The Hub on Grand River

Re-purposing the alley behind the building for temporary events that change every week or so would be something that would bring a lot of the residents of the building together. First, they would need to clean the area up to not make it seem like just an alley. The planting of trees and other greenery would help the area look just as beautiful when there are no temporary events going on. The revamped space would help draw a larger amount of people because they could use that space for an endless amount of community events. One example would be having art displays that community members themselves bring in for other members of the community to view. Having a space for temporary events such as that is beneficial for a few different reasons. For one, it could bring in people from the nearby area, making them more welcome to yet another big apartment building in East Lansing. It would also help bring together a lot of different people together as a community. You would be able to get to know people you otherwise not might have interacted with.

Lastly, alleys tend to be eyesores, so changing it into a space that people will actually use will make the area look more beautiful. Just that aspect alone makes this a feasible idea. Getting rid of eyesores in the landscape is something that everyone in a community is supportive of. When it comes to implementing this idea, there should be a committee put in place in the building that will make decisions on what events will be held. Finding volunteers to help with that could be a good event to put together as well. Having it done by the time the building is constructed would be great because they could show off the new space and capitalize on how the small space has a lot of potential. As a final note, for the actual planning of events, sending polls via email out to residents will ensure that they do events that people will go to. Having an area like this will really bring a lot of different people in the community together.

The idea of a local market implemented into the Hub will have a huge impact for the apartment complex. Skimming over the amenities, the Hub seems to focus more on fitness and health. Since there is a Grill/BBQ area and a 24/7 Coffee Area planned to built in the building, adding a market will give the residents easy access to get fresh produce for obtaining or gaining their healthy eating habits.

One of the Hub's core branches from its "Driven-Living Amenities" is a "Top-Line Fitness Center." A local market will build power. Containing fresh produce, and other food products will give the residents and other community members a place to get nutritious food items. Secondly, the market will develop a culture and identity. There are business areas, clubs, a rooftop pool, planned to be built in the apartment complex and right next to Collegetown, the market will give residents an area where they can fresh produce for themselves than getting food from restaurants on Grand River Avenue. A local market built in the Hub will help save time, money, and health for future residents and community members.

The Hub on Grand River is very much focused on their residents being able to bike everywhere as there will be bike racks throughout the development, so starting a “bike share” type of project that is restricted to residents of the building would seem like a reasonable thing for them to include. It would definitely help lessen any complaints that there is limited parking available. Additionally, it would lower the number of cars in the area since they are potentially bringing in a lot of new people to the city. Reducing the number of cars in the area will help ensure the safe circulation that the "Complete Streets" idea from “The City Fix”. They could even partner with the city of East Lansing to improve or change signs for bike lanes if that is deemed necessary to make the area safer. Furthermore, they could get creative with how they could store the bikes in places throughout the building/area. The photo below shows a great model of how bikes can be stored in unique ways. Unique ideas like that will help add something new to the landscape.

As far as implementing this idea goes, they would have to figure out which supplier they would get bikes from. They could also allow residents to bring their own bikes to implement into the sharing program, and as a thank you for increasing the number of bikes available, they could give them a discount on their utilities and let them participate in the program without a fee. Now that payment is mentioned, a fee of around $5-$10 per month per person would be a good way to keep the program going. Moving forward, finding the proper storage for all of these bikes is an area where they can get creative. It could really add to the atmosphere as I have not seen another building that has implemented physical bikes into their design. As a result of this neat design, it could attract customers to the retail space they have (7/11, Georgio’s, and any additional retail shops). Overall, this seems like a feasible idea if the apartment complex is able to come up with enough bikes to implement into their budget.

The Hub on Grand River is in the heart of East Lansing and a quick stroll to MSU’s campus. Core Spaces LLC. did a great job with implementing amenities such as a fitness center, fully equipped pool and spa and a basketball court for the incoming student tenants. These are all great ideas to keep students active and healthy but one improvement idea I would suggest would be to include a small international market run by international workers.

Based on data and information provided by the university, there are over 38.3% minority students of which more than half are international. This improvement idea would not only drive more minority and international students to The Hub, but it will offer a sense of belonging to them. It would make them feel at home, away from home. The small market can include foods and drinks popular in countries where the students are from such as ramen, where students can then prepare them on their own time. The Hub would be the first apartment complex to cater to the minority and international students by making them feel welcomed.

