A
Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Rental Rehabilitation Project looks to increase the number of available apartments in downtown
Grand Ledge.
The apartments are located above businesses downtown.
"We're excited,"
says Kalmin Smith, mayor of Grand Ledge. The total funds are a
combination of $323,500 in Community Development Block Grant Rental
Rehabilitation funds and $140,000 in Leverage Funds from Grand Ledge
businesses. The funds allow for 10 new apartments downtown.
"We're kind of bystanders," says Mayor Smith, explaining that, per the
project requirements, a third party has to decide on the construction
contracts, so "the city doesn't decide who does the construction."
A
similar project took place in Eaton Rapids. "That attracted our
attention," says Mayor Smith "And we liked what we saw."
The project is currently at the environmental review stage, in which
any possible environmental impact issues of the rehabilitation project
are determined. After this stage, funds will start being released.
$35,000 will be allotted for each new apartment. One of the premier
locations could have four or five apartments alone. Restoring older
apartments is a possibility, but those projects will receive fewer
funds.
"We'll have more people downtown, it will help to stabilize downtown
and bring in more revenue," Mayor Smith says of the 10 planned
apartments.
Grand Ledge's annual
St. Patrick's Day Parade is this Saturday and its route goes past many of the proposed locations.
Source: Mayor Kalmin Smith
Writer:
Daniel J. Hogan
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.