East Lansing officials accused of ignoring unauthorized project that led to partial building collapse

The unauthorized construction of a fifth-floor penthouse on a downtown East Lansing, Mich. mixed-use development led to a partial building collapse earlier this year. According to an investigation by the Lansing State Journal, city administrators, including the chief building official and the city manager, knew for weeks that an unauthorized fifth floor was under construction and took no action.

“They knew the developer and his contractor were violating state law by building there without a permit,” the publication charged. “Even after the fourth floor of the building collapsed … they did not stop the project taking shape about a block from City Hall.”

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