An improvement idea that I would love to see implemented is within The Hub, on the corner of Grand River and Bogue. Building a city FOR the people within it, instead of expecting community members to adapt to unexpected changes, especially within a college town, is a great way to form unity and strengthen the community. The Hub on Grand River has the potential to do this, and the makers are already attempting to do this by using a location that benefits the MSU students as well as the East Lansing community. According to city councilmember Shanna Draheim, the area will add to density downtown overall. This location is where a 7/11 store used to be which brought revenue and business from people on and off of the Michigan State campus. By re-adding the 7/11 to the first floor of The Hub, there’s an effort to continue that progression. My improvement suggestion is to make the 7/11 student-run or at least one where the employees are members of the community and not somebody from a corporate ownership. This would cycle revenue back into the area, provide an opportunity for stronger work ethic among residents, boosting the economy, and strengthening the community connection to this building.

The Hub on Grand River and Cedar is a development currently under construction that will be a ten story apartment building holding 347 apartments by next fall. The development is planning to have only 158 parking spaces. There have been concerns that there will not be enough parking spaces but it has been refuted by the fact that the development is so close to campus that residents will not need their cars. I believe this to be unrealistic; students living on their own often require a car for getting around town to do everything else they have to do that isn't on campus. Many students that own a car will not be willing to move into the new development if it means not having their car on campus; or they will resort to parking illegally.

My design improvement idea is to find a way to create more parking spaces. If there isn't enough property to realistically have enough parking spaces for all residents in the development, then in my opinion that is a flaw in the design of the development that needs to be addressed. I believe it should be a part of the developments responsibility to rent out parking spaces in the area, so their residents have a reasonable place to park their car. This could include the parking structures on Albert and Division, and Albert and Charles. While it may not be ideal and residents would rather park at the development, it's only a short walk from where the apartments will be and offers a good alternative.

The Hub is aimed towards providing students with luxurious college housing. It comes with many things, like a convenient store and a pizza place, all these things that makes a college student’s life a little easier. One thing that is known for making a student’s life a ton more hectic is parking. Trying to find parking to go to class is always a challenge for students, but I at least think it should be something that is not an obstacle when they are going back to their apartments. They should not have to wonder where they’re going to park every day. While this glorious building comes with a pool and a spa, these things that will help students to relax, it also only has 158 parking spots, while having 347 parking spots. This is not going to help them be relaxed and a pool is not going to wash that away. It should be a responsibility to provide parking spaces for every responsibility if they are going to want to house them.

I think something needs to be done to improve upon this limited parking issue. Although it is close to campus, which they hope makes up for the lacking of parking spots, I think something really needs to be done. They can clear up some space nearby in order to form little parking structures that don’t have to all be in the same exact spot but can be close by at least. At the least, if that cannot be done, they can provide the remaining residents who are excluded from those 158 parking spots with parking passes on campus.

Often times, even the smallest of changes can transform a city from a closed-off region to a welcoming, inclusive space. The Hub is a newly-developed 10-story apartment building located near the east of Downtown Lansing. Although in an excellent area for dining and population, The Hub is immersed within other standing apartments in which seem to group students of a higher socioeconomic status. In correlation to demographics, those who will more than likely occupy this space are young to middle-aged white residents. It can be assumed therefore that this space is quenched for cultural exposure and explanation.

An improvement idea of which would benefit the Hub and deliver the element of inclusion is to incorporate actual cultural additions to the design of the building. Photos, interactive and virtual screens presenting information in a wide array of languages, and even local food stands would act as a great deal of cultural appreciation and inclusion. Art and technology are ways of visual representation, therefore by including murals and languages throughout the space, perhaps more residents of East Lansing will feel that they are welcome and represented. It would be a beautiful idea to use photos taken of the local residents of a variety of cultures within the building. Developers of The Hub may implement these ideas through financing or accepting local art to be included.

In a ever growing East Lansing, A community garden would be an excellent way for people to come together. A community garden gives the residents of The Hub an opportunity to work on a project that has the potential to have a real impact on the community. This community garden serves two purposes, the first is getting the residents together so they can feel more comfortable in their new living area. This is important because it empowers the residents to make a difference in their community. Secondly, this community garden also serves as a way of giving back to the community by providing fresh fruits and vegetables directly from The Hub. This is vital because it makes the community of Michigan State University and East Lansing more connected in a way that it was not before this garden. This project will be a great opportunity for The Hub to feel more connected to its residents as well as the community as a whole. East Lansing is always evolving and this is a way to help it feel more involved in the area.

The hub on the grand river is meant to provide a luxurious environment for those who are seeking an apartment complex close to campus. The hub includes a pool, fitness center, club or game room, 7-eleven, and Georgio's pizza. I believe that if the hub wants people that are willing to rent they must provide a sense of belonging. They could include decorations, images, or multicultural artifacts that can improve the sense of diversity and make this apartment complex unique and different from the rest.

