$1.2M plan will address aesthetics of MLK Boulevard, but some question slow pace

The $1.2 million improvement plan that Lansing City Council approved for South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard could restore fond memories that people have of one of the city's main thoroughfares, but some are skeptical of the drawn-out implementation over 15 years.

The Lansing City Council OK'd a development plan Monday to address the economic and aesthetic issues that they say are blighting the 3-mile stretch of road.

Price Dobernick, chair of the city's South MLK Jr. Boulevard Corridor Improvement Authority, said the plan, when finished, would make the area a "more vibrant place to live over time" and would attract more business to Lansing's south end.

Dobernick, who has worked at the United Association Local 333 Plumbers, Pipefitters and HVAC Mechanics union at 5405 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd for the past 15 years, called the plan's timeline a "marathon and not a sprint."

Board members and the city drew up the plan based on 125 survey responses and interviews with both the public and business owners on how to improve the area. The timeline is tied to a tax recapture plan, which would cover the cost over the 15 years.

"It relies upon increased property values, and in south Lansing (that) happens gradually," Dobernick said.

Coye Boyer, 43, has lived in Lansing's southside neighborhood most of his life. He remembers the vibrancy of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard when he was younger and refuses to move from the area that he wants to see restored.

The pastor at Kingdom Life Church, 4303 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Boyer is skeptical about the price tag and timeline.

"I love my city. I'm not going anywhere and I am thankful and grateful for what the city will do that will at least take us in the right direction," Boyer said. "But it's nowhere near the amount of resources that need to be poured into this part of the city."

The plan includes improved landscaping along the road, three reconstructed intersections and implementing a "road diet" to make the intersections at Holmes Street, Jolly and Pleasant Grove roads and Washington Avenue safer. According to corridor improvement authority officials, just the MLK and Holmes Road intersection has upwards of 20,000 drivers using it daily.

"One of the issues that were flagged quite frankly is the average speed of cars on the corridor," Dobernick said. "We wanted to do what we can and where we can to slow down traffic for those who live and work along the area. Make it so it's not dangerous to turn into a business."

One issue that board members and Boyer have with the boulevard is the type of businesses situated along it.

MLK Boulevard, from Victor Avenue to the I-96 interchange, has, according to Google Maps, 11 fast food restaurants, five standalone liquor stores and two recreational marijuana shops.

"Liquor stores and marijuana don't ultimately produce growth in the community," Boyer said. "At the end of the day, it's not promoting the type of business that would beautify the community."

Gage Cannabis General Manager Mark Rock doesn't live in the area and said he doesn't know how many liquor stores or dispensaries are on the road. He believed whichever plans are in place would help other businesses grow.

The medicinal and recreational dispensary has been at 3425 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd since May 2020.

Additionally, Boyer said the cost of the plan isn't enough to either tear down or completely renovate abandoned buildings along the boulevard. Dobernick hoped to work with property owners on some of those buildings to address those issues that he said fall into those low-cost activities.

Kingdom Life has property of its own on 6031 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd that Boyer hoped would get rehabilitated or torn down, but the church doesn't have the money for it. It's ineligible to see any funds from the plan due to its tax-exempt status, he said.

"If you wanted to redo your home, it's going to cost something," Boyer said. "You can go to the Home Depot and do it yourself. It's going to look good. But if you're like me, you'll be able to tell I went to The Home Depot."

Support local journalism and get unlimited digital access! Subscribe for only $1 for six months! 

Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at 517-267-1344 or knurse@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @KrystalRNurse.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Some question timeline of $1.2M plan to improve MLK Blvd. aesthetics