The city is rolling out a new program to support development and rehabilitation of quality rental housing to improve housing options and increase neighborhood vibrancy in our community.
The program is made possible through our Community Development Division using Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A total of $175,000 will be available for the 2016-2017 program year (through June 30, 2017).
Criteria for prioritizing projects are:
· Projects generally will be limited to properties for which rental housing is the best use. A wide variety of building types are eligible and may include small, mixed-use buildings; duplexes and more. The program generally will not consider development or rehabilitation of single-family homes for rental housing.
· The city will prioritize projects in which the owner is an occupant, such as the rental unit of an owner-occupied duplex or a mixed-use building with commercial space housing the owner’s business.
· The city will prioritize buildings which improve vacant or underutilized space, like the conversion of an unused second floor into an apartment.
“This program will increase our housing density and mixed-use neighborhoods, providing housing that is walkable and connected to shopping, parks, jobs, schools and other community amenities,” said Community Development Manager Chris Lussier.
Eligible applicants to the program are building owners of suitable structures, including prospective buyers with site control. Owners may be individuals, corporations or partnerships. Also eligible to apply are qualified Community-Based Development Organizations, which may propose new construction.
A minimum of 51 percent of the rental housing units developed or rehabilitated must initially be occupied by households with less than 80 percent of the area median income, based on family size, as determined by HUD ($44,400 for a family of four).
The city will accept pre-applications until 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 in Room 117 at City Hall, 10 N. Division St. More comprehensive applications will be required for chosen projects. For more information, please visit our website, http://battlecreekmi.gov/562/Rental-Rehab-Program, or contact Lussier at 269-966-3267.