LANSING — Local officials and staff from the Gillespie Group held a “wall-breaking” on Dec. 1 to kick off a major redevelopment in the Stadium District.
Lansing-based developer Pat Gillespie’s company is remaking six buildings, including the former home of the City Rescue Mission, just east of Jackson Field, the city’s minor league ballpark.
The $8 million project, dubbed Brick Row, is expected to modernize one of the last remaining areas of the Stadium District that hasn’t been redeveloped.
Brick Row’s name, according to the Gillespie Group, “pays homage to its historic original brick structures and the stories they hold, blending historic architecture with fresh energy to create a vibrant hub in one of Lansing’s most active districts.”
The properties, at 603, 605, 607, 609, 611 and 613 East Michigan Ave., are all more than a century old and adjacent to each another to the east across Larch Street from the stadium. Once owned by the City Rescue Mission of Lansing, four of the buildings had housed the private faith-based organization’s men’s shelter for decades, but the shelter moved to a new location in the 400 block of W. Kalamazoo Street.
Officials with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in November announced more than $600,000 in grant funding to support the Gillespie redevelopment.
“Brick Row is giving new life to this historic city block,” said Gillespie, founder and CEO of Gillespie Group. “Once serving many facets of community life, it will now be reimagined for the region in a way that will impact the entire neighborhood. The re-engagement of these spaces will bring in a dynamic mix of new tenants that will redefine this city block for a new era.”
The project will revitalize functionally obsolete buildings, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said last month. The project is expected to include 15 housing units and about 6,900 square feet of commercial space.
The company envisions commercial tenants including restaurants and retail with “elevated downtown living” in the residential portion of the development.
The project is also receiving a $3 million appropriation in partnership with LEAP Thrive, an MSHDA 15-year TIF of approximately $1 million in total capture, and a Local Brownfield Revolving Fund loan of $626,000, Whitmer’s office said.
“LEAP THRIVE was created exactly for the purpose of facilitating and enabling community-focused projects like what Gillespie Group is doing with this block’s redevelopment,” said Keith Lamber, president of LEAP THRIVE. “It is such an incredible win-win for the city, region and all stakeholders involved – we are glad to meaningfully contribute to the project financing as the nonprofit co-developer partner and look forward to more space activation and new housing down the road.”
The Gillespie Group has spent two decades revitalizing the Stadium District, creating The Outfield, an $11 million, four-story building overlooking Jackson Field and Block600, which includes Meijer Capital City Market, 40 apartments, and a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel directly across the street from the City Rescue Mission.
Lansing State Journal reporters Rachel Greco and Ken Palmer contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Gillespie Group begins major remake of 600 block of Michigan Avenue in Lansing
Reporting by Lansing State Journal staff, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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