South Lansing (MI) Community Development Association (SLCDA) Winter 2011 Newsletter

8/8/2019 South Lansing (MI) Community Development Association (SLCDA) Winter 2011 Newsletter

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to live in a better neighborhood.

We are constantly inspired by residentswho get involved to improve their neighbor-

affect the outcome of any game. The follow-ing stories demonstrate how people in threedifferent neighborhoods got out of their

chairs to make a difference.

Colonial Village

November marked the end of an erawhen the L&L Food Center in ColonialVillage shuttered its doors. For the firsttime since it opened in 1953, the center iswithout a grocery store.

neighborhood shopping center. Long-timeresidents share fond memories of shoppingat Cartwright Shoes, D&C department store,

For decades, the center was a hub ofcommercial activity and provided a varietyof walkable destinations for local shoppers.In the last few years, though, all but threestorefronts became vacant, the latest beingL&L Food Center.

Using email and social media, AverillWoods resident Margaret Kingsbury begana grassroots campaign to bring back agrocery store and revitalize the shoppingcenter. With help from SLCDA staff andfacilitator Michelle Napier-Dunnings,

residents organized a series of meetings todiscuss the vacancies and develop strategiesfor recruiting future tenants.

Everyone was dismayed by L&L closing,but they quickly redirected their energy tofinding solutions. They all adopted the ideathat neighbors refuse to be armchair quar-terbacks watching from the sidelines. Theyare working with city officials and economicdevelopment staff to find viable tenants thatserve the neighborhood.

Neighborhood News

South Lansing Community Development AssociationSouth Lansing Community Development Association

SSSOUTHOUTHOUTHLLLANSINGANSINGANSING... RGRGRGThe Official Publication ofWinter 2011 Volume 9, Issue 1

Not surprisingly, their first priority is agrocery store. Many seniors in the area re-lied on L&L as their sole source for food. Forthose with limited mobility or fear of drivingon major roads, the only nearby options forgroceries are Quality Dairy and Rite Aid.

Other top contenders are a coffee shop,bakery, deli and family restaurant.

In mid-December, staff from the LansingEconomic Development Corporation (LEDC)and SLCDA met with Craig Singer, owner of

Colonial Village Shopping Center. He was somade a point to attend their next meeting onJanuary 6. When neighbors thanked him forcoming, Mr. Singer replied:

Unfortunately, in my business, I have stores

closing all over the place. This is really the

first time that I was called by the commu-

how could I not come?

He was also amazed by the number of

officials advocating on behalf of neighborsroll on the south side!

To get involved or follow this process as

guidance with other neighborhood-basedrevitalization efforts, call SLCDA at(517)374-5700.

The success of any community lies not in the strength of its people, but in the strength of the bonds among them. ~ SLCDA

weekly email update -

the best way to stay informed

about upcoming eventsactivities, and entertainment

in South Lansing.

Send contact information,

including preferred email, to

[email protected].

A calendar of community

events is also available by

www.southlansing.org.

Inside This IssueNeighborhood News 1-3

Colonial Village

REO Town

Cavanaugh Park

Snow Removal Ordinance

Master Planning 4

Health Assessment

Health & Wellness 5

Garlic for Health

Winter Workout Tips

Harvest Pumpkin Soup

LEED the Way 6

Lake Trust Credit Union

Home Sustainable Home

Hawk Island Triathlon 6

South Lansing CDA 7

Welcome Chris/Carrie

Good Food Talks

Garden Recap

Garden Classes

Support SLCDA

Call for Market Vendors 8

John Bean Building

Residents listen intently at the January 6 meeting.


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Board of Directors

Josh Hovey, President

Kathy Tobe, Vice-President

Stacy Lewis, Secretary

Martha Cerna, Treasurer

Ken Szymusiak, At-Large

Rev. Jane Ellen Johnson, At-Large

Denise Lynch, At-Large

Shawn Cox, At-Large

Rory Neuner, At-Large

Paul Steiner, Large

Staff

Kathie Dunbar

Executive Director

[email protected]

Health Initiatives Coordinator

Farmers Market Manager

[email protected]

Carrie Burns, AmeriCorps

Urban Garden Coordinator

[email protected]

Chris Herrmann, Outreach

& Volunteer Coordinator

[email protected]

South Lansing Community

is to create and sustain a strong,healthy, vibrant South Lansing com-munity, where citizens feel connectedto each other, demonstrate ownershipin their community, share knowledge

and resources, and work togethertoward positive change.

