There are spaces that allow you to breathe, find inspiration, and without effort your mind takes flight. Welcome to the Historic Botanical Loft, a thoughtful curated space.
Rest. Repair. Replenish.
Play. Laugh. Drink. Eat.
Work. Inspire. Create.
Connect. Be lusty.
Take care of you.
The linens have been layered, the robes are hanging on the hook, the Scotch is on the shelf.
Botanical Loft Full? Check out our City Treehouse Loft!
https://www.vrbo.com/5166933?dateless=true
If you need more space… both the Botanical and Treehouse lofts can be rented together for a large shared space with four total BR, 2 BA and shared access to the rooftop patio.
https://www.vrbo.com/5202905?dateless=true
The space
This is a space with a soul… This beautiful historic building was built in 1873 and lovingly restored from 1997-1999 with great care taken to bring this piece of history back to vibrant life for you to enjoy in the heart of Old Town Lansing. Just steps outside your door are a fabulous collection of shops, cafes (including a cat cafe), galleries, the Grand River Fish Ladder Park and Amphitheater and Lansing River Trail. Whether you are coming to Lansing for summer baseball and festivals, fall football games, a variety of holiday events or to watch the riverfront blossom back to life in the spring you have this serene and historic space to call your home.
The Grand River runs through Old Town. In fact, you can see the riverfront park from the loft and your private patio. The park offers an amphitheater, firepit, seating to fish or just watch the river flow by and even put in a canoe or kayak from the launch just behind the building. You can also take all this in from your private rooftop patio where you can kick up your heels, pour your favorite delight and enjoy.
If you feel like exploring the neighborhood, you are in luck… Old town is full of shops, eateries, galleries, and shenanigans. Art Walks, music in the park, festivals and Krampus fests… Old Town has something for everyone. Please note that with these fabulous events can come the sounds of a living and vibrant city and we have provided sound machines in your bedrooms to help soothe you to sleep if those living city sounds need a bit of softening.
In the closets, there are items available for your use: purses, earrings, ties, scarves, robes.
Guest access
Guests of the Botanical Loft will have access to the private patio.
Other things to note
Additional Rules
If you get tempted to have a party, please don’t. It is a wonderful place for those that are staying and registered as a guest to enjoy each other. Outside of that, additional guests/visitors need to be approved ahead of time. Up to four people is what is agreed to in this rental contract. If you would like more, please seek approval ahead of time. This is a firm rule that will result in immediate discharge of your stay without refund.
The space has been curated for adults. It is not outfitted and does not have child appropriate safety features for infants and/or children. Children under the age of 12 need prior approval. This is a firm rule.
You must be 21 years or older to rent.
A confirmation picture of identification must be sent prior to releasing door codes.
Animals are allowed, with approval, at the time of booking. There is a $200 pet fee.
Reminder
*This is a second story loft that requires you walking up stairs.
* *The city can present an orchestra of sounds we cannot control. There are ear plugs and bedroom sound machines provided for you to enhance your serenity if needed.
What this place offers
Scenic views
City skyline view
Park view
River view
Bathroom
Bathtub
Hair dryer
Cleaning products
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body soap
Hot water
Shower gel
Bedroom and laundry
Free washer – In unit
Free dryer – In unit
Essentials
Towels, bed sheets, soap, and toilet paper
Hangers
Bed linens
Extra pillows and blankets
Room-darkening shades
Iron
Clothing storage
Entertainment
Smart TV's
Sound system with Bluetooth and aux
Books and reading material
Board games
Heating and cooling
Air conditioning
Portable fans
Central heating
Home safety
Smoke alarm
Carbon monoxide alarm
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit
Internet and office
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Kitchen and dining
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Microwave
Cooking basics
Pots and pans, oil, salt and pepper
Dishes and silverware
Bowls, chopsticks, plates, cups, etc.
Freezer
Dishwasher
Stove
Oven
Hot water kettle
Coffee maker: drip coffee maker, french press
Wine glasses
Toaster
Baking sheet
Blender
Dining table
Coffee
A variety of snacks some of which DO INCLUDE NUTS.
Outdoor
Private balcony
Outdoor furniture
Outdoor dining area
Parking and facilities
Paid parking lot on premises
Pets allowed with approval
Assistance animals are always allowed
Long term stays allowed
Allow stay for 28 days or more
Self check-in
Lockbox
Where you’ll be
Old Town is the heart of Lansing.