The hub should consider hiring a diverse group of staff members that speak different types of languages and are willing to help those who are willing to rent but can't speak or understand English very well. To make it beneficial for the hub owners and the residents who stay at the hub there should be a store inside of the hub that includes a variety of multicultural food. The different languages, types of food, and diverse staff would impact the hub by gaining a variety of students who are willing to pay rent to live at the hub. The hub would create its own diverse community and residents will feel happy and welcomed. Culture and diversity are keys to improve in network connections, with the variety of diversity at the hub people could make many network connections that could benefit them for a lifetime.

Nature has amazing effects on peoples well being. Nature is naturally apart of everyones daily lives the minute they step out of their house each morning. Fresh air always has positive impacts on people. The hub is a creative space to live. I think if it had a garden or green house area where each residents could plant their own herbs, vegetables, cactuses, flowers, or any other type of plant they desire it would be a better place. This would make The Hub a place like no other to live in. A space with a collection of plants would bring earthy vibes into East Lansing.

This can be implemented by having each resident plant at least one type of plant into the designated space. Each resident will have a key into this room. Also, there will be tables and chairs surrounding it with places to study. This could make this a multipurpose room. I think this would be a beneficial improvement.

With The Hub housing many different people from many different backgrounds, what would be a great way of getting to know your fellow neighbors? I purpose a "Friendly Wall of Thoughts and Ideas" project. The driving force behind the idea for this wall is to help the residents learn more about each other as well as plan fun and exciting activities together. This wall can be located anywhere in The Hub as long as residents have access to it. This could be very beneficial to residents because it gives them an avenue to express themselves. A simple " Hi everyone I hope your day is amazing" on the wall can do wonders for somebody who was walking by it. Of course the wall will have to be monitored daily, but this is an excellent way of learning about people who are different from one another while also making a positive impact on The Hub and its residents.

The Hub on Bogue st and Grand River is one of the major housing complex's for MSU students. The Hub is a work-in-progress and it should be finished by August 2019. The 10-story apartment complex will house 585 residents, one of them being myself, and include many amenities such as a basketball court, fitness area, and rooftop lounge. The rooftop lounge is one of the most desirable aspects of The Hub, but this will not be available year-round. Michigan weather is not friendly and the rooftop pool and lounge will be closed for a good portion of the school year.

I believe that The Hub should work on incorporating nature that can be enjoyed year-round. The rooftop lounge is a great start, but can only be enjoyed during the small window of good weather we have. The first floor should include many windows and plants to help increase a sense of security for residents and make visitors feel welcome. Starting small and including colourful flowers will help brighten the space and put everyone in a good mood.

One of my favorite cities to visit is Chicago. The downtown life is so fun and busy, but also spans across a great distance. How Chicago adapted to this problem was their diverse selection of transportation. One in particular that is a personal favorite of mine is the Divvy Bike Share program. Divvy is basically like the Bird and Lime scooter programs. For Divvy, it's $3 to start a trip and an additional $3 for an extended 30 minutes longer on the bike. It is cheap and accessible, you just need the app downloaded on your phone and you're ready to go.

For The Hub, it's main concern was parking. With The Hub housing over 500 residents, parking will be a concern to students that may live out of state or need to commute to work or other places. With Divvy, they can place their bike racks in front of The Hub and allow students to bike to class which would be faster and more accessible then buying a parking pass in a farther lot on campus. Divvy can be placed right out front so anyone can use it, not just the residents, but it would mainly be beneficial to them. Divvy also allows you to buy membership programs so you can have a yearly package for $100 which would still cost less then paying for parking everyday or buying a parking pass for campus. Divvy is very successful in a big city like Chicago, so I feel like it would do extremely well in a smaller city like East Lansing.

Going along with Zainab’s post, the idea of adding an international market in the Hub on Grand River would build a community for international students, as most of them are residing in one area of campus. A.K.A. East Neighborhood. Adding an international farmers market can involve more participation and it welcomes international students, especially newcomers to MSU, as well as minority students, who are adjusting to the campus and find their home. According to the International Students and Scholars, 6,260 international students from 140 countries are enrolled for Fall Semester 2018. 1,302 new international students were welcomed to MSU this fall semester.

Other than international produce and cultural food dishes, the international market can also hold an art market shop. Working closely with the MSU International Center, the art market shop can expand Global Fest and other events that are promoted by International Studies and Programs Center. They can have antiques and artwork from different cultures and nations.

