October 2024 Newsletter

HOUSING READY DIRECTOR UPDATE

Contact Lindsey
231-753-6102 or lindsey@gdplacemaking.com

HOUSING NORTH UPDATE

Housing North is the 10-county nonprofit focused on building awareness, influencing policy, and expanding capacity to meet housing needs across northern Michigan and a key regional partner for LTBHP. To stay up to date on Housing North’s news and activities go to housingnorth.org..

Three quick notes from the recent Housing North Newsletter are worth repeating:

The 10th Annual Northwest Michigan Housing Summit convened in Traverse City at the Hagerty Center on October 24-25, 2024: The Summit brings together community leaders, elected officials, and housing experts to discuss the latest housing policies, zoning reforms, and strategies for improving affordability and availability across northwest Michigan. If you were not able to attend, watch for news and summaries here in the LTBHP Newsletter or at the Housing North website.

Updated Housing Ready Checklist and Zoning Updates: Housing North’s Housing Ready program regularly tracks changes in zoning ordinances northwest Michigan. To support the review process, Housing North has recently released an updated Housing Ready Checklist which provides communities with a step-by-step guide to evaluate and implement zoning reforms. Housing Ready staff are available to assist communities in using the checklist and creating tailored zoning reform plans for their area.

Housing Readiness Grants Now Open to Counties: The Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s (MSHDA) Housing Readiness Incentive Grant Program (HRI Program) is now open for counties to apply. The HRI program provides funding to eligible applicants to support actions that increase housing supply and affordability, including opportunities to support a county-wide zoning atlas and tools to understand local housing needs. For more information on the program, go to https://www.michigan.gov/mshda/neighborhoods/housing-readiness-incentive-grant-program.

David (DJ) Jones and Sarah Ford, Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation

Using resources from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Emmet County has awarded a three-year, $1 million grant to the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency (NMCAA) to facilitate a Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance Program. The program is limited to those home buyers at 120% Area Median Income or less (just under $100,000 for a family of four in 2024) and the home must be located in Emmet County.

There is no sale price limit on the home and the down payment assistance is limited to 5% of the purchase price up to $30,000. The amount is calculated using 5% of the purchase price and all closing costs. The assistance is fully forgiven after five years.

To be eligible for the program, approved applicants must take NMCAA’s Homebuyer Education class and attend one Pre-Purchase Coaching appointment. Allison Popa works in NMCAA’s Homeownership and Financial Empowerment Center. She says these lessons really focus on the human side of homeownership, not just the business side. “I see it through the lens of the ‘teaching a person to fish’ lesson, they learn how to become long-term, successful homeowners,” she said.

To learn more about this program, call the NMCAA Petoskey office at 231-347-9070.

The Petoskey region is experiencing growth in both residential and seasonal populations, prompting the construction of all types of housing and thus the need for additional utility infrastructure. Because much of the potential growth is anticipated in both in the City and in surrounding townships, understanding the infrastructure across the area required is essential to the community’s readiness to accept additional development.

To that end, the City of Petoskey and Bear Creek and Resort Townships received a $50,000 grant from the Michigan Office of Rural Development in September 2023 to help fund a multi-jurisdictional water and wastewater infrastructure expansion assessment. The balance of the $87,000 project cost is being shared among the three collaborating partners. The purpose of the study is to understand water and wastewater infrastructure needs and identify areas in need of improvement and growth.

The study uses the City’s existing water and sewer hydraulic modeling processes to evaluate water systems and flows under various levels of demand and weather conditions. The models will assess system demands for water supply, storage, and distribution needs as well as sanitary sewer and treatment capacity requirements

A key goal of the project is to assess the current load on the Petoskey water and wastewater infrastructure in preparation for growth of the system into Resort and Bear Creek townships. In addition to providing information on available system capacity for new connections, the study will also identify improvements – and costs -- that will need to be addressed to reach the required capacity.

City of Petoskey City Manager Shane Horn reports that the Petoskey Area Regional Expanded Water System Reliability Study and Wastewater Infrastructure Study should be completed by the end of the year. For more information, contact City Manager Horn at (231) 347-2500 x1111.

