LANSING, MI — One of Lansing’s oldest surviving structures, a Greek Revival home built in 1847 at 1214 Center Street is being saved from deterioration and given a new future, just one block away. Michigan Community Capital (MCC) and new owners Bradly Rakowski and Chris Swope have partnered to relocate the historic Kilbourne-Mead House to 1314 Center Street, where it will be fully rehabilitated and returned to active use.
The move, expected to take place in June 2026, is a race against time. The home’s stacked fieldstone foundation is crumbling, with large stones having collapsed into the basement, standing water, and structural timbers compromised by decades of moisture, termites, and neglect. Without intervention now, the building will not survive.
“This house has stood in Lansing since before Lansing became Michigan’s permanent state capitol,” said Eric Hanna, president and CEO of Michigan Community Capital. “We are grateful to have found the right partners that will ensure this home continues to be a community asset in Lansing for generations to come.”
A House at the Center of Lansing’s Founding
The Kilbourne-Mead House is woven into the origin story of Lansing itself.
Built in 1847 during a sudden and dramatic building boom that followed the relocation of Michigan’s state capital to Lansing, the home was constructed for Joseph H. Kilbourne, the state senator who cast the last and decisive vote to make Lansing the capital. Kilbourne had been recruited by James Seymour, a wealthy New York banker and landowner who effectively founded Lansing, to serve as his land agent and oversee operations at the township’s only sawmill.
While 200 buildings went up rapidly around it, many crude and without proper amenities, the Kilbourne home was built to a different standard. A large, formal structure in the Greek Revival style, the architectural fashion of the era, it was designed to project prosperity and permanence in what had been, just months before, a dense wilderness with only a handful of log cabins.
By the 1850s, the home passed to James I. Mead, a dry goods merchant who became one of Lansing’s first elected aldermen and a prominent civic figure. The 1859 Ingham County plat confirms Mead’s ownership of the northwest corner of Block 5, Lot 12, the footprint of the house as it stands today.
A bird’s-eye rendering of Lansing from 1866 depicts the home clearly. The 1874 Atlas of Ingham County lists Mead as owner. The house has stood continuously for nearly 180 years.
How the Partnership Came Together
Michigan Community Capital, a Lansing-based nonprofit community development organization with deep roots in Old Town, acquired the Kilbourne-Mead home as part of its ongoing effort to stabilize and invest in the neighborhood in 2024. MCC owns additional parcels on Center Street and Liberty Street, acquiring properties as they became available over the past six years. MCC chose to strategically purchase troubled properties in the neighborhood to ensure they are held by owners committed to improving Old Town long-term.
In 2025, an unexpected conversation on Center Street sparked a new plan to save and restore the Kilbourne-Mean house. Bradly Rakowski, an Old Town business owner of Bradly’s Home and Garden, and local history enthusiast struck up a friendly conversation with Eric Hanna, president and CEO of Michigan Community Capital while Eric was checking on MCC’s properties. The two gentleman discussed Kilbourne-Mead’s history – the oldest standing structure in Lansing – and how the property has fallen into disrepair as it has changed ownership over the past 100+ years. Both Eric and Bradly expressed a strong desire to save and restore the building. Soon the conversation turned into a “what if” discussion and Bradly shared that he owned a parcel up the block on Center Street.
Eric and Bradly agreed on a preservation plan. Michigan Community Capital would sell the home to Bradly and his husband, Chris Swope, for $1. The home would be lifted and moved up the block to 1314 Center Street and Chris and Bradly would restore the home and convert it into a short-term rental (e.g. Airbnb), event space and community space. MCC would cover the cost of the move and Bradly and Chris would fund the restoration and new foundation costs.
“The home is an important part of Lansing and Michigan’s history. I love old homes, architecture, antiques and interior design,” said Bradly Rakowski. “To be able to save an historical home brings all those things into one collective passion. When we purchased our building at 319 E. Cesar E. Chavez for Bradly’s HG, the deal came with a vacant lot on Center Street, one block from where the Kilbourne-Mead house stands currently. At one time there was a pre-civil war home there but it was demolished many years ago. We had a space to move the home to, just seems like fate.”
How You Move a 179-Year-Old House
The move itself is a feat of specialized engineering. A professional house-moving company will carefully knock openings in the existing foundation and slide steel I-beams beneath the structure, creating a platform. Hydraulic jacks will lift the house off its foundation, wheels will be placed beneath the platform, and the entire structure will be pulled by truck down Center Street to its new location.
Once on site, the house will be temporarily supported above grade while crews construct a new foundation precisely fitted to the structure. The goal is to have the house lowered onto its permanent foundation within weeks of arrival. Both MCC and the new owners are highly motivated to complete that phase quickly, as the new foundation is what will fully stabilize the building.
