The vacant
Walker Building in Old Town has a much richer history than that of an abandoned dollar store, and now it will have a much brighter history. The two-story, 8,000 square foot building on North Washington will receive a $600,000
makeover starting in early June.
“There are a lot of reasons to love this project,” says Tony Beyers of
Vesta Building Industries. “There is a great sense of satisfaction from restoring an obsolete and deteriorating property into an example of what we can do if we put forth the effort to restore our past.”
The Walker Building has been a part of Lansing since 1909 and historically housed a grocer and the local carpenter’s union, among other uses. Its future use will be two units of first floor commercial space and five lofts on second floor.
The project is a partnership between Vesta Building Industries, owner Dr. Sam Saboury, the Lansing Economic Development Corporation, the City of Lansing and the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority. Though public incentives are currently pending, Vesta hopes to obtain $200,000 of investment help between the city’s assistance with lead and asbestos abatement and MSHDA’s rental rehabilitation grant funding.
“The Walker Building serves as the western entrance to the Old Town commercial district,” says Beyers. “For those that are familiar with the area, it serves as a reminder of where we were just a few years ago and how far we've come.”
The project is expected to be completed by October of this year.
Source: Tony Beyers, Vesta Building Industries
Writer: Natalie Burg, News Editor
Courtesy photo and rendering
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