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| great place to live - 3/14/2013
Lansing is a great city. There are wonderful parks of all types and there are a lo of them. The river trail is really superb! There is a large variety of neighborhoods in every price range. I live in a very walkable neighborhood, so I hardly ever have to use my car. people are polite and friendly, and rents and real estate are real bargains.[read more...]
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| Lansing - 7/8/2011
Hi there, I'm going to get real. I grew up on the conservative west side of the state and moved to Lansing in 1997. The first few years were okay. There was a steady job market, crime really wasn't so bad, violent crimes were rare. We moved south of Lansing in 2006. The efforts in making Lansing a better place to live is appreciated, and let me tell you why that effort is taken. GM was a huge employer in the area. It is the life-line of the city. There were several "sister" companies who made products for GM and also employed thousands of people. Here's the problem: when jobs are taken away and no longer existent, people get desperate and places fall apart. There are no jobs here, crime is out-of-control (going from one murder a year to several), bank robberies, thefts, high-speed chases, etc. It's really crazy. Mayor Bernero is trying to "clean up" the city by planting flowers and making downtown prettier for visitors, but the real problems are not being solved. Police force is being layed off, teachers are pink-slipped, fire fighters are forced to resign, and the list goes on. Foreclosures are everywhere and it extends out from the city to suburbs 15 miles away in every direction. Literally every neighborhood's housing is about half foreclosed. People who need to move to find jobs are moving. Those who can't afford to move or don't care, are staying, but double-checking their locks. If Lansing looks ghetto when driving through, it's because it is. It's so sad because it used to be a really cool place to live with everything near and businesses booming, but now even businesses have packed up. I moved because the school systems were deteriorating. Whites are the minority now, there's nothing wrong with that, but greater diversity means greater crime. That's a fact - look it up. The roads are terrible. So much money being spent on flowers and superficiality and not enough on fixing that 4' X 6' pothole in the middle of MLK Blvd. The cops don't mess with you unless you're doing something very suspicious because they're dealing with crazy crimes. The neighborhood my mother-in-law lives in used to be a really nice, quiet, safe neighborhood. She recently had someone in her house, while she was there, with a knife trying to rob her, or whatever he was doing there, TWICE in two weeks! What is going on?! They reports say that the population has dropped 5%, but that is not true. When I moved there 200,000 people lived there, now there's a little over 100,000 and the roads are still crowded. I'm sad that the economy hit Lansing so hard and wishes it can bounce back, but it's not looking promising. Do not move here right now unless you have a job and find a place on the outskirts of town. I feel like it's a ticking time bomb at the beginning of an explosion.[read more...]
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| Lansing is Catching - 4/7/2011
I am really surprised about all the negative comments about Lansing. I have lived in the Lansing area for 16 years and in the city limits for four. A few years ago downtown was dead after 5pm, but it is really starting to turn around. There are a lot of bars, but quite a few new restaurants as well. The river trail is one of those hidden beauties and connects from north of Old Town to Hawk Island. With the remodel of the old Ottawa Power Station and the new City Market and other construction Lansing is finally starting to take it's riverfront seriously. The city has had a lot to work through with all the GM problems, but I for one really see a lot happening. A city is really what you make it, and if you live here and complain and don't get involved then that's the mentality others will see. [read more...]
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| How amazing Joanne Fabrics is - 12/9/2010
I love Joanne Fabrics. Everything about it just makes me so happy. I go here for all my yarn & crafts and they have wonderful discounts:). There is nothing that I would rather be doing than shopping at this store It's huge and smells like the inside of a cinnamon bun. YUM! I'm getting hungry. Ta ta for now. TAKE CARE<3.[read more...]
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| Lansing - 5/29/2010
Lansing is a city that has fallen on hard times. With the failing auto industry a lot of the people who could afford to leave did. So now you have a lot of neighborhoods that look run down and not taken care of. [read more...]
