Rehabilitation of the Peoples National Bank Building in Jackson — long known as The Elaine Apartments — has earned praise for developer Bob Jacobson and LC Consultants LLC, who made the property more accessible for residents.
Governor Rick Snyder and Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Executive Director Earl Poleski announced the project as one of the recipients of this year’s Governor’s Awards for Historic Preservation.
“Historic preservation and the protection of our cultural resources is vital to our economic development, our sense of place, and our identity as Michiganders,” Gov. Snyder said. “Each May, during National Historic Preservation Month, we recognize the people and organizations who preserve Michigan’s historic buildings and archaeological sites.”
The former bank building, which first opened in November 1865, was renovated as affordable senior housing in 1971. LC Consultants LLC recognized that the space lacked amenities that make life easier and more pleasant for its senior residents and used Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits to rehabilitate the building. The project added those important amenities and created 33 residential units, a community area and commercial space. Representing an investment of $10.3 million in downtown Jackson, the project is the first historic rehabilitation in the city in many years and is spurring investment in other historic buildings nearby. LC Consultants is being recognized with a second award for its rehabilitation of former industrial buildings in Grand Rapids.
The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) at MSHDA initiated the award program in 2003 to recognize outstanding historic preservation achievements that reflect a commitment to the preservation of Michigan’s unique character and the many archaeological sites and historic structures that document Michigan’s rich past.
“These projects result from collaboration, creativity, investment of time, energy and money, and they represent just a few of the great preservation projects taking place throughout Michigan,” Poleski said. “These recipients all have vision: the ability to see a future that includes historic places. We are pleased to recognize their excellent work.”
The 2017 recipients are:
• Michael McCarthy and Marcia Myers, Richard Meier & Partners Architects, McBride Construction, Inc. and Garon Gopigian for the restoration of the James and Jean Douglas House, Harbor Springs
• LC Consultants LLC; Concept Design Studio, Inc.; Rockford Construction, Inc; Nehil-Sivak Structural Engineers; and Past Perfect Inc. for the rehabilitation of Century Furniture Co. and Central Furniture Co./H. E. Shaw Furniture, Grand Rapids
• Michigan State University Department of Anthropology, Michigan State University Office of the President, and the Michigan State University Department of Infrastructure Planning and Facilities for the MSU Campus Archaeology Program, East Lansing
• LC Consultants LLC; Concept Design Studio, Inc.; Wolverine Building Group; and Kidorf Preservation Consulting for the rehabilitation of the Peoples National Bank Building, Jackson
• Wabash & Main LLC, Kincaid Henry Building Group, and Kraemer Design Group for the East Main Redevelopment, Milan
• McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc.; Midtown Detroit, Inc.; Hamilton Anderson Associates and The Monahan Co. for the rehabilitation of Strathmore Apartments, Detroit
The awards will be presented at a public ceremony in the Michigan State Capitol Rotunda on May 2. To learn about previous Governor’s Awards recipients go to michigan.gov/SHPO, click on SHPO Programs & Projects.