Downtown Cassopolis redevelopment project nearing completion, adding seven housing units

A major redevelopment project in downtown Cassopolis is nearing completion, bringing seven new housing units and future commercial space to a long-vacant building at 117 S. Broadway St.

The project, led by the Cass County Land Bank Authority, is transforming a building that has sat largely unused for years. The building’s upper floors have been vacant since 2020, while the street-level commercial space has remained vacant since 2015.

Once completed, the redevelopment will provide five one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments with balconies. The units will be available to households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income, helping address the need for attainable housing in Cass County.

Located at the center of downtown Cassopolis, the property was identified through previous facilities and housing studies as a strong candidate for adaptive reuse despite years of deterioration caused by prolonged vacancy. Construction began in late 2025 and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2026.

“The Land Bank saw an opportunity to invest in a building right here in our county seat and, in turn, address a need we hear about constantly throughout our community: the need for workforce housing,” said Hope Anderson, Cass County treasurer and chair of the Cass County Land Bank Authority. “This project is about bringing a vacant building back to life while creating new housing opportunities for residents and supporting the continued revitalization of downtown.”

The redevelopment is supported through a combination of state and local funding sources focused on blight elimination and community revitalization. The State Land Bank Authority awarded nearly $3 million through its Blight Elimination Program using federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. The project also received $500,000 through the Cassopolis Main Street façade improvement program.

“We value the strong partnership we have with the Cass County Land Bank and are proud to support this transformative project,” said Joseph Rivet, executive director of the State Land Bank Authority. “By helping return this prominent property to productive use, creating new housing and commercial opportunities, and placing the building back on the tax roll, this project reflects our broader mission of working with local land banks to revitalize communities, strengthen local tax bases and put formerly underutilized properties back to work for Michigan residents.”

The project includes modern residential amenities such as in-unit washers and dryers, new windows and insulation, and a fully sprinklered building. The main floor and basement have been cleared and renovated for future use, with the Cass County Land Bank Authority continuing to evaluate long-term commercial opportunities for the space.

The redevelopment builds on the Land Bank’s previous work through the State Land Bank Authority’s Blight Elimination Program, including stabilization of the former Tailgater building in Marcellus and demolition of the former Lincoln School in Dowagiac and the former People’s Protestant Church in Cassopolis.

The Cass County Land Bank Authority is not currently accepting housing applications and is not maintaining a waiting list. Officials are developing application procedures, lease agreements, income-verification requirements and property management processes. Information regarding eligibility requirements, application procedures and timelines will be announced publicly once finalized.

The redevelopment of 117 S. Broadway reflects the Land Bank’s mission of returning vacant, underutilized and deteriorating properties to productive use while supporting housing opportunities, downtown revitalization and future economic growth in Cass County.