Walnut Park and Abigail Senior Living

The Michigan School  for the Blind first opened its doors in 1880 to serve blind youth and adults. Over the years’ the campus grew to include a high school, administrative building, superintendent’s house, a library, eight cottages, an elementary school with gymnasium, and an auditorium. The campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and counts Motown legend Stevie Wonder as an alumnus. The school closed in 1996, as public and private schools evolved to better accommodate and meet the needs of blind students. The 20-acre campus had served as a hub of activity for the surrounding Lansing neighborhood and its closing was followed by economic distress and an increase in crime to the city’s north side neighborhood.

Transforming Communities, Preserving History

Cinnaire, in partnership with the Ingham County Land Bank, committed to redeveloping the campus and returning it to a vibrant facility supporting healthy communities. In 2012, Cinnaire saved the iconic Lansing landmark from foreclosure by resolving outstanding loans and committed to securing and maintaining the property. In 2016, Cinnaire teamed up with TWG Development to fund and revitalize the campus, which includes the high schools, Abigail administrative building and the Auditorium.

After receiving a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) allocation in 2017, the former Auditorium building was taken down to make room for Walnut Park Apartments, which features 64 units of affordable housing and 8 units of market rate housing. To honor the legacy of the School, the developer partnered with the Blind Childcare’s Fund and alumni to commemorate the School’s cherished past in the main entrance area.

Two additional buildings – the 68,373 square foot historic Abigail administrative building and the 30,660-square-foot High School building – were then redeveloped into The Abigail, 60 units of affordable senior housing.

Many residents were previously homeless or residing in shelters. Cinnaire’s commitment to revitalizing the School for the Blind Campus has brought new energy to the neighborhood while connecting individuals in need with safe, affordable housing.

Cinnaire provided a $22.4 million LIHTC investment, a $370,000 predevelopment loan, and a $2.3 million permanent loan to support the development. Additionally, Cinnaire Title provided the title work for the project.