Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

LANSING – A cloud of dust blew across Michigan avenue as the metal claws of two excavators ripped down a brick wall on the 2000 block of Michigan Avenue on Monday morning.

The former Eastside Barber Shop that bore the Emil's mural was gone, turned into a pile of rubble. There are five other buildings to go, including those that once housed Emil's and a homebrew supply shop.

Over the next few weeks, SC Environmental crews will tear down the buildings and clear the site to make way for East Town Flats, a $5 million, mixed-use development from Gillespie Company.

When the four-story project is completed by summer 2017, it will include 39 apartments with retail space on the first floor. Tenants will include Strange Matter Coffee Co. and a restaurant, which has yet to be identified. The apartments will range from studios to two-bedroom units, accommodating up to 120 people. Rents will run between $775 and $1,250.

“We are excited to start on the project,” said Scott Gillespie, who started buying properties on south side of the block in 2013. “This will attract more people to the area. It’s adding more energy to an already fantastic part of town.”

A new development and competing visions for Michigan Avenue

Cara Nader, owner of Strange Matter Coffee, which is located across the street, said she looks forward to moving to a bigger space.

"I've been waiting for this to happen since early spring," Nader said. "I look forward to seeing the progress."

When she moves the shop into a 2,100 square-foot space, she will add a bakery and more seating.

"I hope (East Town Flats) will increase the foot traffic and walkability of the neighborhood," she said. "Any time you have vacant buildings, it's not benefiting anyone."

Todd Branstner watched the demolition across the street from atop his bike.

The owner of Capital City Homebrew Supply once ran his store from the brick building east of Emil's before moving to 623 E. Michigan Ave. in January because of the new development.

"I'm kind of sad to see it go," Branstner said while snapping photos of the demolition. "I still don't think it's a fit."

Branstner was among the opponents to Gillespie's project, which is replacing the two-story Craftsman-style storefronts built in the 1930's and '40s with a more modern development that mixes brick and metal to the facade. Gillespie changed his original design to include Craftsman elements to make the development fit in the area better.

Annalisa Grunwald watched the demolition from inside Strange Matter Coffee. The East Lansing resident is excited for the coffee shop to expand but said the development is bittersweet.

"Those buildings have a nice facade and give the area a historical vibe ... but at the same time, the Michigan Avenue corridor is being worked on so it gets more people to come downtown," she said. "We need to have a vibrant area."

Gillespie said the development will complement Arcadia Ales & Smokehouse, which is being developed by Kris Elliot of Urban Feast in a former bank building across the street in the 2100 block of E. Michigan Ave.

“The synergies of his project and my project going on at the same time will be great for the area,” he said.

Arcadia Ales & Smokehouse could open in August

Alexander Alusheff is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.