Our programs are generouslysupported by the Michigan Depart-ment of Community Health, theIngham County Health Department,and the City of Lansing.

SouthLansing.Org is publishedquarterly to provide South Lansingresidents and stakeholders with in-formation about local organizations,community resources, events, andactivities. We welcome submissionsthat highlight local neighborhoods,

schools, businesses, faith groups,community organizations and non-profit agencies. Send press releases,newsletters and other communica-tions to:

SouthLansing.Org

1900 Boston Blvd.

Lansing MI 48910.

(517) 374-5700

[email protected]

South Lansing Community Development AssociationSouth Lansing Community Development Association2

REO Town

Stop, start. Stop, start. For decades, thatseemed to be the pattern of multiple at-tempts to spark revitalization efforts in

The REO Town Commercial Association andlocal residents decided it was time for REO

In its heyday, REO Town was a thrivingcommunity of industry and commerce. Inthe past few decades, however, the areasuffered an economic decline that resultedin vacant storefronts and blighted residen-tial properties.

All tides turn, though, and in the pastfew years, a new cropof community-minded residents and

entrepreneurs beganinvesting in the dis-trict. Not content towait for change, thesefolks are taking upthe reigns to redesigntheir community.They want a commer-cial district that celebrates its automotivehistory, embraces urban arts and culture,and encourages entrepreneurship. And

The first visible signs of change came

late last summer, when dozens of graffitiartists were invited to transform an emptyhotel slated for demolition into a giganticpublic art display. The project attractedthousands of people to REO Town fromacross Michigan and neighboring states.

Around the same time, the REO TownCommercial Association (RTCA) began aseries of meetings to increase interest andinvolvement in revitalizing the area. Withhelp from SLCDA director Kathie Dunbar,stakeholders started brainstorming ideasrelated to land use, transportation, economic

development, placemaking, internal capacitybuilding, special events, and promotions.

installing a sign at the north entrance to REOTown. With little money and lots of volun-teers, they decided to build it themselves.They were helped along the way by BradCole at Hazen Lumber (2829 S. MLK Jr.Blvd.), who provided some of the materialsand Terry Kleiman, owner of RBK Building

Materials (1325 E. Jolly Rd.), who cut theletters from full sheets of plywood on hisCNC machine.

In December, with blessings from EricSchertzing at the Land Bank, board mem-

bers and volunteers braved cold tempera-tures to install a 60 foot sign on the former

The sign celebrates the past and future

Building on the popularity of the graffitiproject, the other letters will become arotating canvas for artists invited to leavetheir mark.

Installation of the sign capped off aseries of recent developments in REO Town.ing exhibition and community activity spacefor local artists. Soon after, the Board of

Water & Light unveiled plans to build a newnatural-gas-powered plant and refurbishthe Grand Trunk Railroad Depot. In Octo-ber, local developer Pat Gillespie launchedthe REO Eats project, a social media experi-ment to create a new restaurant designedfor the community by the community.

tons, Studio Intrigue Architects, NeoPhaseProperties, REO Town Pub and Grill, andReach Art Studio are also crucial ingredi-ents in this recipe for reinvention. Thesepioneers saw potential before anyone else

and remained loyal to REO Town, even asthey weathered economic challenges. Nowthey look forward to riding this new waveof development.

Stay tuned. REO Town is definitely aPhoenix rising. For more information oninvestment opportunities or how to getinvolved, contact RTCA presidentTomEdmiston at(517) 364-8907 or [email protected].

Neighborhood News


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Neighborhood News

Snow Removal

Lansing has had a snow removalordinance in place since the 1890s,when it was illegal to leave snow, ice, orhorses on the sidewalk. As you may

have heard, the City Council recentlyramped up enforcement procedures.This will come as good news to many(especially elderly residents and youngchildren) who risk injury when walkingon snow and ice-covered sidewalks.

Within 24 hours of the end of asnow event, property owners mustmake a reasonable effort to clear theirsidewalk(s). This is the same require-ment found in the prior ordinance.

