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For nearly 60 years, Walter French Middle School served as a community asset on the south side of Lansing, MI, with generations of local students passing through its doors to learn, play, and grow. And while the school closed in 1981 and sat vacant and deteriorating for the vast majority of the next four decades, the historic building is once again a bustling hub in the community thanks to the efforts of Capital Area Housing Partnership (CAHP). Last year, the Lansing-based nonprofit celebrated the grand reopening of the building after a $39 million redevelopment that is serving the community in multiple ways.
“Our mission helps improve quality of life by providing safe, affordable housing and supportive services that make day-to-day life a little easier,” says Tom Edmiston, director of real estate development for CAHP. “We do that by building new homes on vacant lots or renovating dilapidated buildings. That kind of investment creates a ripple effect, bringing stability, pride, and long-term improvements to neighborhoods and the people who live there.”
In the first phase of redevelopment at the former school, CAHP converted classrooms into 76 affordable apartments, including 19 reserved for residents who were formerly unhoused. To ensure that the units serve their intended purpose, CAHP is working closely with local emergency housing providers to help individuals and families take a critical step toward long-term housing stability.
In the second phase of the project, which IFF supported with a $700,000 loan closed in July 2024, CAHP completed a full renovation of a 33,102-square-foot portion of the building once home to gymnasiums, a cafeteria, pool, and auditorium. That section of the facility now houses the organization’s headquarters—providing CAHP with a modern, efficient space in which it can build on its mission to develop strong and diverse neighborhoods in mid-Michigan—and a ground-floor child care center with the capacity to provide high-quality care for up to 110 children and new jobs for members of the community.
“Beyond housing, the building’s revitalization has a major community impact,” says Edmiston. “Revitalizing such a visible landmark helps spark reinvestment along the corridor. We also included child care and Head Start services in the project, creating jobs and supporting families. Some apartment residents now work at the child care center, which is a wonderful outcome. Overall, the housing, the historic revitalization, and the child care services together create meaningful, layered impact.”