Well, we wound up taking on more of a Lansing-centric theme this week, so we might as well see it through. On Wednesday Capital Gains posted an article summarizing the major development stories in the Capitol City from 2007. Here are the highlights:

After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations and deal-making and old-fashioned hard work by city staff, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America announced in late 2007 that it would be moving its national headquarters to the old Lansing power plant.

The company could have gone anywhere, with a workforce expected to grow by 500 employees to a total of 1,200 in the next several years.

But they decided to not only stay downtown, but to make a massive commitment to remake one of the city’s most visible landmarks.

The announcement, and the $182 million commitment to make it a reality, marked a historical moment for many who had come to view the majestic power plant as both an icon and challenge to the city’s burgeoning downtown rebirth.

This is a trend we touched on numerous times last year, cities taking a building that symbolizes economic hardship -- Lansing's BWL tower, the old Jackson prison, Detroit's Book-Cadillac Hotel, even the Williamston Theatre -- and turning it into a sign of hope and rejuvenation. The term being used by the Cities of Promise coalition is a "signature project," something that carries a "wow" factor for the community.

While these signature projects are often needed to get the ball rolling for additional development, it's also the little things that make a difference:

The rain gardens now lining Michigan Avenue are visible; the underground environmental benefits to Lansing’s long-neglected waterways are harder to spot.

Sure, rain gardens and street lamps may seem like superficial improvements, but it all contributes to the prevailing sense that things are getting better around downtown.

The article goes on to discuss the new Stadium District near Oldsmobile Park, the proposed redesign of the City Market and riverfront, and the environmentally-friendly Kalamazoo Gateway project. Definitely go read the whole thing, if you get a chance.

While there's still plenty of work to be done, it's nice to get reminders like this that economic development efforts are turning Michigan around, one block at a time.