Continental Properties Breaks Ground on 252-Unit Authentix Okemos Apartment Community in Meridian Township, Michigan

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Continental Properties has broken ground on Authentix Okemos, a 252-unit garden-style apartment community situated on Central Park Drive, between Times Square Drive and Columbus Avenue in Meridian Township, Michigan. The development marks the latest expansion of the company's Authentix brand into the Lansing metropolitan area.

Project Details and Amenities

Authentix Okemos will offer studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes featuring granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, and balconies in select units. The community's site addresses include 1604, 1608, and 1610 Central Park Drive, as well as 5040 Times Square, per Meridian Township's development projects inventory.

Planned amenities include a swimming pool, fitness center, pet playgrounds, grilling areas, poolside cabanas, a fire pit, hammock park, and a nature-viewing area. Detached garages, carports, and private enclosed yards will be available on select homes. A dedicated onsite team will manage the property upon opening.

Pre-leasing is expected to begin in spring 2027. The community clubhouse is anticipated to open in July 2027, followed by initial move-ins in August 2027.

Location and Employment Access

The site sits within walking distance of Meridian Mall and the Marsh Road retail corridor, with nearby retail options including Walmart, Target, and Kroger. Grand River Avenue connects the community to East Lansing and downtown Lansing, while Interstate 69 and Interstate 96 are approximately four miles away.

Michigan State University, which employs more than 12,000 faculty and staff, is within roughly a 10-minute drive of the property. Major healthcare employers — including University of Michigan Health-Sparrow and McLaren Greater Lansing — along with downtown Lansing's state government offices are approximately 25 minutes from the site.

Market Fundamentals

The Lansing–East Lansing multifamily market has maintained occupancy in the mid-to-upper 90s in recent years. Occupancy in the Lansing/East Lansing submarket stood at 97.2% as of a 2025 statewide outlook, with minimal year-over-year change. During the 2025 peak leasing season, approximately eight renters competed for each vacant unit, with available units filling in roughly 34 days and overall occupancy at 94.4%, above the national average.

Average asking rents in the Lansing–Ann Arbor market reached $1,271 in May 2025, reflecting year-over-year growth of approximately 3.7%. A broader Michigan rental market study placed Lansing's asking rent at approximately $1,227 per unit in Q3 2025, with a multifamily vacancy rate of 6.4%.

Erik Hahn, Vice President of Acquisitions at Continental Properties, pointed to those conditions as central to the investment rationale. "The fundamentals supporting this investment are unusually clear," Hahn said. "The Meridian Township submarket has sustained high occupancy with limited new supply, and infill locations of this scale are increasingly difficult to source. Residents at Authentix Okemos will be within walking distance of Meridian Mall and the surrounding Marsh Road corridor offering retail and dining options, with Michigan State University approximately ten minutes away. That combination of convenience and a parcel large enough to deliver the community we envisioned justified a patient and deliberate pursuit."

Operations and Outlook

Heather Riggs, Senior Vice President of Multifamily Operations at Continental Properties, emphasized the community's design and service approach. "Authentix Okemos is designed to offer residents comfortable, well-designed apartment homes complemented by inviting spaces to gather, recharge, and enjoy the outdoors," Riggs said. "Just as important, our onsite team will provide the responsive, attentive service that helps create a welcoming community and a positive living experience for our residents."

Continental Properties is a National Multifamily Housing Council Top 25 developer, owner, and operator of rental home communities, retail, and hospitality properties. Since its founding in 1979, the company has developed 142 apartment communities encompassing more than 39,000 apartment homes across 20 states, and has strategically acquired nine additional apartment communities. Authentix Okemos is scheduled to enter lease-up in a submarket where new supply has remained limited relative to demand.