Nov. 27 - Dec. 3, 2019 www.lansingcitypulse.com Locally owned • A newspaper for the rest of us 2019 Holiday Gift & Event Guide See page 12 2 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • November 27, 2019 Make sure your last holiday season with Mackerel Sky includes gifts with the fabulous purple bow! Enjoy the shopping experience in Mackerel Sky’s welcoming atmosphere. As you would expect, we are chock full of wonderful treats for all. We always look forward to seeing you. City Pulse • November 27, 2019 www.lansingcitypulse.com 3 Feel the joy of the Holiday Season with your favorite holiday tunes and traditional carols with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert! Enter to win 2 tickets to the Holiday Pops Concert on December 22nd at lansingcitypulse.com 517.999.9999517.999.999 [email protected] 1800 N Grand River Ave Lansing, MI 4 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • November 27, 2019 VOL. 19 ISSUE 16 (517) 371-5600 • Fax: (517) 999-6061 • 1905 E. Michigan Ave. • Lansing, MI 48912 • www.lansingcitypulse.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: (517) 999-5061 or email [email protected] PAGE CLASSIFIEDS: (517) 999-6704 EDITOR AND PUBLISHER • Berl Schwartz 25 [email protected] • (517) 999-5061 ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR • Audrey Matusz Williamston Theatre brings six plays to life [email protected] • (517) 999-5068 EVENTS EDITOR/OFFICE MANAGER • Suzi Smith [email protected] • (517) 999-6704 PRODUCTION MANAGER • Skyler Ashley PAGE [email protected] (517) 999-5066 27 Composition • Abby Sumbler STAFF WRITERS • Lawrence Cosentino Wellness abounds at new East Lansing shop [email protected] • (517) 999-5065 Dennis Burck • [email protected] (517) 999-6705 Kyle Kaminski • [email protected] PAGE (517) 999-6710 33 SALES EXECUTIVE Lee Purdy • [email protected] • (517) 999-5064 Queers Who Brunch will celebrate local ingredients Contributors: Andy Balaskovitz, Justin Bilicki, Capital News Service, Bill Castanier, Ryan Claytor, Mary C. Cusack, Tom Helma, Gabrielle Lawrence Johnson, Terry Link, Kyle Melinn, Mark Nixon, Dennis Preston, Carrie Sampson, Nevin Speerbrecker, Rich Tupica, Ute Von Der Cover Heyden, David Winkelstern, Paul Wozniak Distribution manager: Art Garrett Clinard • (517) 999-6704 Delivery drivers: Garrett Clinard, Dave Fisher, Dale By Skyler Ashley Gartner, Jack Sova, Gavin Smith Interns: Matthew Stine • [email protected] NOW AT 10:00 A.M. SUNDAYS on OF THE WEEK City Pulse • November 27, 2019 www.lansingcitypulse.com 5 PULSE NEWS & OPINION Pondering public pool preservation $1.24 million needed OF THE WEEK to keep pool afloat in Moores Park The future of one of the longest con- tinuously operating public pools in the nation remains uncertain as city offi- cials grapple with a $1.2 million repair bill and the possibility of summertime heartbreak across Lansing. 805 N. Seymour Ave., Lansing Lansing Mayor Andy Schor Owner: Kevin Schoen announced last week he would consid- The massive brick house that has er “just about everything” to keep the commanded the northwest corner 97-year-old Moores Park Pool open for of Seymour Avenue and Madison another season. But with thousands Street for 110 years is finally getting of gallons leaking out every summer, a makeover, according to its owner, pipes rusting and concrete cracking Kevin Schoen. — and the possibility that the pool's Schoen, the CEO of internet pro- chlorinated water is seeping into the vider ACD.net, bought the house at Grand River — its continued operation 805 N. Seymour in 2014 at a bank remains in jeopardy without some cash auction for $20,500. He plans to to fix it, he said. Skyler Ashley/City Pulse convert the house into apartments. “It’s time for us to address the prob- Dale Schrader (left) and Bill Castanier (right) are considering a joint fundraising Since Schoen bought the house lems with this pool rather than putting effort to help fund the fixes. five years ago, frustrated neighbors $100,000 every year into Band-Aids, have watched the 1909 edifice slide which aren’t working because it’s still idents. expensive) to maintain. downhill fast. The stately porches, leaking,” Schor said. “There’s a track record in Lansing of The city pays about $100,000 annu- held up by Ionic columns, appear Schor said the whole job does not public and private partnerships, and I ally to keep the pool open, but a recent on the verge of collapse, with yel- need to be done in one year, “but I need could certainly see this happening for Park Department report shows the cost low tape around the east porch. The to fund some of the fixes.” the pool,” Castanier added. “This is of decades of neglected maintenance. main floor windows are boarded. Schor and a few City Council mem- important and could be part of our