Lansing voters rejected a proposal to sell the city-owned Lansing Shuffle building to its operator, Detroit Rising, by a margin of roughly 1,400 votes in the Tuesday, Aug. 4, primary election.

The unofficial results, with 100% of precincts reporting: 12,172 no to 10,804 yes. The building stays city property.

Detroit Rising invested $4.2 million to renovate the former City Market into an 11,000-square-foot food and entertainment venue that opened in 2023. The company sought to buy the building for $953,272, a price based on a 2018 appraisal of $720,000. Because the property sits on city park land, a public vote was required.

Some voters balked at the price. Jonathan Hartzell, a founding partner at Detroit Rising, told the Lansing State Journal on Wednesday, Aug. 5, that he received emails from people who seemed "really angry" and felt the company was "scamming the city, which isn't anywhere the reality of any of the economics."

City Council President Peter Spadafore said he is not sure the council would put the question on the ballot again. "We took the temperature of the Lansing voters, and they said no, so I guess we move on to Plan B, which is hopefully a longer term leasing situation," Spadafore said.

Detroit Rising currently pays $2,000 a month to lease the property, generating $24,000 a year for the city's parks department. Spadafore said he believes the company has indicated it would stay even without owning the building.

City spokesman Scott Bean, responding on behalf of Mayor Andy Schor, said the mayor expects to talk to the lessee about future plans soon.

Millage renewals pass easily

Ingham County voters approved four millage renewals by wide margins, according to unofficial results posted by Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum:

• Public transportation for seniors and disabled residents: 56,400 yes to 14,885 no (79%). The 0.6-mill renewal is expected to generate about $6.1 million in 2027 for services contracted through the Capital Area Transportation Authority, plus a van and driver for veterans needing medical appointments.
• Potter Park Zoo: 53,694 yes to 17,751 no (75%). The 0.5-mill renewal and restoration is expected to generate just over $5 million in the first year.
• Parks and trails: 52,605 yes to 18,483 no (74%). The 0.5-mill renewal funds the Lansing River Trail and ADA improvements at parks, expected to generate about $5.1 million in the first year covering 2026 through 2031.
• Capital Area District Library: 47,707 yes to 16,560 no (74%). The four-year, 1.56-mill renewal is expected to generate about $15.2 million a year, funding roughly 90% of CADL's $16.8 million annual budget.

Voters also approved a hotel excise tax increase from 5% to 8%, passing 43,728 to 26,826 (62%). Officials say the hike will generate about $2.3 million more in the first year for upgrading facilities including the Ingham County Fairgrounds and Jackson Field. A similar measure failed in 2024.

All results are unofficial. No date has been set for City Council to discuss the Lansing Shuffle lease renegotiation.