Three new single-family homes are planned in Lansing through a partnership between the city and the Capital Area Housing Partnership.

Mayor Andy Schor and CAHP officials were scheduled to hold a groundbreaking Tuesday, Oct. 13, for the latest addition to a partnership that has produced more than 25 homes for first-time, income-qualified buyers, WILX reported. Eighteen of those were new construction.

The city is putting federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program dollars toward the build. CAHP is contributing matching funds. The federal HOME program funds affordable housing for low-income households and generally requires participating jurisdictions to provide a 25% match for eligible spending, with reductions available under certain conditions. WILX’s report does not specify the city’s or CAHP’s contribution amounts.

Local contractors won the work through a competitive bid process. Once finished, all three houses will be sold to income-qualified, first-time homebuyers. WILX’s report does not list sale prices, addresses or a completion timeline.

Walter French and beyond

The project extends a partnership between the city and CAHP that also transformed the former Walter French School in south Lansing into 76 affordable apartments.

The 1925 school building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014, reopened as The Residences at Walter French in September 2025 after a $40 million rehabilitation. Funding sources included federal historic rehabilitation tax credits, low-income housing tax credits and a Michigan Economic Development Corporation Revitalization and Placemaking grant.

The conversion added office and commercial space, including an on-site children's day care. The project won the Michigan Governor's Award for Historic Preservation, with CAHP, Quinn Evans, Rohde Construction and Housing Links LLC recognized as awardees.

According to the state's preservation program listing, the building has reached full residential occupancy.

What's next

WILX’s report does not give expected sale dates for the three homes. Residents interested in homeownership programs can find information at capitalareahousing.org.