The Jackson City Council will consider entering into a development agreement at tonight’s meeting with General Capital Group of Milwaukee, WI for a residential and commercial development at the site of the former Jackson Citizen Patriot building. The planned project includes a new three story building, 73 units of low to moderate income apartments and 4,000 square feet of commercial space. The commercial space would be located in the former lobby and office area of the historic building.
In plans presented to the city, the developer intends to build a three story structure that will connect to the back of the current building, extending north to Cortland Street and wrap around the Beffel Lighting building. Similar to the project that relocated Consumers Energy’s corporate headquarters to the former U.S. Post Office building, the development would preserve the newspaper’s former office building. Like the Clair Allen-designed Post Office building, the Citizen Patriot building was designed by another noted architect, Albert Kahn of Detroit. General Capital Group plans on naming the new complex “The Albert Kahn Apartments”.
GenCap Jackson Limited Dividend Housing Association LLC has requested that the City of Jackson enter into a Development Agreement with it in regards to its improvements to the Citizen Patriot Building. GenCap intends to develop the property to create low and moderate income apartments. The Development Agreement will place certain developmental requirements on GenCap and set timelines for completion. According to the draft of the agreement, construction must begin by July of 2018 with completion by July of 2019.
At the same time, the city will consider a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes ) Exemption ordinance to the developer.
The development agreement is contingent upon GenGap receiving low income housing tax credits from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. GenCap is applying for the credits for the 2018 tax credit cycle.
The developer would be required to build a new parking lot behind the new building. Street-side improvements (sidewalks, trees, benches and bicycle racks) would also be requirements of the city and the developer’s responsibility.
The Jackson Citizen Patriot Building was designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn. Other Albert Kahn buildings include the Fisher Building in Detroit, Hill Auditorium and Burton Memorial Tower in Ann Arbor and, in Jackson: the Blake Building, the Jackson County Tower Building, the former Consumers Power building and the Camp (now City View Lofts) Building.
The Jackson Citizen Patriot building was built in 1927. It housed the offices and production facilities of the newspaper. Printing moved to Ann Arbor in 2008 and offices relocated to One Jackson Square in 2012.
General Capital Group has developed more than 70 projects, including residential, commercial, retail, educational and government. According to the firm’s website, they are the most active developer of grocery-related real estate in Wisconsin.