Road impacts are expected to be limited. On the day of the move a cross section of Liberty Street and Center Street will be closed for a few hours. As well as the end section of Clinton Street, where the street dead ends into Center. The new location, 1314 Center Street, at the end of Clinton on Center.
What Happens Next — at 1314 Center Street and on the Block
Bradly and Chris plan to undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation of the home, with a commitment to preserving as much of the original historic fabric as possible. Bradly will be posting photos and videos of the home’s progress on Bradly’s HG Facebook page for the community to share. Once rehabilitated, the approximately 4,000 square foot home will have five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, open concept kitchen, separate living room and library spaces and basement utility room. The home will become an Airbnb, available for people to rent and enjoy. The property will also be open for community events and fundraising. At the rear of 1314 Center, a parcel that has been owned by the county’s Land Bank for more than a decade has been purchased by Bradly and Chris. It has now been incorporated into one large lot where the restored Kilbourne-Mead home will reside. With the extended rear yard, there will be opportunities to have outdoor events. The home will also be available for tours to share the home and history with the community.
“I do not feel that this home is owned by us, rather we are the stewardship to ensure the home is safe and available for many generations to come,” said Bradly Rakowski. “Restoring the home means we are saving an important part of our country’s history. Being able to share the finished home with the community is an incredible gift. The home is not planned to be a private residence so the community will be able to enjoy it and learn about Michigan and Lansing’s history. They will also be able to learn about historical architecture and construction.”
The lot at 1214 Center Street will be cleared, graded, and maintained as green space by MCC within a couple of weeks of the move.
As for the longer-term future of the block, MCC is taking a deliberate approach. “We’ve acquired these properties because we want to make sure they’re in responsible hands while we work through what’s possible,” said Eric Hanna. “Whatever we ultimately do here, we want to do it right — in partnership with the neighborhood and the Old Town Commercial Association — because what the block eventually becomes will be an asset to the community for decades to come.
About Michigan Community Capital
Michigan Community Capital is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to promote community and economic development, the creation of wealth and job opportunities; and to facilitate investment of private and public capital in Michigan. MCC is focused on driving economic mobility of low- and moderate-income Michigan residents and drives community development impacts in three key areas: Real Estate Development, CDFI lending, and New Markets Tax Credits. MCC is a U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Entity (CDE) and through its affiliate, Magnet Lending Corporation, a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Since 2005, MCC has supported over $1.4 billion in project financing, successfully attracted $510 million in federal New Markets Tax Credits, and helped to create over 1,500 housing units and facilitated the creation and/or retention of over 5,000 high-quality, accessible jobs. Michigancommunitycapital.org.
About Bradly Rakowski and Chris Swope
Bradly Rakowski, originally from Muskegon, moved to Lansing after high school in 1984. He is the owner of two businesses in Old Town Lansing, Bradly’s HG and Birch Rak Clothier. Bradly Rakowski is a 1987 graduate of the Institute of Merchandising and Design, Lansing, with a Degree in Fashion Design and understudy in Interior Design.
In 1985, he got a job for Minor Creations, a lingerie manufacturer that was on the corner of Chavez and Turner. A time when Old Town had not yet been revitalized, Bradly felt a strong connection to the area. The old buildings and homes with historic architecture, a draw for the young aspiring designer.
“Old Town is home. It is a place I connect with and when I opened my shop, it was the only place I imagined being.” – Bradly Rakowski
Chris Swope, originally from Ypsilanti graduated from Michigan State University in 1985 and has lived in the area ever since. He moved to the City of Lansing in 2003 upon buying his first home. Chris is Lansing’s second longest serving City Clerk, first elected in 2005 and took office on January 1, 2006, and he serves in that role today. He is among the first openly gay elected city officials in the State of Michigan and has been serving the citizens of Lansing City ever since. Prior to serving the citizens of Lansing, Chris had a long and distinguished history of public service having served as an Ingham County Commissioner and worked in the Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate.
In addition to being a small business owner, Chris serves the community in other capacities as a member of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, and the Lansing Rotary Club. He has served on the Boards of both the Eastside Neighborhood Organization and the Westside Neighborhood Association. He is a past President of the Lansing Association for Human Rights (LAHR). He has sat on the Board of the Lansing Branch American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He served two years as the Executive Director of Michigan Equality (now Equality Michigan), a statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization.
As a note of interest, in the summer of 1966, Chris’ parents moved a house from downtown Ypsilanti to the property where they lived in Ypsilanti Township. Following renovations, in the summer of 1967 his parents and five siblings moved into the house while his mother was several months pregnant with Chris.