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| Places to go and things to do - 5/7/2010
The greater Lansing area has a wonderful variety of activities for all ages and interests. From swimming classes for babies to senior citizens. Book clubs, craft classes, service groups, garden clubs and bus tours, no one person could possibly attend all the events they would like to.
Michigan State University has fabulous live theatre, music and sports activities year around. Top rated Broadway plays such as "Phantom of the Opera", "South Pacific", "Grease", "Lion King" and "Rent" are booked at the fabulous Wharton Center. National musical groups, such as Celtic dancers, and big bands appear at this location annually.
The city has athletic facilities for family, team and individual use. Just a couple of blocks from the State Capitol is a professional baseball stadium where the Lansing Lugnuts play. From there you can walk to one of several downtown restaurants, bars and taverns.
The Michigan Library is located in an area of State government buildings in the center of town. There are many displays and docents to help explain what some of them are about. You could easily spend half a day here.
Also downtown is Impression Five Museum, a hands on place that is especially good for families with children, the Michigan Woman's Historical Museum, and of course the State Capitol of Michigan, with tours.
Lansing has a restored early 1800's home, the Dodge-Turner House, which is open for tours. It depicts life at the time it was built, complete with parlors and a grand ballroom. They have planned activities during the summer, usually out of doors on the lawns.
In the summer there are free outdoor concerts in the river front parks and at several other public sites. Several taverns and bars have local bands and jam sessions with local people just dropping by and the audiences are encouraged to sing along.
There are many public parks with playgrounds, softball fields, and some have peddle bike tracks and jumps. Iron grills are installed in some parks.
There are three major malls in the area, each with major anchor stores and a multi- screen motion picture theatre. There are bike paths and walking trails throughout the area.
Greater Lansing includes Lansing, East Lansing, DeWitt Township, Holt, Delta Township, Grand Ledge, Haslett, Okemos and a few other communities in the Tri-County area of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties.
Neatly groomed golf courses are in every area of Greater Lansing. There are gun shooting facilities, archery clubs, and paint ball parks, miniture indoor and outdoor golf courses and driving ranges.
Lansing and it's suburbs have many religious centers that welcome new people. The fine hospitals are first class and in addition to world class care provide an opportunity for volunteer work.
The area has many senior citizen nursing, assisted living, and group housing varities. Some schools and churches operate licensed child care facilities, as do many state licensed individuals.
Fairly new to the region are dog parks. We are blessed with the finest veterinary medical training facility at MSU, and many dedicated animal doctors in the area. There are doggie day care centers and grooming salons to suit the most descriminate canines and felines.
Public transportation is available through the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) and taxi cabs are just a telephone call away. We have a National Port of Entry level airport at Lansing. There is also nation wide bus service from Lansing.
There are many places you can go to just enjoy the nice summer weather. Picnic on the beautiful MSU campus, or along the river, perhaps near the fish ladder at Old Town. Ride bikes along the trails as far as you like. If you like to just explore on your own, Lansing offers many opportunities. There are second hand shops, auctions, barn sales, garage sales, estate sales, especially on the weekends. [read more...]
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| Lansing, Michigan Politics - 11/21/2009
What a crazy place! Everyone in Lansing politics is inbred and feed upon the dysfunctional nature of Michigan's political leadership and the automobile industry. I've tried to be involved because I am civic minded, but if you are a newcomer, the local's design is to eat you alive if you don't become exactly like them - corrupt - and no one in a good mind wil want to do that! No a good place for civic minded people to relocate.[read more...]
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| Not the best place - 10/16/2009
I lived in Lansing for about four years and although it's not Podunk, there's nothing to do except follow Michigan State University sports and hear all the bad news about GM. This is the least progressive city I've ever been to. It's not pretty during any month of the year. The people are pretty friendly, but it seems there's more empty store fronts by the day and there are no cultural activities to speak of. There's a few decent restaurants, but they get old quick. It's almost a sad city because all the people seem to live for is following mediocre sports teams like the Lions and Spartans.[read more...]