Twenty-four hours after the end ofa snow event, City workers will first

check on primary pedestrian routes,then other residential areas. If asidewalk is impassable, they will leave asticker on the door. Later that day, theywill mail a first-class letter to the ownerof record reminding him to shovel..

If a sidewalk is still not clear by 24hours after notice is deemed received,the City will send a crew to clear thesidewalk. Property owners will be fined$116 for the first 20 minutes of

sidewalk snow removal, additionalamounts if more time is needed.

Example - if a snow event ends onMonday morning, residents have untilTuesday morning to clear their side-walks. If a noncompliance notice ismailed on Tuesday, it will be deemedreceived at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Own-ers then have another 24 hours to clearthe walk before an inspector follows up.In a worst case scenario, property own-ers have four days to clear snow beforea crew arrives on Friday morning.

If shoveling is a physical challenge,or if you plan to be away for any lengthof time during the winter, ask neighborsfor assistance. Maybe swap shovelingfor a homemade pie. Or hire a localteenager to shovel for you.

FYI: fines are not assessed until aspecial hearing is held. Anyone facingextenuating circumstances may appealthe fine during that special hearing.

Cavanaugh ParkLast year, MSU graduate student

Dave Leese decided to use his intern-ship opportunity at SLCDA to organizehis own neighborhood. Neighbors dis-

covered a common interest in cleaningup Cavanaugh Park, and knowing thecity was strapped for funds, they tookon the responsibility themselves.

Every Saturday morning, neighborsgathered at the park with an array ofgarden tools. Those unable to help withphysical labor brought snacks and pro-vided moral support. The work was as- and the resultsare amazing!

We commend all the volunteers

who helped transform this park, espe-cially Trent Spear, 17 year-old son ofDave and Mary Jane Spear.

Trent has lived his entire life next toCavanaugh Park, and he jumped at thechance to get involved in a clean-up.Every Saturday for five months, Trenthelped trim trees, haul limbs, clearbrush, and create walking paths inCavanaugh Park.

Neighbor Jennifer Jones wasamazed by his dedication. Most teenswould rather sleep in on Saturdays, butnot Trent. Since day one, he was upearly on Saturdays to help us in the

park.Neighbor Toni Teachoutsays,

last one to leave. On several occasions,Trent put in time after school and onweekends when no one else wasworking. It is unusual and a pleasureto find someone so young who hasdedicated himself so fully to therehabilitation of a park.

Neighbor Jessica Leese calls Trenthas a positive attitude and motivates

In December, Trent received the

special tribute from the Lansing CityCouncil for his work in Cavanaugh Park.The final paragraph of the tribute reads:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED

that the Lansing City Council hereby

extends its gratitude and recognition

to Trent Spear. We applaud hiscontribution to Cavanaugh Park and

the positive example he sets for others

in our community.Congratulations, Trent!

Trent and his dad in Cavanaugh Park.

Neighbors removed of dead limbs and brush

at the bottom of Bunker Hill (above) so kids

could safely sled this winter (below).


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South Lansing Community Development AssociationSouth Lansing Community Development Association4

The City of Lansing is in the finalstages of a comprehensive, city-widemaster planning process. The masterplan is a compilation of citizen input

growth and guides all aspects of futuredevelopment.

As one of the organizations whohelped gather input for the plan, wewere interested to see how citizenfeedback was incorporated into thewe found . . .

Placemaking

A driving principle throughout thethe art of turning public spaces into

meaningful places that reflect commu-nity values, promote social interaction,and invoke emotional attachment, oth-

Placemaking was a popular themeamong participants from South Lansing,where post-war development de-emphasized neighborhood-scale com-mercial districts that traditionally serveas public gathering places.

Until the mid 20th century, most ofwhat we now call South Lansing wasrural land under the jurisdiction of

Delhi Township. Between 1949 and1959, Lansing doubled in size after an-nexing roughly 15 square miles fromthe township.

Not surprisingly, development inthis area was vastly different from olderparts of the city. In the post-war era,housing preferences changed. Peoplewere less interested in living abovestorefronts or in houses ten feet fromthe next. There was a movement awayfrom high density neighborhoods tonew subdivisions with larger parcels of

land.Transportation and commerce were

heavily influenced by the automo-bile. With more families owning cars,increased mobility reduced the need forneighborhood-based commercial dis-tricts. Thoroughfares were built to ac-commodate increasing numbers of com-muters, and businesses moved outsideof neighborhoods to take advantage of

the larger consumer base availablealong major arteries.