leg- Rusted piping needs to be replaced. Several upstairs windows are gone bers — with only so much cash to acy for the next generation. We don’t Discharge valves spill directly into the but not boarded up, leaving the spread across more than 100 different often get the chance to look at some- Grand River and need to be rerouted. interior vulnerable to the elements. parks — are hesitant to float the repair thing this significant and have an abil- The concrete interior is forming several Dale Schrader, who lives near costs in their entirety. The city has since ity to do something about it.” cracks. the house, is angry that Schoen has turned to the local philanthropic com- “This could find some broad support The cost for the “needed” repairs waited so long to restore it while it munity to churn up suggestions. And in the city,” added Preservation Lansing rests at $1.24 million — with room to continues to deteriorate. Schrader it doesn’t look like the pool will sink President Dale Schrader. “It’s unique, grow. is president of Preservation Lansing without a fight. but it’s more than just a mere relic of Also, Schor said the pool — for and has rehabbed several houses in “There’s always a big price tag with our past. The community still uses this unknown reasons — loses 8-10 inches the area. anything of architectural and histor- space. It makes our city more livable. of water daily. And given its proximity His preservation instincts ical significance, said Bill Castanier, It attracts tourists. It’s really something to the riverfront, the chlorinated pol- inflame every time he looks at the president of the Historical Society of for Lansing to be proud of. We can’t lution may be finding its way into the house. Greater Lansing. (Castanier is an edi- afford to lose it.” Grand River. That’ll need to be fix No. “I drive by it every day and I torial contributor to City Pulse.) The egg-shaped public pool along 1, Schor said. can’t believe there are windows “The question this city really needs to Moores River Drive was built. Designed “I don’t know how much it costs to open, with rain and birds flying in,” answer is whether this is worth saving by former city engineer Wesley Bintz, continually refill, but between that and he said. “Five years and very little and whether we’d all be willing to put the pool is believed to be one of only the damage that is done to the river and progress is way too long. He should in some blood, sweat and tears in order five of its design that have survived environment through leakage, it’s a big at least seal those windows off and to save the pool.” beyond the first half of the 20th centu- problem,” Schor added. “I didn’t know Castanier said the Historical Society ry. Only a few still operate today. about the unknown drainage until the See Eyesore, Page 6 and Preservation Lansing are eyeing But while the iconic pools, with their season was underway. Either way, it’s concrete archways and unique, above- in really bad shape and this needs to be “Eyesore of the Week” is our look at some early plans to launch a joint fundrais- of the seedier properties in Lansing. It rotates with ing campaign. Donations could flow ground design, serve a certain histori- addressed.” Eye Candy of the Week and Eye for Design. Have cal significance to the community, they a suggestion? Email [email protected] or from local businesses, developers and call it in at 517-999-6715. the more passionate neighborhood res- can also be notoriously difficult (and See Pool, Page 6 6 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • November 27, 2019 tenance and other pet projects (like now would be to knock it down.” to split the cost of repairing the pool Pool wireless Internet installation) usually The city of Tampa, Florida, offered between the city, the county and oth- only leave room for a few additional one of only a few — albeit expensive er sources like state grants and private improvements each year. — success stories after it reopened its donations. Plans are far from solidified, from page 5 And the City Council has to be mind- Bintz pool in 2016 at a cost of more but he’d also like to tap into the coun- Castanier recognizes the funding ful of the entire city — not just the nos- than $3.2 million. Leaks forced city ty’s parks and trails millage to supplant challenge but plans to resist the possi- talgic end of Moores River Drive. officials to close the pool in 2009, and some of the repair costs. bility of closure by any means necessary. “$1.2 million is a lot of money,” neighborhood residents rallied for five “This pool means a lot to the commu- “I’ve informally polled my board, said City Council Vice President Peter years to raise cash before the city allo- nity and to Lansing’s history,” Morgan and it sounds like we’re interested in Spadafore.