By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-923621.mp3
Lansing, MI – Demolition has begun on a long-time eyesore near downtown Lansing. Crews have started tearing down the Deluxe Inn off Interstate 496.
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Almost from the time it was built 30 years ago, the Deluxe Inn motel garnered an unsavory reputation as a hotspot for prostitution, drug use and murder. Now, the site will be prepared for redevelopment.
"I think you can have a lot of density; you can have some height here and there won't be zoning and surrounding property issues," says Ingham County Land Bank chairman Eric Schertzing. "And you can do that on the (Grand) river. So, some condos on the river, maybe a conference center or mixed use retail with some apartments above. I think there's a market for people that work in the downtown."
There have been no development proposals yet. Shortly before demolition, the site was offered to local graffiti artists for a public art project.
The building should be completely torn down within a month.