These trends resulted in the com-mercial corridors we have today, wideswaths of concrete lined with strip

malls, shopping plazas, and parking lots,rounding Lansing. They served theirpurpose for the era in which they werebuilt, but it would be a stretch to as-sume they reflect community values,promote social interaction, or invokeany form of emotional attachment.

During the planning process, South-side residents indicated they foundthe community, e.g., their neighbor-hoods, faith communities, and more

than 1650 acres of public green spacethat includes neighborhood parks, wil-derness areas, and a long stretch ofprovide meaning in their lives.

And still, they had hope for thecorridors.

When asked to share their vision forthe corridors, planning participants de-scribed more traditional, neighborhood-scale, pedestrian-friendly destinationsnot dominated by concrete, asphalt, bill-boards, and utility poles. They wanted

to enjoy a sense of place in their com-mercial areas, too.

As a result, a significant number ofthe economic and transportation goalsoutlined in the master plan deal with-style thoroughfares into neighborhood-scale, pedestrian-friendly destinations.

Instead of corridors lined for mileswith single-use commercial develop-ment, the plan calls for gradually clus-tering more street-facing businesses atkey intersections (commercial centers),

adding mix-use retail/residential op-tions in those areas, allowing non-commercial development along the cor-ridors between the centers, and updat-ing sign regulations to reduce visualclutter.

The plan also calls for reducing thenumber of vehicle access points alongmajor corridors by moving parking be-hind buildings and creating alleys off

Master Planning

side streets. The streetscape aroundeach commercial center will be redes-igned to promote pedestrian-friendlyconnectivity with neighborhoods withina 1/2 mile radius.

night. But they will happen.

Kudos to everyone who gave inputduring the master planning process,especially those on the south side. Basedon your input, our commercial spaceswill be transformed to meet the needs ofthe people who live here, not just thecars that pass through.

The final draft of the Master Planwill be unveiled in the next few months,at which time SLCDA will host a series

of meetings to review goals, objectives,and strategies that relate to South Lans-ing. For more information, call SLCDAat(517) 374-5700.

Health Assessment

The Ingham County Health Depart-ment (ICHD) regularly conducts com-munity health assessments to learnmore about - and designs strategies toimprove - our health. Communityhealth indicators encompass many

factors, including behaviors, environ-mental conditions, and socio-economicstatus.

In addition to analyzing traditionalhealth indicators (e.g., age, weight,physical activity, cholesterol levels,diabetes, hypertension, asthma, alcoholuse, nutrition, access to health care...),ICHD also surveys residents abouttheir attitudes, beliefs and values to-ward health and health care. Why?Because knowledge and perceptionabout health or health risks can drasti-

Together, data on health factors

and perceptions provide our HealthDepartment with a framework formeasuring progress to improve qualityof life for our residents.

Watch the Health & Wellness sec-tion in future issues of this newsletterfor reports on the status of health inSouth Lansing.


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Health & Wellness

Garlic for Health

Most of us have heard about thehealth benefits of garlic. Studies showthat the key medicinal ingredient ingarlic is allicin, a sulfur compound

known for its antiviral, antibacterial,antiseptic, analgesic, antifungal andantioxidant properties. Say that tentimes fast!

With daily consumption, theantiviral and antibacterial aspects ofgarlic can prevent the common cold. Amega dose of garlic at the first sign ofcold or the flu can reduce the severityand duration of the symptoms.

and analgesic properties can also treatand soothe tooth aches and sore throats.

The Cherokee regularly used garlic as anexpectorate for coughs and croup.During WWI and WWII, Louis Pasteurused garlic as a topical antiseptic toprevent gangrene. Who knew?

For optimal health benefits, expertssuggest consuming theequivalent of two clovesof raw garlic a day.garlic can take a varietyof garlic supplements.

How to Prepare Garlic Tea:1. Finely chop one clove of garlic.

Fine chopping activates the allicin.2. Add the chopped garlic to

lukewarm water and soak forseveral minutes. Boiling waterreduces the strength of the allicin.Add honey to taste.