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| Makes you feel depressed and dirty. - 6/15/2008
What's something good I can say about this place? Nothing. There's A LOT of theft and and buildings are old and need updating. No one really seems to care about their appearance of themselves or their homes. You're in hope if you're an alcoholic. There's a lot of bars around. The only place that's halfway decent is the city with Michigan State University, East Lansing...and that's probably just so they get a good reputation from tourists and foreigners. Did I mention the amount of prostitutes and homeless people? Wow. The crime is not anything too dangerous, like Flint or Detroit, but again, the theft. I don't believe you could even leave a trash can outside unattended. Lansing needs to plant more flowers and pick up its trash.[read more...]
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| cheap - 3/19/2008
not that nice but not that bad. Real cheap to live and have lots of stuff[read more...]
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| very gray... - 6/20/2007
Lansing is a very cloudy city. Michigan generally has great falls, and spring is quite nice, but winter is looooong. We also get a lot of gray weather, which can be very dreary after a while![read more...]
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| Quality Of Life Stinks - 2/20/2007
Quality of life here stinks. I have lived here my entire life and am looking at relocating south of Michigan. This place is boring. Nothing to do. No jobs.[read more...]
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| Ugly City - 1/8/2007
One of the most depressing cities I have been through. Dependent on MSU and its enrollment; otherwise there would be no market. Like any other city in the state (except ann arbor), very flat, boring, and full of run down homes and business as people leave the state in droves. Doesn't compare to many other capital cities around the nation. Chain dining is "fine" dining, and a small macy's store makes for fine shopping. Very little acceptance for arts and alt. businesses, much like the agenda of the state. Most likely if your not associated with the state government or the university you wont live here, or want to go through it. Depressing, just like the state. If your not overweight, have scruffy face growth and drink commercial beer this place is not for you.[read more...]
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| DEPRESSING! - 8/15/2006
There is nothing to do in Lansing except go to the bars. People try to open cool businesses, but they just don't last. The winters are so depressing it hurts. It's a cold wet feeling that hits you in November and doesn't leave til March.
East Lansing is OK if you have friends there, but basically it's just go to the bar, or go tailgating. It's not exciting, there's very little room for growth.
The people are fine, but the climate and the area are just depressing. Don't move here if you can help it. If you must go to school, live in East Lansing, not in Lansing. Trust me, it's worth the extra money.[read more...]
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| Not that bad... - 7/12/2006
Lansing is a small city, pop. 119,000 or so I believe. Total metro area population is closer to 375,000. Lansing is the capitol of Michigan and has a somewhat diversified economy compared to the rest of the state. The state capitol, Michigan State University, Cooley Law School and General Motors all call Lansing home. There are many recreational activities here because of MSU, however water fun is not on the list. Ingham County has just one usable lake, and even that is very small. Lake Michigan is only 90 minutes away (I've driven it). Lansing's central location makes it convenient to Grand Rapids, Detroit and even Chicago. Climate here is COLD in the winter, and mild in the summer. Yes it DOES RAIN alot here, as it does in the rest of Michigan due to the Great Lakes. Politically, Ingham County is the second most liberal area in the state behind Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor). If you are looking for a conservative area, try Grand Rapids, 60 miles west of here. Housing here is AFFORDABLE, although maybe a little higher than in Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo. Cost of living here is generally pretty afforable.[read more...]
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| Better off dead! - 6/28/2006
Lansing is by far the worst place in the entire world. It’s much like living in East Africa or Detroit but you don’t get the chance of being shot or dying of AIDS, so you just have to suffer. Lansing gets the second most rain in America and the ocean is 15 hours away -- the Great Lakes are at least 2 or 3 hours away. People here are always talking about how they love the lakes but you could live in any other state in the union and be as close to the Great Lakes as Lansing is. If you are thinking of moving to Lansing save yourself the trouble and just cut off your foot and pour a bucket of water on your head it’s the same as living here.[read more...]
