Hasn't hit the media yet, but this weeks city council packet has information on the long-planned redevelopment of the corner of Larch Street and Michigan Avenue, better known as
600 East Michigan Avenue at the eastern end of downtown. Originally only supposed to include the corner lot - the site of what was once the only gas station in downtown - but we find out in the packet that the developer (Gillespie Group) has pieced together a total of 3.6 acres.
600 East by
NewCityOne, on Flickr
Gillespie Group is seeking to both have the outlined area rezoned G-1 - the highest density classification in the zoning code which requires no setbacks, on-site parking, highest residential densities, etc... - to facilitate the development of a mixed-use residential/commercial development with details to be determined. The reason the two lots you see along Michigan are left out is because they are already zoned G-1. The big parcels left off on Larch is Liskeys, a high-priced auto repair shop who apparently didn't want to sell, and then two lots along Barnard. The development also includes a request for the vacation of the alley in between Liskey's and the old gas station lot going to the railroad tracks for the construction of a new road through the site, which I imagine will make it so that you have either zero or maybe just one curb cut along Michigan with all other traffic being circulated along the new street and Barnard at the south end of the development.
The original concept for the corner lot at Michigan and Larch was for a little cheap-looking three-story apartment building. We can assume from this that this is going to be a
much more substantial development. This development is coupled with the eventual renovation of the old Union Depot (old Clara's restaurant) across the street - also by the Gillespie Group - and a three-of-four-story apartment building to be built immediately north of the depot.
I'm guesing that this is going to be at least as large as the Stadium District mixed-use building across Larch a block to the east.