DECONSTRUCT DOWNTOWN LANSING INC
we are telling our story in hopes OF INSPIRING change
In 2022, Downtown Lansing Inc. (DLI) actively recruited us, Neva Lee’s, to expand with a $25K relocation grant. However, we never received the full funds, and the building DLI placed us in was so riddled with city code violations it interrupted us from doing business. We suffered a lawsuit and had to close our shop.
who IS Downtown lansing inc and what do they claim to do?
downtown lansing inc (DLI) is set in place to revitalize downtown lansing
"At Downtown Lansing Inc. (DLI), we’re committed to promoting the culture and vitality of Michigan’s Downtown. We know that downtown is more than a district — it’s a place to unwind, a place to start, a place to connect, a place to live, and a place to celebrate.
As Michigan’s Downtown, Lansing is a thriving and inclusive district where community, commerce, arts, and entertainment come together to lead the way forward for our state." - From their website
Visit their website, www.downtownlansing.org, to read more about them, look at the buzzwords they use to hype themselves up, and then see the current state of our downtown. You'll notice how bad they are at their jobs! The whole city needs help and new people running things who really know what they are doing and are qualified!
Downtown Lansing INC IS Deceptive lansing insiders
There needs to be a call to action for change to happen
Downtown Lansing INC (DLI) and the city of Lansing's government need to be held accountable. What do they really do that makes a positive impact on the downtown district? Have you been down there lately?? How much growth and revitalization is actually happening there? It's a desolate capital city with poor roads and obscene parking fees. It is full of crumbling vacant buildings that are allowed to sit in decay. It's a ghost town. We should be asking why - why is it such a ghost town?? What incentives are there to keep these buildings vacant and in shambles?? It's not a vibrant and thriving main street district. It is not 'alive after 5'! It is barely hanging on. There is a lack of oversight on rent prices, and no initiative to collaborate with landlords to reduce rents rather than leaving properties vacant. This would allow buildings to be rented at fair prices, preventing price gouging in a dead struggling mainstreet in a CAPITAL city! DLI and the city of Lansing do not follow through with inspections or ensure its downtown buildings, which house our small businesses, are up to city code, safe, compliant and fit to rent out. Therefore, putting the existence and livelihoods of its community members and small business owners in danger and potential financial ruin. Don't our small business owners have enough economic burden? Our small micro-enterprises are the heart of a community. Shouldn't DLI be looking out for these businesses' best interests, and not just the landlords? Instead, they are knowingly putting businesses into these unfit spaces so that DLI can publicly declare growth. But what happens after these businesses get into these spaces?
There needs to be forced transparency and fiscal responsibility set in place not only for DLI, but for the city government in charge of Downtown. Where is all the money in the budget going?? Dig deeper, people. Our small businesses are suffering.
Look further into Downtown Lansing INC.'s public records to see how it conducts business and spends state and federal public dollars.
DLI uses a lot of buzzwords to make themselves seem better than they are at their jobs.
You can go online to the city's website and request a FOIA (freedom of information act), they legally have to provide the requested information. We have experience with this, so be cautious- DLI may try to withhold full transparency. Be diligent. Question their budget and expense reports. See where they are really putting those public dollars!
Go to city council meetings, go to the mayor, go to their board of directors. Fight for your right to see behind the curtain! The small business owners of Lansing deserve a competent, capable, and legitimate Downtown Development Authority qualified in Economic Development.
They work for you - they work for us - they work for small businesses downtown - they work for the people of Lansing. Hold them, and those running the city, accountable for the state of our downtown district or get them out!