3. Cool the tea before drinking, butdon't drink it cold. The taste is bestwhen slightly warm.

4. Drink one cup each day during thefall and winter months or when cold

and flu symptoms begin.Garlic warnings:

While many people may enjoy thehealth benefits of garlic, some peopleare intolerant, or even allergic to it.

Garlic can interfere with certainprescription medicines, particularly anti-coagulants.

Too much raw garlic can irritate ordamage the digestive tract.

PUMPKINS

Pumpkins are loaded with beta-carotene,the antioxidant that imparts a bright or-ange color. Current research suggests thata diet rich in beta-carotene offers protec-tion against heart disease and certain typesof cancer.

For cooking and baking, choose smallerstandard pie types with sweet, deep orangeflesh and a smooth, often stringless tex-ture. Varieties include Baby Pam, SmallSugar Pumpkins, New England Pie Pump-kins, Spooktacular Pumpkins, and MysticPumpkins. These traditional varieties arean excellent choice for pies or any pumpkinrecipe!

Winter Pumpkin Soup

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

2 small sugar pumpkin3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth3/4 cup whipping cream/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg1/2 teaspoon ground sage1 1/2 teaspoons salt4 tablespoons sour cream

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 de-grees C). Cut pumpkins in half and scoopout seeds. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Place pumpkins, fleshside down on the cookie sheet and roastuntil soft to the touch, about 45 minutes.Remove pumpkins from oven and let cool.Once pumpkins are cool scrape flesh fromskins into a food processor. Discard skins.

Add vegetable broth to the pumpkin andpuree. Pour soup into a large saucepan andbring to a simmer over medium heat. Stirin cream, nutmeg, sage and salt. Mix welland remove from heat. Serve garnishedwith a dollop of sour cream.

Winter Workouts Tips

There are lots of ways to stay activeduring the winter. Follow these steps tostay safe, warm, and dry.

Layer, layers, layers.

Layering clothing allows you adjustto changes in body temperature orweather conditions. A layer of syntheticmaterial next to the skin will wickmoisture away. Avoid cotton, whichstays wet and cold.

Add layer of fleece or wool forinsulation, then one that resists windand water, but"breathes" soperspirationdoesn't build up.Try clothes with

zippers for quickadjustments intemperature.

Protect hands, head, face, and feet

Mittens are warmer than gloves.For optimum protection, try thin glovesinside mittens.

Hats prevent loss of body heatthrough the top of your head and keepears from frostbite.

On bitter cold days, a face mask orscarf will prevent windburn and warm

the air before it enters your lungs.Consider buying shoes a half-sizelarger to allow for thick thermal socks,and make sure they have enoughtraction to prevent falls.

Drink plenty of fluids.

Our bodies dehydrate during coldmonths just as they do in the heat.Don't drink alcohol; it dilates your bloodvessels, causing you to lose heat morerapidly.

Remember sunscreen.

winter, more so when sun reflects offthe lip balm and sunglasses.

Head into the wind

Start your workout facing into thewind so that you will work hardestget chilled after sweating if you endwith the wind at your back.

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LEED the Way

Lake Trust Credit Union

On December 6, Lake Trust CreditUnion held a ribbon cutting for its newSouth Lansing branch at6440 S.Pennsylvania. The official grand open-ing will take place throughout the weekof January 10.

With an expansive lobby, large-screen displays, and a five lane drive-through with ATMs and night drops, thenew building is much larger and moreuser-friendly than the prior location.After receiving a coveted LEEDcertification, the building is also moreenvironmentally-friendly.

LEED (Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design) certificationrecognizes that a building was designedand built using strategies aimed atimproving energy use, water efficiency,CO2 emissions reduction, indoorenvironmental quality, stewardship of

resources and sensitivity to theirimpacts.

Lake Trust took many steps tobecome LEED certified,including usingsteel from junked cars, carpet madefrom recycled plastic bottles, andregionally-produced tiles. Constructioncrews also used silt fences to retainrun-off, keeping soil on-site andpreventing it from washing into sewersor waterways.

We try to be different. We work

said Terrie Allen, Marketing FieldAnalystfor Lake Trust. Receiving LEEDcertification is one of many steps LakeTrust has taken to care for theircommunity.

