Downtown Lansing will soon realize a long-awaited improvement thanks to a redevelopment agreement to renovate the former Golden Palace restaurant at 3307 Ridge Road.
The property, which has been abandoned for nearly 10 years, will be renovated into a Japanese-inspired ramen restaurant by Lansing resident and chef Krystal Goins, according to village administrator Dan Podgorski.
The Village Board voted July 19 to grant Goins $128,000 in tax increment financing district money to help renovate the dilapidated building, including improvements to the plumbing, electrical wiring, HVAC systems and roofing.
“We’ll pay to make it usable again, she’ll be responsible for remodeling the inside to transform it into her vision,” said Podgorski.
The board also voted to use $29,200 in Downtown Ridge Road Facade Improvement funds for the property which will contribute to upgrades its exterior including windows, doors, lighting and signs.
The property belongs to the village since it was claimed through abandonment proceedings, though Podgorski said Goins will acquire the building throughout the renovation process.
“This is part of the ongoing revitalization of Ridge Road,” Podgorski said. “There are still a handful of vacant buildings in the downtown but we’ve been seeing more activity in recent years since we opened the Fox Pointe concert venue in 2019. That’s why we’ve been so aggressive to go after those abandoned properties and get deals done on them.”
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The village opened the $5 million Fox Pointe amphitheater in fall 2018, and completed its first full show season in 2019 before it was closed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Podgorski said the 2021 and 2022 seasons have been busy and driven significant business to the village.
The Village Board also approved funding for a Ridge Road street improvement project, which will resurface the street from Torrence Avenue to the state line.
The road work is part of the Federal Surface Transportation Program and largely financed by federal funds administered through the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association. The village approved a contribution of $394,000, while the federal government will contribute $1,57 million. Podgorski said the road was last repaired in 2008, and the project will hopefully be underway next spring.
Board members also approved a contract to finish replacing decorative lighting in the downtown area around Ridge Road. The existing lighting was installed in the late 1980s and is no longer able to be maintained, as parts are not available for repairs, officials said.
Podgorski said while many of the lights were replaced in the past decade, the lights on the surrounding streets were left untouched.
“The old ones looked dated and they’re impossible to replace,” he said. “This will complete the transformation and make the lights more efficient and easier to repair.”
Podgorski said the $352,495 contact with Utility Dynamics, Corp. will replace between 30 and 40 of the fixtures, while others are being removed entirely.
Jessie Molloy is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.