The Residences at Walter French

AWARDEES: Capital Area Housing Partnership; Quinn Evans; Rohde Construction; and Housing Links, LLC

Rehabilitation of the Walter French School into The Residences at Walter French, Lansing

Walter French School was built in 1925 to offer a modern, state-of-the-art school for the young scholars of south Lansing. The building helped to usher in progressive educational practices and featured decorative architectural features including large banks of windows, intricate stone carvings, and multicolor brickwork designs. After the school closed in 2004, it spiraled into disrepair. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 as the first step in an adaptive reuse journey that would eventually span more than 10 years.

Starting in 2023, the interior was strategically redesigned into 76 affordable apartment units, while retaining character-defining features such as terrazzo floors, large window openings, and wide interior stairways. Ceiling skylights were reconstructed to illuminate the third floor. The grounds were improved with new greenspace, and new city bus shelters provided residents with better connectivity to the city around them. The $40 million rehabilitation effort was funded in part by Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, an award from the MEDC Revitalization and Placemaking program, and several other sources.

The Residences at Walter French opened in September 2025 and has full residential occupancy. The property also provides office and commercial space, and is home to an on-site children’s daycare. The renewed Walter French School addresses several needs in the Lansing community, which will keep the future bright long into its second century.

The Residences at Walter French

AWARDEES: Capital Area Housing Partnership; Quinn Evans; Rohde Construction; and Housing Links, LLC

Congratulations!