November 20-- A Vietnamese Buddhist group on Wednesday won preliminary approval to open a church in vacant commercial space on South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
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The Lansing City Council’s Development and Planning committee passed a resolution supporting a special land use permit for the Vietnamese American Buddhist Association, despite objections from city planners.
The full Council is scheduled to consider the request on Dec. 2nd.
The Vietnamese American group wants to move its existing temple on South Washington Avenue to a vacant restaurant building at 3015 S. Martin Luther King Blvd. The group said its needs more space to house its congregation and would use the new location for spiritual and cultural purposes.
City planners said the commercial corridor is not suited for a church, and the Lansing Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend denial.
But committee members said the church would fit well in an area where many Vietnamese-Americans live and help revitalize a commercial strip that needs more desirable development.