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Development to create 32 new residential units in Detroit’s East English Village neighborhood.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2025
LANSING, Mich. – An approximately $15.4-million project has been supported with $12 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) allocation from Michigan Community Capital. The Arthur Murray project encompasses the renovation and expansion of one of the largest vacant and abandoned commercial sites in Detroit’s East English Village neighborhood. Known locally as the Arthur Murray building, the historic structure was previously home to the Arthur Murray Dance Studio.
Project developer, Real Estate Interests, LLC (REI), will transform an existing 25,000-square-foot vacant and historic property at 16621-16653 E. Warren, Detroit, Michigan. The existing two-story building will be expanded by adding a third story resulting in a nearly 36,000-square-foot mixed-use property offering residential units and office space.
“As someone born and raised in Detroit, this project is personal. The Arthur Murray building is more than bricks and mortar — it’s part of the fabric of a neighborhood that has endured, adapted, and held on with quiet strength,” said W. Emery Matthews, Real Estate Interests, LLC. “Our vision is to honor that resilience by creating a space that offers both affordable and market-rate options, acting as an anchor and a spark for future growth. We hope this redevelopment rewards the faith of longtime residents while extending a hand to those just discovering the promise of this community. In doing so, we aim to build something that’s not just new, but meaningful — a future rooted in respect for the past.”
The top two floors will offer 32 mixed-income residential apartments, all of which will be affordable at or below 100% of the area median income (AMI); 19 units will be specifically affordable at or below 80% of AMI. The ground floor will boast nearly 8,000 square feet of office space. Additionally, the building will include roughly 1,000 square feet of residential amenities, such as a community gathering space and outdoor amenity area.
The project is an integral part of Detroit’s Strategic Neighborhood Initiative to transform the East Warren Avenue corridor – a once vibrant neighborhood-serving commercial corridor that has suffered from population decline and disinvestment – and stabilize its surrounding neighborhoods through new commercial and mixed-use development. The retention of 9 full-time jobs are expected with ground floor tenant Activate Detroit.
Activate Detroit is a strategic advocacy and consulting firm that specializes in facilitating connections and fostering productive relationships between businesses, organizations, and key decision-makers. The firm supports clients by identifying challenges and opportunities within their operating environment, introducing them to influential stakeholders, and streamlining decision-making processes. While not a lobbying firm, Activate Detroit provides hands-on strategic guidance to help clients navigate complex systems, improve engagement, and advance their initiatives.
In addition to the $12 million in New Markets Tax Credit allocation, Magnet Lending Corporation (MLC) – a subsidiary of Michigan Community Capital – is also providing a bridge loan in excess of $2.1 million to the Revitalization and Placemaking grant (RAP) proceeds provided to the project from Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
“MCC is thrilled to be a part of Detroit residents accessing capital and taking control of the destiny of their city,” said Eric Hanna, president and CEO at Michigan Community Capital. “We commend Emery Mathews and the REI team for their dedication and commitment to improving the lives of residents of the East Warren Avenue corridor and look forward to this and future developments for Detroit by Detroiters.”
Capital One, National Association is serving as the NMTC investor on this deal.
“As a bank on a mission to Change Banking for Good, we’re proud to serve as the New Markets Tax Credit investor for such a catalytic project,” said Mark Preston, Senior Vice President at Capital One. “We’re excited to see Arthur Murray spur economic growth and transformation along the East Warren Avenue corridor.”
Additional funding sources include:
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)/ Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) is providing a nearly $2.5-million loan to the project.
Invest Detroit Foundation is providing a source loan to the project in the amount of $3.5 million and will participate 50% of the MLC bridge loan.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is serving as a senior lender in the deal and providing $3 million in a loan to the project.
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) has provided a Supporting Equitable Economic Development (SEED) grant in the amount of roughly $950,000 to the project.
New Markets Tax Credits are a federal subsidy tool administered by the U.S Department of Treasury and designed to attract capital to projects that support low- and moderate-income households and communities. Michigan Community Capital is the only Community Development Entity (CDE) that deploys this resource entirely in Michigan. Since the organization’s formation in 2005, MCC has secured $570 million in NMTC allocation through competitive rounds to support Michigan businesses and communities. MCC uses NMTC’s to support job creation, access to healthy food, and mixed-use projects that include mixed-income housing and commercial businesses that benefit low-income households.
