OKEMOS - Four years ago, Douglas J Companies purchased the three properties that occupy the corner of Okemos and Hamilton Road. Recently, Douglas J announced that they've partnered with realtor CBRE Martin to market those properties for sale.

Meridian Township Senior Planner Peter Menser said, "On there end it was their business decision not to develop that property and to sell it and that's perfectly okay."

Since the announcement, residents of the Township have given mixed feedback on how they feel about the decision.

Karen Shapiro has been living in Meridian Township for four years and she said, "What the residents really want is just a more vibrant downtown here so whatever can make that happen is really what I would want."

Even with the properties being vacant for so long, Owner of Bottoms Up Dance Wear, Sherry Fisher is, "Very hopefully that somebody will buy it with the same kind of vision to do a very nice project."

Douglas J Companies and CBRE Martin have both declined to comment on their recent news. There's been no signs of interested buyers just yet, but residents have some ideas of what they would like to see come alive in Downtown Okemos. "I would love to see more restaurants in this downtown area or dessert places or something or the sort where you can go out to eat and then maybe be able to walk around after dinner. I know I like doing that in other towns and I would love that in my town, explain Shapiro.

No matter who buys the properties Menser said, "We'll support everyone involved with their endeavors. So, both of them in selling the property and whoever purchases it and whatever they wanna do with the land."