By Rob South, WKAR News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-928611.mp3
EAST LANSING, MI – Local developer Pat Gillespie said a decision by the Lansing City Council on Monday could halt his plan for a housing development on the Grand River in the city's downtown. The council rejected a pair of amendments to projects Gillespie's development firm had in the works.
Gillespie was looking to amend brownfield redevelopment tax abatements on his riverfront housing, Lansing Marketplace, and Marshall Street Armory projects.
Gillespie said rejecting the plans could mean the Armory project would be altered to include fewer amenities, and the Marketplace project may have to be shelved all together.
"Development is not welcome in Lansing," Gillespie said. "To get to this point and have to be put through this at the end is irresponsible..."
Council members Derrick Quinney, Eric Hewitt, Carol Wood and Brian Jeffries voted against the deals. Jeffries said he rejected the plans in part because of failed labor and wage negotiations between Gillespie and local labor unions.
"It has somehow morphed into a project labor policy for the entire city as it relates to our development efforts," Jeffries said. "That has never been discussed... it has never been contemplated. That's not what was before the committee."
Local labor leaders say they're open to further negotiations on the Project. Meanwhile, Gillespie says he'll reevaluate his plans.