Category: Subdivisions

The “Delta,” the triangular area of land extending west from the junction of Michigan and Grand River Avenues to just west of Delta Street, was included as part of the original Agricultural College land when it was purchased in 1855. At that time, Michigan Avenue’s eastern end was at Harrison Road. When Michigan was extended to…

The first attempt at off-campus housing in the vicinity of the Michigan Agricultural College was made by Professors William J. Beal and Rolla C. Carpenter, who on November 5, 1887 platted “Collegeville.” It comprised sixty-nine lots located across Michigan Avenue from the west entrance to the College. The plat had quite prosaic names—its north-south streets were West, Center,…

On March 3, 1899, Chester D. Woodbury, Judge Edward Cahill, and Dr. Johnson W. Hagadorn purchased a fifty-five-acre portion of the Manly Miles farm which fronted on Grand River Avenue from Abbot Road west for a quarter mile, and north to where Burcham Drive has its western end today. Two months later they sold an undivided one-fourth interest to Arthur C.…

Edward Parmelee was an early Lansing manufacturer who owned a sawmill and woolen factory in north Lansing. Among his assets, by 1859 he owned a 97-acre piece of farmland which fronted on Grand River Avenue and extended north to the section line, now Burcham Drive, and from the township line (Abbot Road) east to near…

The original platting of Fairview, created by Charles M. Chittenden and Arthur C. Bird and recorded on April 16, 1903, consisted of the Grand River Avenue frontage of the Chittenden farm. North of the avenue this extended from just west of Bailey Street east to Gunson Street; and south of the avenue from Bogue Street…

Chace and Emma Newman purchased ten acres of land immediately west of Oakwood plat and, on its southern portion fronting on Grand River Avenue, created “College Heights, the city’s original skyline drive.” Hillside Court was connected to the “fadeaway termination of Oakhill Avenue” (since detached), and a cul-de-sac named Hickory Court (now Hillcrest Avenue) was created. As…

After the initial boom of subdivision plats around the turn of the century, new developments within the city limits slowed somewhat, with most new plats from 1905 to 1914 being additions to existing subdivisions. In this period, the plat of Avondale occupies a singular place in East Lansing history. Bounded by Burcham, Hagadorn, Beech and…

Ehinger Realty broke away from the convention of straight roads and rectangular lots with the Chesterfield Hills subdivisions. This “modern high class residential district” has “lots of irregular size and shape and streets with graceful bends following the natural contours. Leaving the native trees for the builders to clear away as needed… contributed to the…

Advertised as “The Gem of East Lansing,” Ardson Heights was platted on the site of the former Lansing Country Club golf course, which dated from 1902. By 1915, the City of East Lansing had annexed the land, and within two years a house was built at 417 Ardson, which remains today. Ardson Road was converted…