We should be proud of our region’s work for housing in 2024.
It’s important to keep the housing crisis at the forefront and celebrate victories in the next year. We need to continue working collaboratively to address housing needs and ensure we have housing for all in Northwest Michigan.
I want to highlight efforts this year that make me feel excited for the future:
Our region was awarded around $42 million toward housing and economic development. We saw the first Housing Tax Incremental Financing (HTIF) projects and received support through the state budget for projects and technical assistance. Over 35 communities came together to support housing and embraced state funding opportunities.
The City of Traverse City and Grand Traverse County allocated dollars to support permanent supportive housing and the Coalition to End Homelessness. This means 30-35 people will be housed and have the support they need to remain in housing. Many individuals and organizations worked to make this happen.
Grand Traverse County Housing for Educators Consortium (Traverse City Area Public Schools, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Northwest Education Services and Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools) received support through the State of Michigan to create year-round workforce housing on a school’s property. This is supported by Traverse Connect and the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation’s Community Development Coalition.
The Flats at Carriage Commons in Garfield Township has been years in the works. Their first phase broke ground in August and includes 48 multifamily units through the Traverse City Housing Commission. Partners include Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region and Bay Area Transportation Authority — with the goal to create 210 units, 14 single family units and a transportation hub.
In Leelanau County, the New Waves project is 14, single family homes that are being built through Habitat for Humanity of Grand Traverse Region. This project started in 2017 and is now providing much needed housing to families.
The Ida Thompkins building in Traverse City is going to host workforce housing and office space. After years of discussion between the county, TCAPS, Housing North and developers, the new HTIF tool allowed this historic building to remain and housing to be created.
Leelanau County is working on a Housing Action plan through a newly formed Housing Collaborative, which includes Leelanau County Economic Foundation, Leelanau County Housing Action Committee, Sleeping Bear Gateways Council and Housing North. There will be a communication plan, toolkit and strategies for Leelanau County to move housing solutions forward.
Benzie County and the City of Frankfort are leading on housing progress with zoning changes, funding and strong community support. Projects like Grove Place, Lake and Main townhomes and planned developments in Thompsonville will bring critical housing to these communities.
Antrim County is advancing housing with a new project in Elk Rapids, a partnership with Homestretch Nonprofit Housing Corporation. Twenty-four new units are planned with help from a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis Affordable Housing Program. Antrim County also supported an HTIF project in the Village of Bellaire for workforce housing.
Our region will be the second pilot in Michigan for a zoning atlas with support from the National Zoning Atlas, the University of Michigan and the Michigan Planning Association. In early 2025, we will create a regional zoning atlas in Grand Traverse County with support from the Economic Development Corporation and private foundations. This tool will assess the number and type of dwelling units that can be produced in each community while considering natural resources and proximity to utilities. We hope this tool will be available to all counties in our region to support not just housing opportunities but smart growth and planning for development while protecting our natural resources.
There is an initiative to create a regional housing revolving loan fund called the Rapid Response Fund. This fund aims to quickly respond to housing projects and initiatives that will close the financing gap or help get the project started.
As we celebrate housing wins, remember each success represents the efforts of numerous partners thinking of innovative ideas to promote housing. These achievements demonstrate the power of collaboration. Together, we can build momentum, ensuring that everyone in our communities has a place to call HOME.
To stay in the loop on progress in our region and learn ways you can support your communities’ housing needs, sign up for newsletters from the Coalition to End Homelessness, Housing North, Homestretch Nonprofit Housing Corporation, Habitat for Humanity, Frankfort Area Community Land Trust and Peninsula Housing.