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TRANSFORMING

DOWNTOWN

LANSING

THE SHIFT TO MORE REMOTE WORKING HAS

CAUSED COMMUNITY LEADERS TO CONSIDER NEW

WAYS TO BRING RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN

he shift to more remote work schedules
coupled with the corresponding decline in options. When you look at the urban models around the
pedestrian traffic has forced local leaders and country, those are the ones that are successful.”
downtown influencers to shift their vision for
Tdowntown Lansing’s future. No area in the “We have to realize the world has changed and we can’t rely
state has been impacted as dramatically as downtown on those workers to be there five days a week,” said Pat
Lansing, an area that has always relied on the presence Gillespie, CEO, Gillespie Group. “We need to fill in the gaps
of state workers to support local businesses. Though with new ways of getting people downtown during the day,
many workers are back in the office at least part-time, the in the evenings and on weekends. We need to get creative
shift to more remote work schedules in all sectors of the and think of reasons to get people to come downtown.”
economy including state government has been taking
a toll on the economic well-being of Lansing’s central Developer Ron Boji says downtown
city area. Leaders in the region are focusing on how to Lansing needs people who
transform the downtown into a stronger, more viable passionately believe in this city and
business district in the face of these challenges. know its roots and potential to come
together to bring it back to life. He says
“We need to ask ourselves; how do that is exactly what’s happening. Boji
we take the opportunity that has says the region needs to drive new
been presented to us here?” said Tim ideas, but one of the most important
Daman, president & CEO, Lansing keys to success is to keep supporting
Regional Chamber of Commerce. the local small businesses that already Boji
“State government workers need to be make downtown Lansing so great and
part of whatever downtown Lansing is so unique.
going to look like. We have to build out
additional housing and retail options, “We built our foundation in Lansing because we know
encourage more private investment how strong the community here is, and we are very
and provide more entertainment Daman proud of the tremendous assets that we have downtown:

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