Lake Trust plans special eventsand classes for community members.Together with Impression 5 ScienceCenter, Lake Trust offers Money SuperSaturday, a one-day educational event

full of fun, money-themed activities.Lake Trust and Impression 5 membersreceive free admission and the generalpublic is given half-priced admission.Lake Trust also works with local

teachers to give special presentationson topics such as the history of moneyand financial literacy.

For more information on theirprograms, call (517) 267-7171 or visitwww.laketrust.org.

Home Sweet Sustainable Home

What do you get when you combinemodern building science with passivesolar techniques and universal design?5219 Hughes Road. The Ingham CountyLand Bank partnered with the City of

Lansing and Vesta Building Industries todesign and build this modern, accessi-ble, LEED certified home.

The home has a flexible floor planmade possible by sliding partitionpanels; the layout can change with thebe handicap accessible, allowing ownersto age in place.

The passive solar design helpsmanage the temperature of the homethroughout the year. In the winter,large glass windows on the south side of

the building allow the polished concretefloor to absorb heat from the low sun.In the summer, large overhangs provideshade from the high intensity sun.

(many recycled) are healthy for the

occupants and friendly to the environ-ment. Structurally Insulated Panelsand a high-efficiency condensing boilerheats the radiant floor and domestic hotwater.

All of these modern innovations

work together to create a comfortableand efficient living space worthy of aLEED Gold certification.

On the market this spring, theHughes Rd. home will be listed foraround $125,000. Energy costs areexpected to be 45% less than requiredby the Michigan Uniform Energy Codefor new home construction.

For more information on Land Bankactivities or other Land Bank homes,visitinghamlandbank.org.

To discuss green building options,

call Vesta Building Industries at(517)999-3636.

To improve the energy efficiency ofyour existing home, contact MichiganEnergy Options at(517) 337-0422 ormichiganenergyoptions.org.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

400m swim

16k bike

5k run

This beginner-friendly race accommodates people of all ages, shapes, sizes

and abilities. Registration fills fast, so sign up today atActive.com.For more information, including sponsorship and volunteer

opportunities, call (517) 374-5700 or visitwww.Hawk-I-Tri.com.


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Welcome Chris / Carrie

South Lansing Urban GardenCoordinator Carrie Burns newest AmeriCorps member. Sherecently graduated from Michigan State

University with a degree in psychologyand has a background in health,nutrition, and gardening.

Carrie hopes to use her love ofgardening as a tool to promote healthy,sustainable living in South Lansing. excited to join the community andsee the many wonderful changes taking

In addition to serving at SLCDA,Carrie enjoys running, mountain biking,cooking, and enjoying the greatoutdoors.

Chris Herrmann Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator.Chris has a background in urbanplanning and community and economichis entire life.

Chris is excited to work with Southstrong desire to increase communityinvolvement, improve access to healthyfood, expand and improve public greenspaces, and enjoy life and the companyof good friends and neighbors.

Good Food Talks

Do you learn better by doing? Needa healthy, fun night out? Check out Good FoodTalks are workshops to helpSouth Lansing residents learn aboutbetter nutrition through great tasting,healthy foods.

event to your calendar? Why not incor-porate Good Food Talks into a meetingyou already attend? Health Initiatives

Coordinator will catertopics to the needs and interests ofparticipants and bring the workshopsto you! Neighborhood meetings, senioractivities, parenting groups, after-schoolprograms, scouts, etc.

To schedule a series of workshopsor host a Good Food Talk at your nextmeeting, call (517) 374-5700 or [email protected].

New at SLCDA

Garden Recap

Last year, SLCDA started four com-munity gardens in South Lansing: twoproduction gardens for adults and twodemonstration gardens for children.

Each garden featured donation bedsfrom which we donated 480 pounds ofproduce to Southside Community

In all, 210 adults and 100 childrenparticipated in the gardens. Want to getin on the fun? Register for a communitygarden plot by calling (517) 374-5700or email [email protected].

Garden Classes

Need to brush up on your gardeningskills? Check out the all the garden

charge! Pre-register at(517) 374-5700or [email protected]. Checkout the full list of garden workshopsonline atwww.letsgardenlansing.org.

Indoor Worm Composting

Thursday January 13, 6-7:30 p.m.

