Restoring Growth and Community Along MLK Boulevard
The South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor, a major north-south thoroughfare and once home to a bustling retail scene has seen steady deterioration due to increased retail competition, loss of high wage paying employment opportunities and the decrease in population of South Lansing residents.
In 2019, Mayor Schor proposed and the Lansing City Council approved the establishment of the South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Corridor Improvement Authority (S.MLK CIA) with the goals to correct and prevent deterioration in the business districts, redevelop the city’s commercial corridors and promote economic growth.
In revitalizing the South Martin Luther King Jr. corridor, surveys, stakeholder interviews, and previous planning efforts have been completed soliciting input from residents, property owners, stakeholders, municipal staff, and public officials.
Through these community engagement efforts, the Authority identified key challenges and areas of need including concerns with safety due to high traffic speeds, deterioration of the corridor due to neglected and vacant properties, absence of vibrancy due to lack of green spaces, and a lack of diversity in the businesses along the corridor including dining options.
The Corridor
· All meetings are being held on the third Thursday of the month at UA Local 333
Plumbers & Pipefitters Hall at 5405 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Lansing, MI
48911.
· Visit the City of Lansing’s S. MLK Blvd. CIA Webpage for meeting agendas, minutes, and annual budgets.
· South MLK Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority | Lansing, MI - Official Website (lansingmi.gov)
S. MLK CIA Development and TIF Financing Plan
2025 S. MLKCIA Board Members
- Chair: Amanda Defrees
- Vice Chair: Dustin Howard
- Treasurer: Kristina Schmidgall
- Member: Don “Moose” Sober
- Member: Michael Owsley
- Member: Jeremy Matthews
- Vacancy: Two open seats
If you are interested in serving on the board of directors visit Application for Appointment to Board or
Commission Or contact Kahleea Washington at Kahleea@lansingedc.com
2025 Board Meeting Schedule
UA Local 333 Plumbers and Pipefitters 5405 S Martin Luther King Junior Blvd, Lansing, MI 48911 1:00 P.M.
- January 16
- February 20
- March 20
- April 17
- May 15
- June 12
- July 17
- August 21
- September 18
- October 16
- November 20
- December 18
The South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor is a key commercial district in the City of Lansing. Once home to a vibrant retail center, the corridor has experienced steady decline over recent decades due to shifting retail markets, loss of high-wage employment, and population decreases in South Lansing. While recent investments have helped catalyze new momentum, significant additional support and coordinated reinvestment are still needed to restore this vital corridor. The S. MLK CIA works to drive that effort. The S. MLK Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority (S. MLK CIA) is a City of Lansing board dedicated to promoting economic development and revitalization along the S. MLK Jr. Blvd. commercial corridor. The Authority works to attract investment, support local businesses, enhance infrastructure, and create a thriving, connected environment for South Lansing residents and visitors.
Additional Items
· The South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Commercial Corridor In the effort of revitalizing the South Martin Luther King Jr. corridor, there have been surveys, stakeholder interviews, and previous planning efforts completed, soliciting input from residents, property owners, stakeholders, municipal staff, and public officials. Through these community engagement efforts, the Authority identified key challenges and areas of need, including concerns with safety due to high traffic speeds, deterioration of the corridor due to neglected and vacant properties, absence of vibrancy due to lack of green spaces, and a lack of diversity in the businesses along the corridor, including dining options.
Current Projects
• The S. MLK hosted its first community cleanup in Sept. 2025. The S. MLK CIA gather volunteers to clean up the corridor branching out from the intersection of S. MLK Jr. Blvd and Holmes Rd. The Authority plans to have a reoccurring spring and fall cleanup in 2026
• The S. MLK Jr. Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) has installed street sign toppers along the corridor to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., officially branding the area as “Dream Blvd.”
• In partnership with the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA), the S. MLK Jr. CIA hosted an art competition to select artwork for decorating covered bus shelters along the corridor. The board selected two southside artist to showcase on bus shelters along the corridor
• The S. MLK Jr. CIA, in collaboration with key stakeholders in Southwest Lansing, facilitated “The Southwest Thrive Program,” a business operations course designed to support local entrepreneurs. Led by Operations School , this intensive four-week program provided education and consulting to help business owners enhance their operations, increase success, and ensure long-term sustainability.
• The S. MLK CIA opened their Business Grant Program in late summer of 2025 to provide access to capital for small businesses within the corridor’s boundaries. By providing financial resources, this grant opportunity is dedicated to supporting projects that strengthen businesses' sustainability along the corridor. This application is the first step in the grant process. Please download and complete any required documents. If your application passes the initial screening, you may be invited to provide additional documents or present to the S. MLK CIA.
A Commercial Corridor is a major street/ passageway lined primarily with businesses and commercial activity that serves the surrounding community.
Improvement Authority (S. MLK CIA)? The S. MLKCIA was established to oversee the strategic economic development of the S. MLK Blvd. Corridor. The S. MLKCIA’s sole purpose is to generate economic development and revitalization along the S. MLK Blvd. commercial corridor, in hopes of increasing the corridor’s yearly tax revenue and overall activity.
The S. MLK Corridor runs south along S. MLK Blvd from Bishop Rd. to Victor Ave.
The South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor, a major north-south thoroughfare and once home to a bustling retail scene has seen steady deterioration due to increased retail competition, loss of high wage paying employment opportunities and the decrease in population of South Lansing residents.
In 2019, Mayor Schor proposed and the Lansing City Council approved the establishment of the South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Corridor Improvement Authority (S.MLK CIA) with the goals to correct and prevent deterioration in the business districts, redevelop the city’s commercial corridors and promote economic growth.
In revitalizing the South Martin Luther King Jr. corridor, surveys, stakeholder interviews, and previous planning efforts have been completed soliciting input from residents, property owners, stakeholders, municipal staff, and public officials.
Through these community engagement efforts, the Authority identified key challenges and areas of need including concerns with safety due to high traffic speeds, deterioration of the corridor due to neglected and vacant properties, absence of vibrancy due to lack of green spaces, and a lack of diversity in the businesses along the corridor including dining options.
Kahleea Washington
Community Development Specialist
Kahleea@lansingedc.com
517-512-5122