REO Town

REO Town is a district in Lansing, Michigan, United States, located south of downtown. The neighborhood is bordered by West Malcolm X Street to the north; South Cedar Street BL I-96 to the east; West Mount Hope Avenue to the south; and Townsend Street, the Grand River, and South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the west.[1]

REO Town
Neighborhood
REO Town district in Lansing, Michigan
REO Town district in Lansing, Michigan
Location in the city of Lansing, Michigan
Location in the city of Lansing, Michigan
Coordinates: 42.7170°N 84.5537°W / 42.7170; -84.5537
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyIngham
Area
 • Neighborhood0.624 sq mi (1.62 km2)
Population
 (2009)
 • Neighborhood1,989
 • Density3,200/sq mi (1,200/km2)
 • Metro
454,044
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
48910, 48912, 48933
Area code517
Websitereotown.com
REO Town @ city-data.com[1]

Considered the birthplace of the commercial automobile in the US,[2] REO Town is named after Ransom Eli Olds, an automobile pioneer, for whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named.[3]

In addition to a commercial corridor along South Washington Avenue, REO Town includes three neighborhoods: Fabulous Acres, Moores Park,[4] and River Point.[5]

History

The REO Motor Car Company began producing automobiles along South Washington Avenue in REO Town in 1905, ending production in 1975.[6]

The REO Town Commercial Association was formed in 2003 to encourage businesses and residential growth in the area.[6]

Former Deluxe Inn motel and urban art exhibit prior to September 2010 demolition

In July 2010 the Lansing Board of Water & Light announced plans to construct a $182 million natural gas-powered electric and steam generation plant along Washington Avenue in REO Town. The eight-story facility moved 180 jobs upon its opening in January 2013.[7] Plans also call for the renovation and reuse of the former Grand Trunk railroad station.[8] Construction of the new power station began in May 2011.[9] The cogeneration power plant became operational on July 1, 2013.[10]

In August 2010 the former Deluxe Inn was transformed into an outdoor urban graffiti art exhibit. The planned event attracted approximately 25 artists. The defunct motel, at the north end of REO Town, was demolished in September 2010 and is currently a large grassy lot.[11][12][13]

In August 2011 Lansing received a $326,100 federal transportation grant to help pay for a $2.1 million streetscape project along Washington Avenue in REO Town.[14][15]

Economy

REO Town has several large and small employers. Its largest employer is still the automotive industry with the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant employing approximately 2,500 hourly and salary employees.[16][17]

Arts and culture
REO Town district along Washington Avenue in Lansing, Michigan

REO Town has several arts and culture events throughout the year. Art Attack, an event organized by the REO Town Commercial Association, celebrates art, live music and food.[18] Arts Night Out is a celebration of art and culture that is put on by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing.[19]

The Robin Theatre[20] provides a space for poetry, live music and theater performances.[21] REO Town also features recording studios Elm Street Recording[22] and REO Town Recording.

Art & Craft Beerfest is a celebration of art, beer and music. It is held during the mid-winter break between other area beerfests.[23] The festival features 20 beers from Traverse City's Right Brain Brewing Company, 10 ciders from Blake’s Hard Cider and a variety of Michigan wines.[24] Lansing Beer Fest is now hosted on the third Saturday of June, and has been held since 2012.

On June 23, 2018, REO Town hosted the Three Stacks Music Festival,[25] featuring Against Me!, Murder by Death, Pup, mewithoutyou, Screaming Females, Camp Cove, Petal, Oceanator, City Mouse, Worn Spirit, Stefanie Haapala, Ness Lake, and Secret Forte.

Founded in 2004, REACH Studio Art Center offers free and low-cost art classes for local Lansing youth and teens. Wheel House Studios[26] opened in September 2018, offering classes and private lessons on wheel throwing geared towards adults.

References
  1. REO Town neighborhood in Lansing, Michigan (MI), 48910, 48912, 48933 detailed profile, city-data.com, Retrieved June 7, 2012
  2. REO Town Official Webpage, retrieved 2014-Jun-18
  3. Lansing, Michigan, wikipedia.com, retrieved 2010-Aug-03
  4. Moores Park
  5. Adams, Tara. REO Town - REO Town Living and Visiting Guide Archived 2010-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, Lansing Area Capital Gains, capitalgainsmedia.com, August 12, 2009, Retrieved August 5, 2010
  6. Rook, Christine and Melissa Domsic. New REO Town development could revitalize Lansing downtown district, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, August 1, 2010, Retrieved August 5, 2010
  7. Domsic, Melissa. BWL plans $182M power plant in Lansing's REO Town, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, July 16, 2010, Retrieved August 3, 2010
  8. BWL becomes REO Town's best friend, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, July 30, 2010, Retrieved August 5, 2010
  9. Domsic, Melissa. 'Classy' power plant in REO Town is under way, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, May 26, 2011, Retrieved May 28, 2011
  10. Howell, Brandon. Lansing Board of Water & Light's new $182 million REO Town cogeneration plant goes online, MLive.com, July 1, 2013, Retrieved July 7, 2013
  11. "REO Town Festival Site, Lansing | Let's Save Michigan".
  12. Rook, Christine. REO Town - Graffiti Art Project At Deluxe Inn Brings Attention to REO Town Revitalization, Lansing State Journal, capitalgainsmedia.com, July 31, 2010, Retrieved August 4, 2010
  13. Rook, Christine. Deluxe Inn falls as demolition starts, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, September 13, 2010, Retrieved September 13, 2010
  14. Domsic, Melissa. Grant given to upgrade streetscape in Lansing, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, August 18, 2011, Retrieved August 18, 2011
  15. Press Release. USDOT Federal Highway Administration. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $9.1 Million in Grants for Michigan Highway Projects, fhwa.dot.gov, August 17, 2011, Retrieved August 18, 2011
  16. "GM Corporate Newsroom - United States - Company". media.gm.com. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  17. "Lansing GM plant's third shift gone after 9 months". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  18. Harrison, Mariah (2015-08-20). "This Morning: REO Town Art Attack Preview". WLNS. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  19. "Arts Night Out to bring music, art to unexpected places". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  20. The Robin Theatre
  21. Holley, Jordan (2015-05-01). "REO Town resident embraces the arts". Greater Lansing News. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  22. "Recording in REO Town". Capital Gains. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  23. "5 things to do in Lansing this weekend, Jan. 27-29". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  24. "What's up in Lansing: Art, beer, theater and more". Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  25. "Against Me! to play new 'Three Stacks' music festival in REO Town". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
  26. "'Relax and focus on the pottery': Wheel House Pottery Studio opens in REO Town". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
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