Michigan Community Capital Michigan Community Capital is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to promote community and economic development, the creation of wealth and job opportunities; and to facilitate investment of private and public capital in Michigan. MCC is focused on driving economic mobility of low- and moderate-income Michigan residents and drives community development impacts in three key areas: Real Estate Development, CDFI lending, and New Markets Tax Credits. MCC is a U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and a Community Development Entity (CDE). Since 2005, MCC has supported over $1.4 billion in project financing, successfully attracted $510 million in federal New Markets Tax Credits, and helped to create over 1,500 housing units and facilitated the creation and/or retention of over 5,000 high-quality, accessible jobs. Michigancommunitycapital.org
Real Estate Interests, LLC Real Estate Interests, LLC (REI) is a Detroit-based, full-service commercial real estate development and advisory firm. Known for its strategic approach and commitment to impact, REI specializes in shaping sustainable developments in dynamic urban markets across the country. With a focus on simplicity, execution, and long-term value, REI partners with clients to deliver projects that not only perform, but also strengthen the communities they serve.
50 new residential units coming to downtown Cadillac
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 22, 2025
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Community Capital is proud to announce the groundbreaking of Cadillac Lofts Phase II. From the exterior, the Phase II building will mirror the existing Cadillac Lofts building that was completed in 2020. Inside, the second 37,000-square-foot building will offer 50 middle-income residential units and 1,300 square feet of commercial space.
The 50 middle-income apartments in the Phase II building will include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units starting at $950/month. Resident amenities include a first-floor fitness room, interior mail/package room, onsite parking, electronic key-fob entry, security cameras, and access to full-time onsite staff. Apartment amenities include stainless steel appliances, in-unit washer/dryers, large windows, and modern finishes.
“This project expands the much-needed housing options in downtown Cadillac for middle-income professionals in the area,” said Marilyn Chrumka, vice president of development at Michigan Community Capital. “We are grateful for the steadfast support of the Cadillac Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, the City of Cadillac, and our funding partners, whose collaboration has been instrumental in bringing this vision to fruition.”
The Cadillac Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and the City of Cadillac have been longstanding supporters of the redevelopment. To support this investment in their downtown, they approved an amendment to their brownfield plan adding housing as an eligible activity. The BRA also applied for funding from Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) on behalf of the project. Additionally, the City will complete public infrastructure improvements adjacent to the project to create additional public parking and improve the sidewalks and streetscape.
“Housing is a critical issue in our community, and the Cadillac Lofts development is helping address it with a transformative multi-family, mixed-use downtown development,” said Marcus Peccia, city manager at the City of Cadillac. “This project will continue to stabilize and grow our base and make our community a destination for those looking to enjoy city life in a rural setting.”
With the support of Congressman Moolenaar, the project was approved for a $2.9-million Community Project Funding grant administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“As Michigan’s only member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud to support communities across the Second Congressional District with funding to improve our cities and towns. The Cadillac Lofts development project will help revitalize downtown, address the need for affordable housing for young professionals and families in the area, and strengthen the local economy,” said Congressman Moolenaar.
Phase I of the Cadillac Lofts project was completed in 2020, and all residential units were leased within 6 months of opening. The second phase of Cadillac Lofts completes the redevelopment of a contaminated site in the heart of downtown replacing a vacant grocery store and dry cleaners. Once complete, the two-phase, $24-million Cadillac Lofts development will have created 92 year-round, middle-income residential units and roughly 8,800 square feet of commercial space. The project has allowed other local investors to see the demand for rental housing in the city of Cadillac.
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) supported the project with a $5-million Missing Middle Grant. This funding has allowed the project to create housing for households earning between 60-120% of the area median income (AMI).
“Expanding housing options for Michigan’s workforce is critical to strengthening communities and supporting local economies,” said MSHDA CEO and Executive Director Amy Hovey. “Cadillac Lofts Phase II will provide much-needed, high-quality rental housing for middle-income residents, helping to ensure they have access to safe, modern, and affordable places to live. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this development will have on the city’s downtown and its residents.”
Additional funding supporting the Cadillac Lofts Phase II development includes:
A $817,925 grant to support cleanup of existing contamination at the site from EGLE.
$2.5 million in Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grant funds from Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
West Shore Bank is providing a construction loan for the project.
See available units at the Cadillac Lofts Phase I development here.
Stay tuned for updates on leasing opportunities and commercial space inquiries.
Michigan Community Capital is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to promote community and economic development, the creation of wealth and job opportunities; and to facilitate investment of private and public capital in Michigan. MCC is focused on driving economic mobility of low- and moderate-income Michigan residents and drives community development impacts in three key areas: Real Estate Development, CDFI lending, and New Markets Tax Credits. MCC is a U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and a Community Development Entity (CDE). Since 2005, MCC has supported over $1.4 billion in project financing, successfully attracted $510 million in federal New Markets Tax Credits, and helped to create over 1,500 housing units and facilitated the creation and/or retention of over 5,000 high-quality, accessible jobs. michigancommunitycapital.org
