Mixed-Use Campus Development in Battle Creek, MI

A long-vacant Kmart site on Capital Avenue SW is set to be reborn as a beacon of hope for Battle Creek residents.

This five-acre scar on a major commercial corridor will soon be a bustling mixed-use campus development, a direct response to the city’s pressing needs.

Known as the Blue Light project, the more than $30 million venture represents a pivotal moment for the community, promising not just buildings, but futures.

At its heart, the project will feature a four-story building with 80 new apartments, complemented by 16 three-bedroom townhomes, adding a total of 96 new homes to the city's strained housing market.

This is a direct answer to a housing shortage that has left many local families struggling.

Recent studies indicate Battle Creek faces a significant housing deficit, making this mixed-use campus development an essential piece of the solution.

The development is a collaborative effort between Edison Community Partners and Battle Creek Unlimited, two organizations deeply invested in the city's revitalization.

A crucial component of the plan is its focus on affordability.

Forty-eight of the new apartments are designated as low-income units, ensuring that residents at various economic levels have a place to call home.

The remaining units will be aimed at the local workforce, with rental rates tied to the area's median income.

This addresses a critical gap for middle-income earners who are often caught between subsidized housing and market-rate prices.

But the Blue Light project is more than just housing; it’s about building a supportive community infrastructure.

A new commercial building on the campus will house a desperately needed childcare center, tackling another major hurdle for working families in Battle Creek.

The lack of accessible childcare has been a persistent barrier to employment for many parents in the region.

Local leaders say this project is the first phase of a larger strategy to reconnect downtown with surrounding neighborhoods and support talent attraction for major employers like those at the Fort Custer Industrial Park.

The financial backing for this ambitious project showcases a powerful public-private partnership.

A $5 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Revitalization and Placemaking program provided key gap financing.

The venerable W.K. Kellogg Foundation has also committed a substantial $3 million in grant funds, underscoring its long-standing commitment to its home city.

Furthermore, the City of Battle Creek has approved a 50-year payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) arrangement, a significant local investment valued at over $4 million.

This comprehensive support structure was deemed essential to transform the brownfield site into a community asset.

For years, the empty retail space has been a symbol of economic change, but its redevelopment into a mixed-use campus development signals a new direction.

The shift from a defunct big-box store to a vibrant community hub reflects a modern approach to urban planning and community well-being.

The project is seen not only as a solution for affordable housing in Battle Creek MI, but as a catalyst for future growth and investment.

By creating high-quality, sustainable new apartments in Battle Creek, the city is sending a clear message: it is a community ready to invest in its people and its future.