Old Town, Lansing, Michigan

Last updated
Old Town
Dickens Village 2008 019 (Small).jpg
Coordinates: 42°44′49″N83°8′35″W / 42.74694°N 83.14306°W / 42.74694; -83.14306 Coordinates: 42°44′49″N83°8′35″W / 42.74694°N 83.14306°W / 42.74694; -83.14306
Country United States
State Michigan
County Ingham
Area
  Total0.44 sq mi (1.1 km2)
Elevation
860 ft (262 meters) ft (228 m)
Population
 (2000)
  Total1,654
  Density3,708.5/sq mi (1,431.9/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
48906
Area code(s) 517
FIPS code 26-80700 [1]
GNIS feature ID1615125 [2]
Website http://www.iloveoldtown.org/
North Lansing Historic Commercial District
LocationE. Grand River Ave. and Turner St.,
Lansing, Michigan
Area11 acres (4.5 ha)
Architectural styleLate 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian, Vernacular Commercial
NRHP reference No. 76001029 [3]  (original)
100006010 [4]  (increase)
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 30, 1976
Boundary increaseMarch 1, 2021
Designated MSHSJune 18, 1976

Located in the northern end of Lansing, Michigan, Old Town overlooks the Grand River and a winding bike trail. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the North Lansing Historic Commercial District, the district was established in the mid-19th century.

Contents

History

The first settler in North Lansing, later known as Lower Town and now Old Town, was John W. Burchard, an attorney from Mason. He built the first log cabin in Lansing in 1843 on land purchased from James Seymour. He built a dam across the Grand River later that year and hoped to build a mill, but drowned at the dam in 1844 while inspecting a break. A mill was built there later by James Seymour. [5]

The North Lansing area grew when Lansing became the capital of Michigan in 1847, adding commercial and industrial businesses. By the 1870s, North Lansing was thriving. Franklin Street, now Grand River Avenue, was the "main street" of the commercial district, sporting banks, shops, groceries, churches, mills, a passenger and freight railroad station, manufacturing, and a sturdy middle class to support the commerce. By the mid 1900s, however, Upper Town and Middle Town were attracting more people and business; North Lansing lost its status as a commercial/industrial powerhouse. [5]

The North Lansing Historic Commercial District, which included 44 buildings centered in a one-block radius around the intersection of Cesar E. Chavez (Grand River) Avenue and Turner Road, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. [5] In 2021, the designated historic district was increased to include buildings located from 611 East-127 West Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, 1207-1250 Turner Street, 901-1135 North Washington Street, and along some adjacent streets. [4]

In more recent years, the area now known as Old Town has sought to revitalize itself through programs like Michigan Main Street. [6] This program was established in 1996 in Old Town, and between then and 2020, vacancy rates in the area dropped from 90% to 10%. Old Town has been re-invented as a location for art, festivals, boutique stores and creative businesses. [7]

Cultural events

Old Town hosts a number of annual cultural events, including:

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References

  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Old Town, Lansing, Michigan
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Weekly List 2021 03 05". National Park Service. March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Community Design Center (August 11, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Places Inventory - Nomination Form: North Lansing Historic Commercial District" (PDF). The National Archives Catalog. National Park Service . Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  6. "Old Town". Michigan Main Street Center. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  7. "About Old Town". Old Town Commercial Association. Retrieved March 12, 2021.