three vacant fire stations on the market. Tonight, the City Council gave him the go ahead on two of them — with some caveats. 

It was a unanimous decision by the Council to allow the administration to put Fire Station No. 3, 629 W. Hillsdale St., and Fire Station No. 7, 629 N. Jenison St., on the market. A resolution on No. 7 included two amendments that restrict the property to single family zoning and prohibit the demolition of the building.

At-Large Councilwoman Carol Wood said the amendments were worked out because of issues raised by Westside Neighborhood residents.

“They had different concerns and articulated them to the committee and we were able to put those in the resolution to make sure it went smoothly as this process moves forward,” she said during the meeting.

The decision on Fire Station No. 5, 1821 Todd Ave., was referred back to the Development and Planning committee. Council President Brian Jeffries said people in the Moores Park Neighborhood have expressed some concerns about the fate of the property after the sale. He said Station No. 5 would most likely get the same amendment treatment as Station No. 7.

The administration closed the three stations earlier this year for budgetary reasons and it has not ruled out looking at other city-owned properties, including some dedicated parkland, to potentially sell.