Revitalization and Placemaking Program Supports Lapeer Opera House, New Housing and Commercial Space

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a redevelopment project in Lapeer (Lapeer County) receiving support from the bipartisan Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program.

The former Lapeer Opera House at 350 N. Court Street in Downtown Lapeer will be rehabilitated to add 10 residential apartments, support four existing ground-floor commercial spaces, and create a third-floor commercial events space. The apartments will be listed between 50-60% of Area Median Income, with four units subject to MSHDA affordability monitoring. The vacant third floor will be converted into a high-quality commercial events space, building off the downtown’s commercial traffic and weddings at the neighboring historic Lapeer County Courthouse. 

“This new placemaking project will revitalize the former Lapeer Opera House, creating new housing opportunity and making this community a more vibrant place to live,” said Governor Whitmer. “Programs like RAP help us attract and retain talented workers, lower costs, create and attract new businesses, and make Michigan the best place to live, work, and play. Let’s keep working together to help more families ‘make it’ in Michigan.” 

“The MEDC supports community revitalization efforts across the state as part of our ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic development strategy,” said David Meninga, SVP of Community Development Programs & Execution at the MEDC. “This project will bring new life to a longstanding historic building in Downtown Lapeer, adding critical housing, support for commercial businesses, and events space for the community.”  

The project will be supported by a $2.2 million RAP grant to assist with the rehabilitation of the long-vacant building and bring a total anticipated capital investment of $5,745,905. The City of Lapeer is supporting the project through a water main upgrade valued at approximately $70,000 and has selected this site for MSHDA CDBG support, valued to the developer at approximately $700,000. The City of Lapeer Downtown Development Authority is also supporting the project through a tax sharing agreement, valued at approximately $240,910. 

The project is led by developer Thomas LaMagna, who brings previous experience with multi-family developments and commercial spaces to the project.

"I am impressed by and grateful for the collaborative efforts of the MEDC and MSHDA in bringing resources together to support revitalization in Lapeer,” said developer Thomas LaMagna. “I continue to invest in this community because I believe in its potential, and it is partnerships like these, combined with the tools and resources offered by the State of Michigan, that make projects like this possible. Bringing new life to Lapeer’s old Opera House is about more than redeveloping a building; it’s about preserving a piece of the community’s history while creating lasting benefits for the city and its residents. I’m grateful to the City of Lapeer staff for their collaboration and support throughout this process, as well as Revitalize, LLC, who helped guide us through the MEDC and MSHDA processes from day one. It truly takes a team to turn a vision like this into reality." 

“Rehabilitating historic buildings like the former Lapeer Opera House creates opportunities to meet today’s housing needs while preserving what makes a downtown special,” said MSHDA CEO and Executive Director Amy Hovey. “Our investment will bring new housing to downtown Lapeer and help put this landmark building back to work as a place for residents, businesses and the community to gather.” 

“The word ‘transformational’ is often used in downtown development, but this project truly deserves that description,” said James Alt, executive director, Lapeer Main Street Downtown Development Authority. “This is a tremendous investment in the future of Historic Downtown Lapeer while preserving an important piece of our community’s past. The restoration of the historic Opera House will not only breathe new life into a landmark building but will also create a positive ripple effect throughout downtown. By bringing new residents and event space into the heart of our community, this project will generate additional foot traffic, support our small businesses, and add even more vibrancy to downtown. We are thrilled to be part of this project alongside Mr. LaMagna and our partners at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the City of Lapeer. It’s a great example of what can happen when historic preservation, economic development, and strong partnerships come together.” 

The City of Lapeer is certified with the MEDC’s Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) program, which supports communities to drive economic growth and create more vibrant districts, and is a Master-Level Michigan Main Street Community. The rehabilitation of the former Lapeer Opera House aligns with the DDA and City’s plans to support redevelopment and residential opportunities in the downtown core, adding vibrancy to the Lapeer community. The former Lapeer Opera House was the site of an 1879 speech by Susan B. Anthony, as highlighted in a History Walk supported by a 2025 Main Street Vibrancy grant. 

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.