Eyesore of the Week

Walter Neller Building, 122 S. Grand Ave., Lansing

Downtown Lansing’s biggest and longest-standing eyesore — which City Pulse featured as such in 2014 and 2018 — finally met the wrecking ball this week. A “demolition party” was hosted by owner Granger Group on Monday, marking what it called the “end of an era” and a “new vision” for the property occupied by the 25,000-square-foot Walter Neller Building on the corner of Grand Avenue and East Allegan Street. CEO Gary Granger knocked out chunks of the north wall Monday with a sledgehammer. Actual demolition of the 87-year-old building began Tuesday. Granger also used the event to announce plans to replace it with a five-story residential building with 76 market-rate apartments and commercial space. He did not give an expected cost but expects it to be completed and open by 2027. Granger also plans to construct a second building, 15 stories or more, in the adjacent parking lot. The Neller Building, first known as the Strand Hotel, was built in 1938. It has been vacant and red-tagged, however, since 2016.

“Eyesore of the Week” is our weekly look at some of the seedier properties in Lansing. It rotates with Public Art, by Bill Castanier. Have a suggestion? Email eye@lansingcitypulse.com  or call in a nomination at 517-999-5061.