Bay City, Michigan
LocalCode Bay City
LocalCode Bay City acquires and renovates mixed-use properties core to building economic well-being. Priority properties include those that provide potential for residential living, contribute to placemakinging, and support local business and food systems.
Located two hours north of Detroit, Bay City is a gateway between Southern and northern Michigan on the edge of the Saginaw Bay and bisected by the Saginaw River.
Bay City’s Downtown and commercial Districts are located in US Treasury Opportunity Zones. Roughly half the City’s land area is in distressed or severely distressed areas.
Impact Focus
Bay City is typical of many rust-belt cities that boomed through the mid-20th century—a mix of mid-century modern architecture, surface parking lots, former manufacturing sites, and 100+ year old buildings. Once the center of activity, the City’s primary commercial districts are now dotted with vacant storefronts and underutilized buildings.
Having once thrived and declined, the community is a prime example of potential regenerative economies. With an excellent stock of historic buildings, a thriving arts and festival culture, and active business sector, the community has the elements needed reinvent itself. However, the key ingredients of placemaking, local owners, and apprenticeship are gaps preventing these elements from finding proper alignment.
Through a regenerative process of physical redevelopment of the built environment, community engagement and empowerment, and educating the business sector on regenerative economy, LocalCode Bay City, LLC connects resources to opportunity.
WEALTH AND WELLBEING
Creating Main Street employment opportunities
Investing in Regenerative Business Enterprises
Increasing local property values
SOCIAL FABRIC
Promote local food consumption
Improve walk-ability
Promote public art installations
Increase Main Street living opportunities
Improve self-reported wellbeing
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Rehabilitation of vacant, blighted, or underutilized buildings
Redevelopment of brownfield properties
BUSINESS SECTOR
Invest in locally-owned and operated businesses
Diversify the commercial economy
Recent Developments
In recent years, the downtown area has benefited from public and private investments to add apartments, an indoor market, co-working space, and a revitalized riverfront park.
