UPDATE: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - "We have some similar problems in downtown Haslett that we have in downtown Okemos," said Julie Brixie, Meridian Township treasurer.

"We have a lot of really small lots that are non conforming and we do have some higher vacancy rates in the Haslett corridor than in other areas of the township."

There are efforts now to create a Corridor Improvement Authority for Haslett which would operate much like the Downtown Development Authroity.

"If they create a Corridor Improvement Authority then they can do the same thing and they can capture tax money and use it for public improvement," said Mark Kieselbach, Director of Planning and Development for the township.

Kieselbach also said the focus now isn't so much on bringing new developments into the township but instead focusing on redevelopment.

"The first areas to be developed back in the 50s and 60s in the township, they're now showing their age and those are the ones that people are starting to look at," he said.

Currently, Meridian has just over 2.6 million square feet of commercial space, with about 315,000 square feet of that sitting vacant. That's about 12 percent of vacant space in total, which is much lower than neighboring Lansing's 19 percent vacancy rate.


ORIGINAL STORY: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Downtown Okemos has been the center and focus of redevelopment and investment initiatives for the past 5 to 6 years, but the township will now be shifting its efforts to the Haslett corridor.