Guest Writer: Jay Krammes
2026 is shaping up to be a year of meaningful change for downtown Lansing. Between public investments in civic space and private investments across housing, office, and commercial sectors, projects are stacking up that respond to longstanding priorities: more downtown residents, more usable spaces, and a broader mix of activity throughout the day and evening.
Here’s a look at the new opportunities in the new year!
A New City Hall for Lansing
The move to replace Lansing’s current City Hall has been on the radar for some time. The city’s official planning page outlines the long-term effort to establish a new city government headquarters, replacing the existing facility to serve residents better and support administrative functions. This effort reflects ongoing discussions about the future of downtown civic infrastructure. The new location will be completed in 2026, located at 425 S. Grand Avenue (across from the CATA center).
Affordable Housing and Michigan Avenue Redevelopment
A significant project in the Stadium District will reshape part of the 600 block of Michigan Avenue, adding new housing and commercial space. The Gillespie Group, in partnership with the city and state agencies, is rehabilitating several older buildings that had been underused.
The redevelopment will create 15 housing units for essential workers, including teachers, police officers, and state employees, and add about 6,900 square feet of ground-level commercial space. It’s supported in part by a $617,210 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Revitalization and Placemaking program, bringing the total capital investment to over $7.2 million. Work began late in 2025 and is expected to continue into 2026. The block’s transformation from functionally obsolete buildings to active residential and retail space reflects longer-term civic goals for greater walkability and downtown housing options.
Tower on Grand and the New Vision Lansing Development
One of the largest private developments in decades is the New Vision Lansing project, a multi-building effort that includes the Tower on Grand — a 28-story high-rise planned for 235 S. Grand Avenue. When complete, it will be the tallest building in Lansing, with residential, retail, and office space all integrated into a single downtown site.
Tower on Grand is part of a broader, roughly $316 million development that will add hundreds of residential units and significant leasable space citywide, including downtown and Old Town. It’s designed to support more sustained population growth downtown, not just a daytime office population. Construction timelines put substantial progress through 2026 and beyond, with phased openings as each element of the project is completed.
New Cigar Bar on East Michigan Avenue
In addition to housing and large-scale mixed-use projects, downtown Lansing is also seeing new businesses preparing to open. Plans are underway for a Churchill’s Bistro & Cigar Bar at 111 E. Michigan Avenue, taking over a space previously occupied by another restaurant. The Michigan-based cigar bar and bistro concept has several locations around southeast Michigan, and the Lansing addition is expected in 2026.
Churchill’s will offer dining, beverages, and a walk-in humidor, adding another nightlife and hospitality option to East Michigan Avenue’s growing roster of venues.
Live, work, shop, dine, and gather.
With all the exciting developments underway, these aren’t just concepts on paper—they’re projects with funding, timelines, and partners in place. As they move from planning and early construction into fuller reality, downtown Lansing will have new places to live, work, shop, dine, and gather!
Photo Credit: Michigan Drone Photography
