Economic Development
Colonial Village Shopping Center
In December 2010 the L&L Shopping Center in Colonial Village abruptly closed. Members of our Averill Woods leadership team, Margaret Kingsbury, Michelle Napier-Dunnings, Wes Thorp, and Melissa Quon Huber worked with Kathie Dunbar, Chris Hermann, and Kris Klein of South Lansing Community Development Association (SLCDA) to spearhead a large community effort to bring together folks around planning for a replacement.
Colonial Village, Churchill Downs, and Lewton-Rich neighborhood groups were also involved and helped bring folks on board as well.
In this process over 100 residents were involved in planning sessions and research designed to attract new businesses, particularly a grocery store back to L&L. Residents participated in multiple brainstorming sessions to prioritize goals for the shopping center and developed some potential action strategies.
SLCDA, with volunteer research assistance from Melissa Quon Huber, and grant support from MSU Extension conducted a market analysis of the area.
Bob Trezise and Andrea Reagan of Michigan Economic Development Corporation supported our efforts. Ms. Reagan conducted numerous recruiting efforts statewide, offering incentives and promoting the area with property owner Craig Singer.
A new grocery store opened in the same space in the summer of 2013.
On August 26, 2013, the Mayor issued a proclamation to honor these efforts:
Hometown Hero Award
WHEREAS: In November 2010, residents in the vicinity of the Colonial Village Shopping Center were devastated by the closure of their neighborhood grocery store, and
WHEREAS: Members of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association (AWNA) immediately began a grass-roots effort to brainstorm ideas and rally support for new investment, and
WHEREAS: The South Lansing Community Development Association (SLCDA) hosted a series of community forums where hundreds of neighbors, economic development staff, elected officials, and representatives from nearby businesses discussed their vision for future development, the importance of supporting remaining businesses, and the role residents could have in recruiting new tenants, and
WHEREAS: Craig Singer, owner of the Colonial Village Shopping Center, said he had never, in all his years in the business, seen this level of neighborhood involvement, government support, and community collaboration to help him recruit new businesses, and
WHEREAS: SLCDA staff worked with members of AWNA and the Center for Community Economic Development (CCED) to compile market data and conduct hundreds of surveys on local consumer habits and preferences, and
WHEREAS: Lansing’s Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) used market and survey data generated by residents to create a comprehensive retail recruiting package for the Colonial Village Shopping Center, and aggressively marketed potential investment opportunities at state and national retail conferences, and
WHEREAS: One of the earliest contacts LEDC staff made was with Spartan Distribution Centers, who supply Spartan Brand products to hundreds of independent grocers in Michigan, and
WHEREAS: The executive team at Spartan Stores recognized that their Valuland grocery store served many of the needs and preferences identified by local consumers, and
WHEREAS: After investing over $1 million in facility upgrades, the Colonial Village Valuland grocery store opened its doors to serve the community on July 21, 2013.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, VIRG BERNERO, Mayor of the City of Lansing, by the power vested in me, do hereby commend all the residents who attended meetings, answered surveys, provided vision, and otherwise paved the way for this new grocery store. We appreciate your tenacity in this effort, your support for your neighborhood, and your vision for Lansing. You truly are Hometown Heroes.
Colonial Village, Churchill Downs, and Lewton-Rich neighborhood groups were also involved and helped bring folks on board as well.
In this process over 100 residents were involved in planning sessions and research designed to attract new businesses, particularly a grocery store back to L&L. Residents participated in multiple brainstorming sessions to prioritize goals for the shopping center and developed some potential action strategies.
SLCDA, with volunteer research assistance from Melissa Quon Huber, and grant support from MSU Extension conducted a market analysis of the area.
Bob Trezise and Andrea Reagan of Michigan Economic Development Corporation supported our efforts. Ms. Reagan conducted numerous recruiting efforts statewide, offering incentives and promoting the area with property owner Craig Singer.
A new grocery store opened in the same space in the summer of 2013.
On August 26, 2013, the Mayor issued a proclamation to honor these efforts:
Hometown Hero Award
WHEREAS: In November 2010, residents in the vicinity of the Colonial Village Shopping Center were devastated by the closure of their neighborhood grocery store, and
WHEREAS: Members of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association (AWNA) immediately began a grass-roots effort to brainstorm ideas and rally support for new investment, and
WHEREAS: The South Lansing Community Development Association (SLCDA) hosted a series of community forums where hundreds of neighbors, economic development staff, elected officials, and representatives from nearby businesses discussed their vision for future development, the importance of supporting remaining businesses, and the role residents could have in recruiting new tenants, and
WHEREAS: Craig Singer, owner of the Colonial Village Shopping Center, said he had never, in all his years in the business, seen this level of neighborhood involvement, government support, and community collaboration to help him recruit new businesses, and
WHEREAS: SLCDA staff worked with members of AWNA and the Center for Community Economic Development (CCED) to compile market data and conduct hundreds of surveys on local consumer habits and preferences, and
WHEREAS: Lansing’s Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) used market and survey data generated by residents to create a comprehensive retail recruiting package for the Colonial Village Shopping Center, and aggressively marketed potential investment opportunities at state and national retail conferences, and
WHEREAS: One of the earliest contacts LEDC staff made was with Spartan Distribution Centers, who supply Spartan Brand products to hundreds of independent grocers in Michigan, and
WHEREAS: The executive team at Spartan Stores recognized that their Valuland grocery store served many of the needs and preferences identified by local consumers, and
WHEREAS: After investing over $1 million in facility upgrades, the Colonial Village Valuland grocery store opened its doors to serve the community on July 21, 2013.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, VIRG BERNERO, Mayor of the City of Lansing, by the power vested in me, do hereby commend all the residents who attended meetings, answered surveys, provided vision, and otherwise paved the way for this new grocery store. We appreciate your tenacity in this effort, your support for your neighborhood, and your vision for Lansing. You truly are Hometown Heroes.
