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Developments

New Year – New Downtown Developments in 2026

Downtown Lansing is entering 2026 with real momentum, as long-anticipated projects begin to take shape and new investments move from planning to reality. From major civic improvements and transformative mixed-use developments to new housing and businesses, the year ahead promises meaningful progress that supports a more vibrant, active, and connected downtown for residents, workers, and visitors alike.

Data center proposed for Downtown Lansing would be first of its kind in US

A UK-based company, Deep Green Energy, plans to build a 25,000-square-foot data center in Downtown Lansing that would recycle its waste heat to supply the Lansing Board of Water & Light. The $1 million project could create over 50 tech jobs and lower energy costs, pending city zoning approval, with construction expected to begin in March 2026. (Source: WILX)

November Business of the Month: Great Harvest Bakery & Café

For over four decades, Great Harvest has stood out in the bakery-café world by doing things the old-fashioned way. From its humble beginnings in Montana in 1976, the company has grown into a national chain of independently-owned bakery cafés, each committed to milling their own whole wheat flour daily and baking breads using simple, high-quality ingredients. Their mission is expressed succinctly: “Be loose and have fun. Bake phenomenal bread. Run fast to help customers. Create strong & exciting bakeries. And give generously to others.” 

Downtown Lansing sees new men's fine clothier open

By Ed Coury (via WKAR Public Media)

Downtown Lansing’s retail revival may be picking up steam, as new businesses move into long-vacant storefronts and a major development reshapes the city’s core.

At the start of 2025, downtown’s retail vacancy rate stood at about 25%, according to Downtown Lansing Inc. By midyear, that number had dropped to roughly 18%, based on data from Martin Commercial Properties.

Saving old Lansing

By Leo V. Kaplan (via Lansing City Pulse)

In July, a single word was changed on the Richard and Deborah Glaister House’s Wikipedia page: “is” was replaced with “was.”

The building had been listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, but it had no local historic designation. That meant there was nothing to prevent its demolition. It was demolished by its final owner, the City Rescue Mission of Lansing, to make room for a rainwater retention pond.

Double your Dollars - Purchase your Downtown Digital Dollars gift cards on Nov 30 and have your dollars doubled while funds last