Posts

Kent County Housing Snags Millions In American Rescue Plan Funds

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Kent County housing is in line for almost $20 million by way of American Rescue Plan funds. The Kent County Revolving Housing Fund will receive $17.3 million, and an additional $500,000 is allotted to Housing Kent for the Kent County Equitable Housing Initiative. The funds represent one of the most significant investments in affordable housing by West Michigan local government. The funds will support new and rehabilitation projects with lower interest rates, allowing the community to leverage $3.30 for every dollar invested. The Kent County Equitable Housing Initiative will help with changes to local zoning.

 

West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees Denies Controversial Proposal

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The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees has denied the controversial proposal to rezone a location known as The Corners property from single-family residential status to a planned development district. The property is located at 2075 Walnut Lake Road on the site of the former Walnut Lake Elementary. The school closed in the mid 90s and was transformed into a multipurpose building. The proposal to rezone met with opposition because it includes a baseball diamond, a playfield and mature trees. The proposal would have enabled the property to be redeveloped into a 101-unit townhome community.

Ann Arbor Attempts To Smooth Building Process For Developers

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Real Estate developers have complained for years about Ann Arbor’s many requirements and layers of review and approval for building projects. Some have stated that they’ll never do business in the city again because it’s easier and less costly to build new housing in other places. Ann Arbor officials are trying to right that wrong. The City Council voted to shorten the approval process. Projects that meet the city’s zoning requirements will not have to go through council. Instead, they’ll be reviewed and approved by city staff and the Planning Commission. City leaders are discussing more steps to smooth the process as the city tries to attract high-density development along transit corridors.

Cities Rethink Parking Rules

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The city of Ann Arbor recently voted to remove all minimum off-street parking requirements. Detroit is reviewing its zoning code, possibly implementing new rules regarding how many parking spaces are needed for uses like housing, retail and industrial. Both examples are part of a growing trend in Michigan and around the U.S. as cities rethink their parking rules. Complying with Detroit’s parking requirements is a pain and poses a threat to business growth. Some Detroit-area businesses and organizations think the parking minimums are old-fashioned and block the development of vibrant neighborhoods. Others remain skeptical of entirely scrapping all parking minimums.

 

 

Judge Dismisses Lake Charlevoix Lawsuit

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33rd Circuit Court Judge Roy C. Hayes III dismissed the lawsuit against Hayes Township officials. The lawsuit alleges a lack of due process and conflict of interest concerning the construction of a boathouse and private marina on residential property. The plaintiff  and neighbor LuAnne Kozma and her husband, with support from environmental groups, have been trying to stop the project. The lawsuit wasn’t about environmental concerns, however, but rather the lack of township administration. Judge Hayes did not find the lawsuit to have a proper basis and asserted that it was without merit.

 

Ann Arbor Rezones For High-Density Downtown Area

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The city of Ann Arbor has rezoned over 200 acres by Briarwood Mall with the intent of developing a high-density downtown area. The West Stadium and North Maple area may be next. The rezoning is meant to increase housing density along transit corridors and commercial development, creating a more pedestrian-friendly area. Feedback on the idea has been mixed. City officials are looking for more input and will hold a virtual webinar over Zoom at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June. 14.

Developers Move Forward With Mobile Home Park in Ann Arbor Area

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Sun Communities, Inc. is facing opposition from residents who don’t want hundreds of manufactured homes in the area. The Southfield-based company owns and operates mobile home parks, RV resorts and marinas across the United States.  The company had initially proposed a 500-unit mobile home park on about 140 acres on either side of U.S. 23 along Warren Road. The Ann Arbor Township denied that rezoning request.  The developers plan to continue with the manufactured homes development on the east side of U.S. 23 on 80 acres that is appropriately zoned for a dense mobile home park. About 17 neighbors attended the township planning commission meeting to protest the developers’ plans.

Adaptive Real Estate Trend Is On The Rise

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U.S. developers are embracing the office-to-housing conversion trend.  Between 2020 and 2021, 32,000 new apartment units were created by converting existing building spaces that had been used for other purposes. Forty-one percent were former office buildings. In the last year, Grand Rapids has approved zoning changes that allowed commercial building owners to  convert first-floor retail into residential space.  Other cities leading the adaptive real estate trend include Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, and Cleveland.  Last year was the biggest year on record for adaptive real estate.

 

 

Ann Arbor Rezones Briarwood Mall Area

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The Ann Arbor City Council recently voted to permit reclassifying over 200 acres around Briarwood Mall under the city’s new TC1 transit-corridor zoning category. The rezoning of 68 properties in the State Street and Eisenhower Parkway commercial area makes way for downtown-style development on the city’s south side. According to the mayor, the council’s steps will create a substantial amount of housing units in the city.  The goal is to encourage high-density, mixed-use development. Building height limits range from 550-300 feet and depend on how close sites are to residential areas.

Utility Companies Seek Land For Solar Farms

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Michigan utility companies are securing real estate to expand their solar energy generation capabilities as consumer demand accelerates. DTE Energy Co. needs 20,000 to 35,000 acres of southern-facing flat land to erect solar arrays over the next 10-15 years. Consumers Energy Co. currently generates 40 megawatts of electricity from solar and plans to be at 8,000 megawatts by 2040. That will require between 40,000-56,000 acres of land. Customer demand and land usage is a balancing act that Lansing policymakers haven’t yet addressed. Industry leaders anticipate some community resistance.