According to the Lansing State Journal, six buildings on the 2000 block of E. Michigan Avenue, including the former site of Emil's Italian restaurant, will be torn down today to make way for a $5 million, mixed use development called East Town Flats.

Demolition started this morning and could take up to three weeks, said Scott Gillespie, owner of The Gillespie Company.

Scott said and I quote:  This will attract more people to the area.  It's adding more energy to an already fantastic part of town.

By summer 2017, a modern, four story structure will replace the vacant two story Craftsman style storefronts.  The first floor will hold roughly 12,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, while the other three floors will have 39 apartments ranging from studios to two bedroom units.

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