Save East Lansing’s Neighborhoods
Post-Election Statement (11/7/24): We are disappointed with the results of Tuesday’s election and by the passage of Proposal 1. But we are encouraged that Proposal 1 was defeated in many of East Lansing’s residential neighborhoods. In off-campus precincts, Proposal 1 failed (48.4% yes, 51.6% no). Long-term residents understood the implications of Proposal 1 and rejected it. Proposal 1 passed because on-campus precincts supported it overwhelmingly (82.6% yes, 17.4% no). Student voters decided this important issue on behalf of the City's long-term residents.
The Proposal 1 side promised that their Proposal 1 will preserve the City's rental regulations, including overlay districts and housing/safety inspection requirements. We agree these are critical, and we found broad consensus on all sides and across the City to preserve these important regulations.
UPDATE (10/2/24): East Lansing City Attorney confirms that homeowners can have guests stay for unlimited periods. More here.
UPDATE (9/26/24): The Bailey Community Association opposes Proposal 1 and supports the Save Our Neighborhoods EL campaign! More here.
This November, East Lansing residents will be asked to vote on a proposal that would potentially do away with the regulation of rental properties and affect every neighborhood in the City. The proposal, which will appear on the ballot as “East Lansing Proposal 1,” was initiated by a citizen petition drive. If passed, it will amend the City Charter—the equivalent of our City’s Constitution.
We urge you to vote NO. Why? Because our current zoning is flexible and does not require a rental license for:
Multi-generational families to live together.
Seniors to age in place.
Guests to stay with homeowners, without time limits.
Child care and medical helpers to live with homeowners.
House-sitting for extended periods.
In short, our current zoning allows homeowners to use their property as they wish, while also preserving the charming East Lansing neighborhoods that we all treasure.
At worst, EL Proposal 1 would overturn all the City’s rental regulations, including the rental restriction overlay that protects your neighborhood against more rental proliferation, as well as the City’s authority to regulate short-term rentals. There’s big money in tailgate rentals and corporate-owned housing in a Big 10 college town, and if this ballot proposal passes, no East Lansing neighborhood will be safe.
At best, EL Proposal 1 would create a loophole where tenants don’t pay money (“rent”) but instead pay utilities or other costs of owning a home in return for living in unregulated and possibly unsafe spaces. These de facto rentals exist now, and under EL Proposal 1 the number will grow. The City won’t be able to place safety-based limits on occupancy, make sure tenants are sleeping in rooms with proper egress, or even require code inspections and updates. These rentals will be unsafe for tenants and will destabilize neighborhoods, just like we have seen in the past.
Either way, EL Proposal 1 will take us back to a time when families fled East Lansing because landlords converted entire blocks of neighborhood homes into income-generating assets, and when the schools suffered because the children moved with the families. According to the latest census data, East Lansing’s owner-occupied housing rate is under 40%. It is imperative that we preserve our neighborhoods for long-term residents.
Town-gown problems. We love MSU students and their contributions to our community, but long-term residents are in very different phases of life than their student neighbors. As MSU's enrollment grows and more students move off campus, we will continue to ask the City to explore positive solutions so that we have housing options for residents of ALL ages and backgrounds.
Want to know more? Explore our website!
Adam Alessio, Abbott Parkside
Diane Alexanian, Glencairn
Michael Alexanian, Glencairn
Erik Altmann, Bailey
Sally Angelacos, Pinecrest
Jann Angell, Old Whitehills
Steven Angelotti, Downtown
Alan Arbogast, Glencairn
Jennifer Arbogast, Glencairn
Joan Arbogast, Glencairn
Kumar Arun, Hawk Nest
Amanda Austin, Bailey
Henry Austin, Bailey
Abby Baerman, Glencairn
Allen Baerman, Glencairn
Fred Baker, Glencairn
Irene Baker, Glencairn
Andrew Bassila, Flower Pot
Fairlight Beasley, SE Marble
Patrick Beatty, Bailey
Frederic Becker, Pinecrest
Jamuna Becker, Pinecrest
Anthony Benedict, Brookfield
Judy Benedict, Brookfield
Michael Benedict, Brookfield
David Betts, Brookfield
Rita Bhatnagar, Hawk Nest
James Bibbs, Red Cedar
Jane Bitsicas, Walnut Hts
Carolyn Boger, Glens of W'hills
Jennifer Bondi, Glencairn
Beverly Bonning, Glencairn
Bridget Booth, Bailey
Justin Booth, Bailey
Kathy Bouchard-Wyant, Bailey
Michael Boyce, Red Cedar
Kerry Boyd, Southeast Marble
Judith Bridger, Bailey
Barbara Bruce, Oakwood
Linda Brundage, Brookfield
Carol Bryson, Old Whitehills
Sandy Bryson, Old Whitehills
Gary Buckberry, Glencairn
Julie Buckberry, Glencairn
Carrielle Budd, Bailey
Dr. Susan Burke, Glencairn
Mary Burns, Glencairn
Sally Burroughs, Glencairn
Susan Cady, Chartwell
Irene Cahill, Avondale
Jack Cahill, Avondale
Kellee Christensen, C'field Hlls
Michael Christensen, C'field Hlls
Kim Chung, Glencairn
Lauren Ciesa, Bailey
Lynsey Little Clayton, Whitehills
Joseph Clementz, Walnut Hts
Molly Clementz, Walnut Hts