LANSING, Mich.
(WLNS) – City officials reported on Monday that a Lansing-based company has
hired a local architect to help blend a 14,000 square foot pole barn into a
residential neighborhood in an effort to appease neighbors.
Mayor Virg Bernero says Niowave, a particle accelerator company located on North Walnut Street,
has hired Bob Ford of Landscape Architects and Planners for the job. In July,
neighbors complained that the enormous, industrial-looking pole barn stood in
stark contrast to the brick homes and tree-lined streets in the area, and would
bring down homeowners' property values.
Walnut
Neighborhood Association President Rina Risper says residents were not included
in the planning process for the pole barn, and feels that Niowave owes it to
the community to help camouflage the building's façade. "We want to make sure
that when businesses buy in predominately residential areas, that they are held
to a certain standards," says Risper.
To help facilitate negotiations, the mayor says he plans to meet with
residents, Niowave officials and the contracted architect on Wednesday evening.
"All of us – the council, the mayor, the company – everybody acknowledges that
we could have done a better job on the front end," says Mayor Bernero. "I think
we all feel bad."
But the
mayor adds that this conflict doesn't take away from the good and the jobs that
Niowave has added to the community. "They took an old school that was closed
and gave it new live. So now, it's a hub of activity in the neighborhood in
what could have been an empty hole."
Lansing At Large Councilmember Carol Wood says the city is looking into an
ordinance that would give neighbors more say in the future if businesses want
to move into residential areas.
Emerald
Morrow is a reporter with WLNS-TV. Reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter or
email at emorrow@wlns.com.
