Michigan’s Rental Aid is Backlogged as Need Continues Rise
/in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Northern Michigan, SE Michigan, Western Michigan /by Tracy Willis173,000 tenants have applied for the statewide rent aid program that was launched to help renters avoid eviction and meet their payments. Wayne County makes up about one-third of the applicants. Detroiters make up 22% of the rent help applicants. According to the chief operating officer of the Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, they continue to see high numbers of requests for support. The Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey reports that between Dec. 1 and Dec. 13, more than 100,000 Michiganders said they were behind on rent or mortgage payments. Less than half of the applications for assistance were approved as of January 7. Statewide, wait time between application and approval averages 35 to 40 days. In Wayne County, that wait time may take as long as 10 weeks. MSHDA has hired staff combat the backlog and high numbers of applications in Wayne County
Pontiac’s Woodward Loop Will Get Pedestrian-Friendly Makeover
/in SE Michigan /by Tracy WillisPontiac’s Woodward Avenue Loop opened in 1964 during the urban renewal binge. State high engineers announced they would turn Detroit’s I-375 spur into a street-level boulevard over the next several years. MDOT announced that it’s making a similar commitment for the Woodward Loop. Construction will take place in 2024-2025, along with the simultaneous reconstruction of M-59 through Pontiac. It will include new sidewalks, traffic signals and bike paths. The goal is to turn Pontiac’s Woodward Avenue into a series of pedestrian-friendly two-way boulevards with slower traffic speeds. The project also aims to reconnect neighborhoods to the downtown.
Ann Arbor Takes Steps Toward a More Walkable Neighborhood
/in SE Michigan /by Tracy WillisAnn Arbor real estate developer, Oxford Companies, plans to build a new apartment building on Ann Arbor’s south side. The space is currently used as parking for its main office. No timeline has been set for construction. The development endeavors to create a more walkable and livable neighborhood. The 226-acre area may potentially be rezoned to allow new buildings up to 300 feet which will develop a high-density and mixed-use area to create a downtown environment. The proposal would require the rezoning of 69 properties, including those around Briarwood Mall.
Detroit’s Former American Motors Corporation Slated For Redevelopment
/in Detroit /by Tracy WillisThe Kansas City, Missouri-based NorthPoint Development LLC will redevelop the former American Motors Corporation headquarters to the tune of $66 million. An automotive supplier will likely occupy the site. Construction of a 728,000-square-foot industrial facility is planned, pending City Council and other approvals. A specific tenant hasn’t been disclosed, but it’s estimated that the site could employ 300 of more people. Officials expect 150-200 construction workers. NorthPoint’s deal with the city means that the developer would buy 56 acres of land for $5.9 million, including 26 residential parcels owned by the Detroit Land Bank Authority and a Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority-owned property totally 8.5 acres. The $66 million price tag includes the cost to demolish the buildings.
Ford Land CEO Says Goodbye
/in National, SE Michigan /by Tracy WillisDave Dubensky, the CEO of Ford Land and the man responsible for the Michigan Central Station deal, is ending his five year tenure. He pushed for change and implemented a plan to transform company property in Michigan, throughout the U.S. and around the world. Ford Land manages a total of 240 million square feet of real estate. According to Dubensky, Ford Land focused on modernizing and elevating experiences for global employees that walk through the door of any Ford building in an effort to retain and attract talent.
Children’s Health Center Construction Underway in Flint
/in Northern Michigan, SE Michigan /by Tracy WillisThe Genessee Community Health Center, will be completed by next September. The Genesee Community Health Center will house all the children’s services programs of the Genesee Health System. It will be located on a parcel of land on the outskirts of downtown Flint. The center will encompass 60,000-square-feet and cost $22 million. The cost is covered through private and public funding, including grants and new-market tax credits. Genesee Health System is a provider for Genessee County adults with serious mental illness or substance abuse disorders, as well a children with developmental disabilities.