Current Housing Projects in Emmet County

Housing North, Northwest Michigan’s Rural Housing Partnership, serves ten counties in the region by building awareness, influencing policy, and expanding capacity so communities can create housing solutions

More than 120 people, including several lawmakers, gathered on August 23rd for the grand opening of the Pine Pond residential development on Pickerel Lake Road, Petoskey.  
Led by the Petoskey-rooted Manthei family, the project will transform a former gravel pit into a vibrant residential community of 128 homes surrounding a spring-fed pond.  

*Phase:

Predevelopment:
In the site plan and construction approval process.

Funding:
Identifying (usually multiple) funding sources.

Building:
Construction is underway

For more information about a particular project, contact Lindsey Dotson at lindsey@gdplacemaking.com. The table will be updated regularly on the LTBHP website at www.ltbhp.org.

EMMET COUNTY SHINES AT HOUSING SUMMIT!

Emmet County’s Carlin Smith and the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Foundation were honored at the recent Northwest Michigan Housing Summit hosted by Housing North.

One of the founders of the LTBHP, Carlin Smith, received Housing North’s Housing Dedication Award. Josh Mills, Housing North Board President, called Smith one of our region’s most dedicated housing advocates. “I have had the privilege of learning from and getting to experience the passion Carlin possesses,” Mills said. Smith is also a founding member of the Housing North Board of Directors joining the board in 2018 and serving as President in 2022 and 2023. He plans to step down when his term expires at the end of this year. The Little Traverse Bay Housing Partnership joins in celebrating Carlin’s long-time service as a housing advocate and champion in Emmet County and the region. Housing North presented Carlin with a tile from Little Traverse Tileworks in recognition of his outstanding achievements.

Lindsey Dotson started as the new Housing Ready Coordinator covering Emmet and Kalkaska Counties for Housing North on August 1, 2024. She is contracted to work in the position through her consulting business GD Placemaking which provides revitalization and redevelopment guidance for communities, small businesses, and property owners while helping to preserve the built environment and unique character that makes places memorable.

Before accepting the Emmet County Housing Ready Program Coordinator position, Lindsey served as the DDA Director and Historic District Commission Coordinator for the City of Charlevoix for over 7.5 years. Lindsey is a certified Main Street America Revitalization Professional and a facilitator of Jon Schallert's Destination Creation Course. 

Lindsey has a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University, a master’s degree in Historic Preservation from Eastern Michigan University, and more than 11 years of experience in community and economic development. 

Lindsey is a member of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network Board of Directors and is an appointed Historic District Commissioner in Norwood Township. She volunteers as an advisory member of the Charlevoix Historical Society Board and is on the Buildings and Grounds committee. 

When not at work or volunteering, Lindsey can be found living her best life with her husband, son, and chihuahua, podcasting with her besties, or going on a random road trip to see the Jonas Brothers in concert.  

The Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation (PHSACF), also a founding member of the Little Traverse Bay Housing Partnership, was presented with the Champion Housing Advocate Award for its determination and success in buying the land, assembling the partners, and raising the funds to make the Lofts of Lumber Square project a reality. PHSACF recently announced that construction has started on the 60-unit apartment building on Emmet Street in Petoskey. In addition to securing funding from several state agencies, the Community Foundation is raising $4 million for the project.

“The foundation worked collaboratively with the community and its partners to clear countless obstacles and raise millions of dollars,” Mills said, noting that the foundation has been a champion housing advocate since before Housing North was even in existence.

In accepting the award, David “DJ” Jones of the PHSACF, made a point to thank Haan Development and Northern Homes Community Development Corporation as key partners in the Lofts project. Haan is serving as the developer and Northern Homes will serve as the owner/operator when the project is complete. Jones also acknowledged Sarah Ford from his staff who, whether she wanted to or not, became a housing expert and has worked tirelessly to lead this project. Ford is also a member of the Little Traverse Bay Housing Partnership (LTBHP).

This was the tenth annual housing summit hosted by Housing North. The event was held October 24-25 at the Haggerty Center in Traverse City and was attended by more than 220 housing advocates from throughout the state.