Multi-million dollar investments by the City of Lansing, the federal government, and the Board of Water and Light are transforming a dormant Lansing district for the 20-teens. Just south of downtown, REO Town promises to light up with festivals, new business and revitalized neighborhoods. There’s even a restored train depot in the deal.

The marks on the brickwork tell visitors that while there is a kind old lady who will offer you a free hot meal; you are also liable to get cussed out and thrown to the curb if you misbehave. The markings, commonly referred to as Hobo code, are just one of the many unique traits of the 140-year-old house in Okemos that Dave Delind took time to restore, while retaining as many remnants of history as possible.

The Ingham County Land Bank is often recognized in passing. It might be mentioned in an article or conversation about a unique local development, a “for sale” sign staked in a yard as you drive through local neighborhoods ... or it might be a crime-ridden hotel being transformed into a public destination for graffiti art. But what is a land bank, exactly? And why is the Ingham County Land Bank seen as a national model for how land banks can function? Read on to get the scoop on this thriving national model for government partnerships.