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| Lansing has no zip - 6/20/2006
If you look at the Lansing area on paper, it appears like a happening place - East Lansing is a college town, you've got the huge Cooley Law School, there's minor-league basecall, it's the state capital, etc. Despite all of that, Lansing is really kind of a depressing place. There just seems to be this penchant for ugliness, tackiness and an obsession with parking. It also seems to be frozen in the mid 80s, with new ideas not implemented too readily, whether it's new businesses, environmental awareness, etc. The old way is the good way.
True, there are some cool things happening, such as some loft conversions and a revival of East Michigan Ave, including a new bookstore, cafe, cultural center, etc. The problem, though, is that there is still so far to go. Lots of other cities in the Midwest have already done these kinds of upgrades maybe 10-20 years ago, but now it's finally catching on slowly here. Also, so much damage has been done that I fear that Lansing might never be really vibrant place. For example, the downtown riverfront should be a focal point, yet it is permanently blocked off with a HUGE parking ramp. And the main entrance to downtown on Michigan Ave over the river - why not have a graceful, grand structure to know you've arrived? No, it's a bland, concrete block. So Lansing. Also, not only is the capitol building uninspiring, but the government district is a big sprawling mess with nothing connected together and perhaps 500 acres of dead-zone parking. There is no intimacy to the place, nor there can ever be enough parking, whether it's in downtown Lansing or near MSU or wherever. The offerings in downtown Lansing feel fit for a town of 30,000 rather than a capital city with 120K. While entrepreneurs are trying to change this, it just never really catches on. I just think that most people have written off downtown and really just don't like it that much. TGI Fridays is good enough. For instance, there's a new Pita Pit restaurant that was planning to stay open until 12 am. I just saw that they had to change their hours and close at 7 because downtown is still such a no-go zone after 5.
So if you plan on moving here, really check it out first before you dive in. I moved here several years ago for school and regret it. I am looking forward to leaving after I'm done. Let me add, though, that I have nothing against the people here. In general, while a bit provincial, they are as upright, kind and decent as peopl[read more...]
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| Good Housing Market - 4/20/2006
As a life long resident who has invested in single family and multi unit housing, I feel the greater Lansing market is still a good place to buy a house. Prices are below the national average, there is a large stock of houses of different ages and price ranges. The local economy is diversified, although we are the largest builder of cars (more are assembled here than any other US city, including Detroit; and GM has built two new plants here) there are many growth industries represented here as well as public sector employers. State government is a large employer, as is Michigan State University and the Sparrow Hospital group. There are almost 20,000 students at Lansing Community College, over 40,000 students at MSU, and the largest law school in the nation (Cooley) and a second law school at MSU, and several other colleges in the area.
Lansing is about a one and a half hour drive to either Lake Michigan to the west or Lake St Clair and Lake Huron to the east, and there are literally thousands of beautiful inland lakes all over the state. With our excellent highway system, you can live in a pristine natural setting and be less than a 30 minute drive to the State Capital in the center of the city.[read more...]
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| Great place to buy - 4/20/2006
As a life long resident who has invested in single family and multi unit housing, I feel the greater Lansing market is still a good place to buy a house. Prices are below the national average, there is a large stock of houses of different ages and price ranges. The local economy is diversified, although we are the largest builder of cars (more are assembled here than any other US city, including Detroit; and GM has built two new plants here) there are many growth industries represented here as well as public sector employers. State government is a large employer, as is Michigan State University and the Sparrow Hospital group. There are almost 20,000 students at Lansing Community College, over 40,000 students at MSU, and the largest law school in the nation (Cooley) and a second law school at MSU, and several other colleges in the area.
Lansing is about a one and a half hour drive to either Lake Michigan to the west or Lake St Clair and Lake Huron to the east, and there are literally thousands of beautiful inland lakes all over the state. With our excellent highway system, you can live in a pristine natural setting and be less than a 30 minute drive to the State Capital in the center of the city.[read more...]
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| craps - 4/18/2006
most of the year it is gray and ugly. the cold is not only very cold but damp and seeps into the bones. the summers aremade sickening not by heat but the humidity. surrounding by lakes we cannot see and swimming in gray factories.[read more...]
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