Kalamazoo City Approves $1.8 Million Housing Incentives for Affordable Apartments Near Bronson Hospital as Developer Says Project Would Cost Renters Above-Market Rates Without Help

Affordable Housing Project Could Include 85 Units With Subsidized Rents

*KALAMAZOO, MI — Kalamazoo city commissioners are expected to approve brownfield development grants worth about $1.8 million* in gap financing for a new affordable housing project called The B on Burdick, located near the Bronson Hospital campus.

Developer Jamari Bogan says the project will include 18 studio, 48 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom apartments plus other facilities on the site.

"They could build it without the incentives, but they would have to charge rates that were well above the average median income for many renters," Bogan said.

City planner Jamie McCarthy noted that other proposals will bring down the cost of renting about 20% of the units to more affordable rates for low-income residents.

Michigan Expands Affordable Housing Incentives

The brownfield development grants are something recently permitted by the state of Michigan to expand the number of incentives available for affordable housing projects. This is one of several grants requested for the project, with other state and local incentives also being proposed and scheduled for approval in the weeks and months ahead.

Project Details

The B on Burdick is situated near the Bronson Methodist Hospital campus, a major healthcare provider in Kalamazoo that employs between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals and operates 137 service locations across the region.

The project represents part of a broader effort to address housing affordability in Kalamazoo County, where the need for affordable housing units has been growing.

"Other proposals will bring down the cost of renting about 20% of the units to more affordable rates," McCarthy said.

What This Means for Local Renters

Without the brownfield development grants and other state and local incentives, Bogan said the developer would have to charge rental rates that were well above the average median income for many renters in the area.

The project could help provide affordable housing options for workers near the hospital campus, including healthcare workers, service employees, and other essential workers who work in the Bronson Healthcare system.

The Kalamazoo city commissioners are expected to give their official approval to the project tonight, April 6, 2026.

Other Affordable Housing Projects in Kalamazoo

This project joins other affordable housing developments being proposed throughout Kalamazoo County. The city has been working with developers and state agencies to expand the toolkit of available incentives to make affordable housing more accessible to low-income residents.

The brownfield development grants are part of a statewide expansion of affordable housing incentives that Michigan recently implemented to help more communities address their housing needs.

What's Next

If approved, the brownfield development grants will provide about $1.8 million in gap financing for The B on Burdick project. Other state and local incentives are also being proposed and will be up for approval in the weeks and months ahead.

The project represents a significant investment in affordable housing near one of Kalamazoo's major hospital campuses, potentially providing housing options for essential workers who serve the community.