A new housing development heads to Kalamazoo County for a vote
A developer is asking the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners to approve a brownfield tax break for a $17 million housing project in Galesburg that would bring 52 new homes to the area near Blake Boulevard and Battle Creek Street.
The Michigan Housing Partnership, LLC presented the plan to the county board for a public hearing and vote on Tuesday, June 1, according to the board's agenda published by Public Media Network.
What the project includes
The development would include a mix of rental units and single-family homes, according to Macy Walters with the Kalamazoo County Brownfield Authority.
"42% of the units and the duplexes would be restricted to renters earning up to 100% of the Average Median Income," Walters said, according to WKZO.
The remaining 24 units would be sold as single-family homes.
Rents for the restricted units would be set at approximately $2,300 to $2,400 per month, according to the report.
Questions about affordability
Not all county leaders agreed the project qualifies as affordable housing.
"Commissioner Monteze Morales says she really doesn't consider that to be affordable," WKZO reported.
The developers are seeking a brownfield tax increment financing plan that would allow them to convert future property tax payments into infrastructure improvements at the site. Construction would begin this summer if the incentive is approved.
Part of a broader housing push
The Galesburg project was one of several housing items on the county board's June 1 agenda. The board also considered revising a housing millage grant for Bogan Developments, which plans to add 38 additional units to its Zone 32 project in Kalamazoo.
"Developer Jamauri Bogan wants to add 38 additional units to his Zone 32 project at Frank and Pitcher on the north side of the city of Kalamazoo," WKZO reported.
Bogan said he had to modify the Phase 2 expansion and reduce the number of low-income units after failing to secure a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit from the state.
Why Galesburg matters
Galesburg is one of the communities where the state's Rx Kids cash assistance program expanded in June, joining Oshtemo Township, Wakeshma Township, and the City of Kalamazoo. The program provides $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for the first six months of a child's life to eligible families.
Housing availability and affordability are closely tied to the financial stability that programs like Rx Kids aim to support for new and expecting parents.
What happens next
Construction on the Galesburg project would begin this summer if the brownfield incentive is approved, according to WKZO. The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners meets regularly, and meeting outcomes are published through Public Media Network.
For more information on the brownfield program, residents can contact the Kalamazoo County Brownfield Authority.
This story was reported by David Mitchell for The Kalamazoo Press.