State of the City set

Monday, Jan. 7 — A historic train depot in REO Town will be the site of this year’s annual State of the City speech delivered by Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.

The speech — Bernero’s eighth since taking office — is scheduled for Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot directly south of the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s new $182 million cogeneration power plant in REO Town.

The location continues a trend of holding the annual speech at major redevelopments in the city. Two years ago it was held at the Knapp’s Building downtown, which is undergoing renovation; last year it was held in the Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America headquarters on Grand Avenue.

A statement today by the administration called the BWL redevelopment, which includes restoring the train depot and constructing a natural-gas powered cogeneration plant, “the latest harbinger of the city’s progress, both in terms of economic development and creating a cleaner, greener environment.”

Built in 1902, the depot is in the final stages of being fully restored. It’s scheduled to open to the public in the fall and will serve as meeting chambers for the BWL Board of Commissioners and as a general community meeting space.

The State of the City address is open to the public.