Southside Community Center

Learn how to turn every daykitchen waste into usable compost foryour garden. We will show you how tobuild your own worm composting sys-tem, teach you the ins and outs of ver-micomposting, and send one lucky per-son home with a worm bin of their own.

Garden Planning

Thursday February 3, 6-7:30 p.m.


solid plan for your garden. Thisworkshop will help you plan this

selection, what to grow, and when tostart planting. Come prepared withyour ideas and goals, and we will helpput them into action!

Why Go Organic?

Thursday February 17, 6-7:30 p.m.


in agriculture, gardening, and evengrocery shopping. Come learn what itmeans to be organic, why people aregrowing organically, and how you canmake changes in your garden.

Seed Starting

Thursday March 3, 6-7:30 p.m.


Learn about easy methods forgiving your garden a head start thisspring. You will learn how to startseeds yourself, when to start them, andwhat to plant. We will also discuss thebest type of soil, containers, locationsfor your seedlings, and much more.

Composting 101

Thursday March 24, 6-7:30 p.m.


Get an overview of the sciencebehind composting, what goes into acompost pile, and how to use iteffectively. Be prepared to get dirty,because this class involves hands-ondemonstrations.

Get a Jump on 2011 Giving

SLCDA reaches thousands of peoplein South Lansing and across the regionwith our weekly email updates and thisnewsletter. Many of those folks partici-pate in our garden programs, nutrition

classes, Farmers Market, communityfestival, and the Hawk island Triathlon.

If you value the work we do, pleaseconsider making SLCDA first on your listof contributions for 2011. Your dona-tion of $10, $25, $50 or $100 will helpus continue and expand programs thatmeet the needs identified by our SouthLansing community. For more info, visitwww.southlansing.org/getinvolved.


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Remember When...

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The John Bean Building

By Chris Herrmann

Built of orange-brown bricks anddefended with wrought iron, the JohnBean Building could just as easily bemanufacturing economy. Step insidehot spot of entrepreneurial activity.

Located on S. Cedar St., just southof I-496, the barren-looking building isbustling with woodworkers, concretepourers, photographers, mixed martialartists, and a company makingexercise equipment for children.About30 small companies call theJohn Bean home.

Constructed in the 1920s, the JohnBean Building began its life as aproduction center for REO Motor CarCompany. REO likely manufacturedtrucks in the facility until handing itover to the Nash-KelvinatorCorporation in 1941 through a defensecontract. Through World War II, Nash-Kelvinator produced airplane

propellers and hubs for the UnitedStates Army and Navy Air Corps.

the John Bean ManufacturingCompany, acquired the property in1946. Ownership switched for the lasttime when GRL Properties purchasedthe building in the late 1980s andbegan providing rental space for avariety of businesses.

The economy fluctuates and faceschange, but the building remains at orturns down, we get our most business.Companies look for the places withRichard Wolf, building manager forGRL Properties. And what is good forbusiness is good for the community.

To the south and east of the JohnBean Building lies the Baker-DonoraNeighborhood. Built in part as housingworkers, the neighborhood sufferedmanufacturing base.

When I started here eight yearsago, nobody wanted to walk throughthat neighborhood. It was a roughover to look at pictures on his com-puter. One of our tenants did this lastproudly clicked through picture afterpicture of brand new landscaping infront of the building, flowers whereonce was dirt, even baskets of petu-nias on the underside of the CedarStreet overpass.

The John Bean Building might notlook young or hip - its stark exteriorbelying the life inside - but there ismuch to be learned from its old-timecharacter. Standing inside its walls,one can feel its history, the life of pastand present generations coursingthrough it. With over 80 years, a Greateconomy under its belt, one can almostTakecare of your neighbors, work together,live frugally, and never forget to smell

The South Lansing Community Farmers Market is seeking vendorsfor our 2011 market season! Produce and prepared food vendors, art-ists, crafters, and entertainers may apply. We also welcome nonprofitorganizations to feature in our community resource booth.

Market applications and vendor guidelines are available online atwww.southlansing.org. For more information, call (517) 374-5700or email [email protected].

John Bean Building, circa 1954

The John Bean today, flanked by flowers.

Documents

South Lansing (MI) Community Development Association (SLCDA) Winter 2011 Newsletter