OKEMOS - The future of Downtown Okemos has not yet been decided but that doesn’t mean it has not been talked about. Meridian Township Economic Developer Chris Buck has been trying to help decide the fate of Downtown Okemos ever since the Okemos Ace Hardware store closed.

Okemos Ace Hardware store closed this past holiday season after being open for 42 years. Inside the same building as the Ace Hardware store, a bakery and catering business have also closed. Now lies three vacant buildings all inside the same unit. Buck said right now Downtown Okemos looks like a bit of a ghost town.

Buck said, “I’ve gone out and tried to really research and spend time talking to people that own land, own businesses, commercial real estate agents, and developers and really try and drum up some enthusiasm to do something really transformational in Downtown Okemos.”

Buck also said there has been talks about doing mixed development which would have a residential component, professional office and commercial retail use.