Getting around
There is a parking lot next to building at the corner of Cesar Chavez and Turner. Parking Monday thru Friday 8-6 pm is an inexpensive $7 for a full day. Outside of those hours, parking is free.
We recommend downloading the parking app, all information is posted in the parking lot.
Here is a fun write up from the Old Town Community Association (OTCA) -
“As in any small town, people who live and work in Old Town take pride in the history lessons their hometown offers them. Filled with hope and determination, sadness and success, the tale of Old Town’s ancestors is more intriguing each time it is revisited.
A surveying crew moving westward across Michigan in 1825 stopped along the Grand River Indian Trail at the apex of the Grand River. Their mission was to plot and chart land that would someday be known as Old Town. Eleven years later New York land speculators James Seymour and Jacob Cooley purchased the land from the federal government. In 1842, the area was officially named Lansing Township. Around the same time, John Burchard of Mason acquired a section of land from James Seymour. Burchard became the first residential settler in the Lansing area.
Burchard and his family settled into a small cabin along the Indian Trail on the corner of Cesar E. Chavez Avenue (formerly Grand River Avenue) and Center Street – in close proximity to where the former Tate’s Freeze stands today. The Grand River’s first dam was built nearby in 1843 and was used to power the area’s first sawmill. Tragically, John Burchard drowned a year later, attempting to fix the dam. Later that same year, Joab Page, his son and three daughters moved into the Burchard cabin. An addition was made to the home and it was used as a tavern for weary travelers. A Methodist minister conducted Lansing’s first church service in the living quarters of the cabin in 1845. The Page cabin also served as Lansing’s meeting hall and township court.
As the settlement of Lansing grew, James Seymour began to make improvements on his investment property. He financed the construction of the first wooden bridge across the Grand River. It connected the Grand River Indian Trail (present day Cesar E. Chavez Avenue) and the two forking paths on either side. Lansing’s first school was also built in the Old Town area, at the southeast corner of Franklin Avenue (Cesar E. Chavez Ave.) and Cedar Street (the site of the former Temple Club). The school also provided a meeting space for church congregations.
Seymour lobbied for the construction of the new State Capitol Building to be located within his holdings in the Old Town area. But in 1847, Governor William Greenly selected a site approximately two miles from Lansing’s original Old Town settlement. Seymour recovered quickly from the loss with new plans for the development of North Lansing – now known as Old Town. Realizing that traveling legislators would need temporary housing during their frequent trips to the capitol, Seymour began construction on a hotel at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Center Street. In January of 1848, The Seymour House opened for business in time for the first legislature session.
Over the next 150 years, Old Town saw many changes. Growth brought prosperity and a great blue-collar community. Visitors to Old Town often saw and heard “North Lansing against the World.” But, soon the boom came to an end. By the latter part of the twentieth century, Old Town had become a fragmented shell of the bustling area it once was. Buildings were abandoned or burned out. People lost interest in local downtowns across the country, and Old Town was no exception.
Some very dedicated people, including the late Robert Busby, decided that the decay of Old Town was unacceptable. For the last 30 years, these “urban pioneers” have been working hard to revitalize Old Town to make it a better place to live, work, and shop. In 1996, the Main Street program was established in Old Town. Since then, crime rates have fallen to the lowest in the city, building vacancy has dropped from 90 percent to less than 10 percent, and Old Town is proud to be a home to some of the finest art and entertainment venues in mid-Michigan. In 2006, Old Town was named a Michigan Main Street program area under Governor Granholm’s Cool Cities Initiative; it continues to operate under Main Street’s four point approach.
Together with several other partners, such as the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Arts (MICA) formerly the Old Town Business and Art Development Association (OTBADA), the City of Lansing, the Principal Shopping District (PSD)/Downtown Lansing, Inc., the Turner-Dodge House and others, Old Town has become a thriving environment of art, festivals, boutiques and creative businesses and residents dedicated to the revitalization of this historic district.
Through hard work and determination, Old Town has prospered and grown into one of the finest areas in mid-Michigan. Old Town may not have reached its full potential yet, but thanks to the support of the community, it is on its way.”