Source: https://oiss.isp.msu.edu/about/statistical-report/

Land is being destroyed all over the world due to urbanization and the amount of impervious surfaces is at an all-time high. The Hub is not helping this problem. The Hub is a new 10-story apartment complex on Bogue Street and Grand River. The Hub will be finished in August of 2019 and I am going to be one of the 585 residents.

The Hub needs to incorporate green roofs in their building plan. Green roofs have many benefits with the primary benefit being the mitigation of stormwater runoff. This is a major problem in East Lansing and you can clearly see the pollution in the Red Cedar. Green roof systems have been shown to retain 60-100% of the stormwater they receive. Incorporating a green roof system into the hub would improve water quality, reduce air pollution and provide a habitat for wildlife.

The Hub is a new building, very proximate to the MSU campus, that will be filled primarily with MSU students. Many downtowns have bike share programs to protect the environment, keep the community healthy, and keep commutes short.

Adding a bike share program to The Hub's design plans can incorporate this into the campus itself to make The Hub bikes an intrinsic part of campus that would be accessible for Hub residents and potentially the general MSU population. Having a bike share program based on housing off campus is just a way to start integrating a bike share program into the city

This year more than last I have seen a huge expansion of the electric scooters called spins. Every day I see multiple people riding scooters coming to and from class. I have tried the scooters multiple times and I've also tried using the bus multiple times and almost every time I try and take the bus to class I end up being late or I get on the wrong bus or something happens. With the hub being a generally new building and located on the far end of the grand river this gave me the idea, with the concept of renting electric things the city of East Lansing could implement a concept that has already been well used in many cities around Michigan and around the country and that is rentable electric bikes.

This would be a perfect in-between for the time where you have to travel a reasonable distance and can swiftly arrive on a bike and just park it back at a charging station just like you can with a spin. This will contribute to the atmosphere as well, seeing people traveling on bikes and reducing the number of cars being driven on the roads. More people are out and about riding on the sidewalks and in the bike lanes making for an even more social environment than the MSU campus already is. The idea came to me after I thought about things I've done in other cities and I thought back to riding these electric bikes called MoGo bikes. They were much quicker to travel with than the spins and I think that It could be a nice addition to the MSU campus.

The Hub is one of the apartments with lots of potential at its management, with the addition of green space and with the addition of solar panels on the roof of the Hub will make a much more sustainable living and community where it doesn't have to be consumed so much electricity and instead of providing such electricity independently for the alternative which leads more people to be more eco friendly, the creation of a community-based neighborhood also provide the Hub with the much-needed community to help to improve the Hub internally.

Ecology and sustainability are very key aspects to building a strong city. One way to strengthen that of East Lansing could be to install solar panels across the roof of the Hub. The energy produced by the panels could be used to power the building, reducing costs for residents. Utilizing this space for production of sustainable energy would not only benefit the people of East Lansing, but the planet as well.

A terrific way to help improve The Hub on Grand River and enhance the community is by replacing the current roofing materials (that most likely absorb heat, which increase air pollution levels and energy costs) with a green/smart roof. Green roofs are created using soil and plants, which can retain rainfall and minimize the need to keep funding systems that cause harm to the environment. Green/Smart roofs also provide shade and habitats for creatures, such as butterflies and ladybugs. Another option would be to install a “cool” roof. Cool roofs are extremely reflective surfaces that do not absorb heat and reduce the urban heat island effect.
Installing a green or cool roof would be greatly beneficial to The Hub and the surrounding area, as it reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and improves the overall quality of life.

This year more than last I have seen a huge expansion of the electric scooters called spins. Every day I see multiple people riding scooters coming to and from class. I have tried the scooters multiple times and I've also tried using the bus multiple times and almost every time I try and take the bus to class I end up being late or I get on the wrong bus or something happens. With the hub being a generally new building and located on the far end of the grand river This gave me the idea, with the concept of renting electric transportation the hub could be the first to implement a concept that has already been well used in many cities around Michigan and around the country and that is rentable electric bikes in front of the building.

“People need transport for commuting, shopping and accessing services and leisure activities. Doing so efficiently and flexibly has always been a goal” says David Shachar-Hill in his article called “Multimodal Transportation” and I believe Electric biked would be a perfect in-between for the time where you have to travel a reasonable distance and can swiftly arrive on a bike and just park it back at a charging station just like you can with a spin. This will contribute to the atmosphere as well, seeing people traveling on bikes and reducing the number of cars being driven on the roads. More people are out and about riding on the sidewalks and in the bike lanes making for an even more social environment than the MSU campus already is. The idea came to me after I thought about things I've done in other cities and I thought back to riding these electric bikes called MoGo bikes. They were much quicker to travel with than the spins and I think that It could be a nice addition to the MSU campus.