Hayes development boosted by $4.5 million in State funding

A major redevelopment effort in Jackson has been boosted by $4.5 million from the State of Michigan. The funding support for The Hayes project comes from the 2025 State Budget through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

$4.5 million will go to the City of Jackson to help close a funding gap needed for The Hayes development to move forward. The City sold the former hotel building to J. Jeffers & Co., a Milwaukee-based development company, in 2022. Since then, the company and local officials have been working to secure additional funding for the project. The $4.5 million from the State is the result of Mayor Daniel Mahoney and local business leaders advocating for additional funding to make the project happen.

Mayor Daniel Mahoney says this will help accomplish a long-time goal of redeveloping this vacant property. "This is the icing on the cake of all the transformation that Downtown Jackson has had over the last 10 years. I am very appreciative to be here to witness it and be part of it," Mayor Mahoney said.

The $40 million investment will rehabilitate the 10 story historic building into a rejuvenated development named The Hayes. Plans call for transforming the building to include 15 short-term rentals and 84 apartments. The market-rate apartments will be a mix of studio, 1 bedroom, and 2 bedroom units. The Hayes will also feature event, office and commercial space on the first three floors.

The Hayes property is located on W. Michigan Avenue in the heart of Downtown Jackson. Built in the 1926, the building functioned as a hotel until 1975. Consumers Energy used the property for office space until 2003. The City of Jackson took control of the building in 2004. For the past 20 years, the City has been preserving the building for future development. Efforts to sell the property picked up steam in 2021 when the City started collaborating with the Anchor Initiative for economic development.

J. Jeffers & Co. has previously completed sizable rehabs of historic buildings in Milwaukee. Brian Loftin says his company is excited to start this project in Jackson. "The building has a solid core and shell. Some may see blight, but we see a great opportunity," Loftin said. "One of the things that attracted us to the project was all the work that's already been done in the City, such as the vibrancy that you can see taking shape downtown."

With additional funding secured, renovation work on the property could start as early as fall 2024.