Developer Josh Jeffers Announces September Construction Start for The Hayes

(January 25, 2023 10:00 AM) After sitting vacant for nearly two decades, a historic building in Downtown Jackson is about to undergo a big transformation. At the Tuesday, Jan. 24 Jackson City Council meeting, developer J. Jeffers & Co. presented an update on how they will renovate the historic Hayes Hotel.

In an interview taped for Wednesday’s Bart Hawley Show,  J. Jeffers & Co. Founder and CEO Josh Jeffers announced construction will begin in September on the rehabilitation of the Hayes building.

With a projected construction timeline of 16 months, developers expect the rejuvenated Hayes property to be complete in early 2025. The company is currently working toward securing tax credits and additional funding from the State of Michigan to support the construction.

The Milwaukee-based developer is planning a $30 million investment to rehabilitate the 10 story historic building to include 84 apartments, along with event, office and commercial space on the first three floors. The market-rate apartments will be a mix of studio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom units.  Jeffers said apartment rentals rates will range from $900 to $2,000 per month.

The Hayes Hotel 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 19 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. The Hayes Hotel was officially sold to J. Jeffers & Co. in April 2022 for $25,000.

J. Jeffers & Co. has previously completed sizable rehabs of historic buildings in Milwaukee. A portfolio of completed projects can be seen here.