PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A day after Kalamazoo launched three housing projects to help the very poorest among us, Portage is also getting into the affordable housing business, but they are doing it their own way.
Last night they gave preliminary approval to their first project that will be eligible for Kalamazoo County housing millage money. Stanwood Crossings will include 44 new single-family homes in a planned development along Portage Road between Woodbine and Stanley.
It’s called “work-force housing,” designed for teachers, skilled workers and police officers who make 80-to-120% of the area median income.
Portage city planner Peter Dane says the original plan to put in 70 homes was downsized after complaints from the neighbors, and other changes were made.
Developer Joe Gesmundo says five years ago, there were homes in Portage for this group, but not now, with housing prices soaring.
He says this project is a model for other communities to follow.
Mayor pro-tem Jim Pearson crunched the numbers and was pleased with the plan.
It’s taken three and a half years to get the project to this point and may take another three or more years to get it fully constructed. Dane says they have already heard from dozens of potential buyers.
One way they are reducing costs is by selling the homes to the occupants, but only renting the land, condominium style.
They will be using county millage money, ARPA dollars, county down payment assistance and federal funding to also help make the homes more affordable.
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