The City of St. Johns is using a third downtown development grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to finish renovations of 32 
residential units in downtown St. Johns.
“If people live downtown, it does two things,” says Steven Wagner, community development director for the City of St. Johns. “It gives someone an affordable place to live and it brings people downtown.”
The 2008-2009 investment cycle gives St. Johns $250,000 more to rehab the residential spaces above the stores in downtown St. Johns. The city has received two other grants for similar projects—one for $400,000 and one for $450,000.
Though the process has been gradual, the city can boast 32 total unit renovations.
“We’re getting a lot of young people in these lofts,” Wagner says. “Most of them work close to the downtown area.”
And the rehabs are popular. “In terms of getting them rented, we have not had any problems at all,” he says. “We usually have people waiting for them.”
Source: Steven Wagner, City of St. Johns
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.