Allen Lofts Development Celebration, 8-19-2026. Photos by Henry Black, JTV.
Allen Lofts Development Celebration, 8-19-2026. Photos by Henry Black, JTV.
Jackson Community Foundation Press Release:
HISTORIC ALLEN SCHOOL TO BEGIN NEW CHAPTER AS ALLEN LOFTS
A historic Jackson landmark that has stood vacant for more than two decades will soon begin a new chapter. Jackson Community Foundation (JCF) and Design Build Detroit today announced the redevelopment of the historic Allen School on East Pearl Street into Allen Lofts, a $17 million adaptive-reuse project that will transform the nearly 100-year-old school into a vibrant residential community featuring apartments, childcare, and commercial space, including a coffee shop.
Built in 1927 and located directly across from Henry Ford Jackson Hospital in the City of Jackson’s Health District, the former Allen School served generations of Jackson students before closing in the early 2000s. After closing, the building was purchased by a group of physicians (David Bankole, MD, Gregory Casey, MD, and Carlton Lyons, MD) who preserved the building while a plan for redevelopment was created. As the building approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027, the Allen Lofts project will preserve the character of the historic structure while giving it a new purpose serving the Jackson community for generations to come.
The redevelopment is being advanced through a partnership led by Design Build Detroit and Jackson Community Foundation, with financing support from Lake Trust Credit Union and collaboration among local and regional partners. Ken Michalak of Lake Trust Credit Union said, “One of Lake Trust’s core missions is to support the revitalization of the communities we serve. We’re proud to be part of the Allen Lofts project and excited to help bring new opportunities and renewed energy to the neighborhood.”
Jackson Community Foundation has committed a $1.1 million impact investment to the project. The investment is part of JCF’s growing Impact Investing portfolio, which puts a portion of the Foundation’s endowment to work locally to create measurable community benefit while generating a financial return to support the Foundation’s long-term mission.
“This is exactly the kind of transformational opportunity we envisioned when developing our Impact Investing strategy,” said Monica Moser, President & CEO of the Jackson Community Foundation. “Our staff and board members care deeply about Jackson and Jackson County, and we want to help create a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Allen School has been part of the fabric of this community for nearly a century. We are incredibly excited to see this beautiful historic building brought back to life and once again serving the people of Jackson.”
JCF has grown its assets from approximately $15 million to $67 million over the past 15 years, strengthening its ability to make deeper investments in the community. The Foundation has approximately $2.5 million available for impact investments addressing community priorities including housing, economic development, and nonprofit capacity.
For Michael Rivait, owner of Design Build Detroit and developer of Allen Lofts, the project represents both an investment in a historic building and a commitment to Jackson’s continued revitalization.
“When I first walked through Allen School, I saw an extraordinary building with tremendous potential,” Rivait said. “After sitting vacant for more than 20 years, it deserves to be brought back to life. Our goal is to honor its history while creating something that meets the needs of Jackson today and well into the future.”
Rivait brings more than 40 years of building and development experience to the project and has successfully completed three multifamily redevelopment projects in Detroit. Allen Lofts represents an opportunity to bring that experience to Jackson while building strong local partnerships.
“We are not simply developing a building—we are becoming part of a community,” Rivait added. “We are committed to working alongside the Jackson Community Foundation, the City, Henry Ford Health and other community partners, and to utilizing local contractors, businesses and talent whenever possible. The welcome we have received in Jackson has been tremendous, and we are excited to invest here and be part of the community’s future.”
Allen Lofts is planned to include approximately 80 apartments, along with a childcare facility and coffee shop. Its location, directly across from Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, positions the development to help meet housing and service needs within Jackson’s growing Health District while contributing to continued economic development in the surrounding neighborhood.
The project reflects a collaborative approach to community development—combining private investment, philanthropic capital, financing, and local partnerships to preserve an important historic asset and return it to productive use.
