PORTAGE, Mich. — The first community land trust in Kalamazoo County is breaking ground on Stanwood Crossings, a new affordable housing development that will keep homes affordable for current buyers and future generations.

The development will build 42 single-family homes where residents purchase their houses but lease the land from the Portage Community Land Trust. This ground lease model ensures that homes remain affordable over time by separating the cost of the structure from the value of the land.

"Only the house is purchased by the resident," said Pete Dame, City of Portage Chief Development Officer. "So when the resident goes to sell their house, they sell it to someone who the community land trust has determined meets the affordability range."

Qualified buyers must fall within 80% to 120% of the area median income. For 2025 in Portage, that means annual incomes between $69,040 and $103,560 for a three-person household. When a home is resold, the community land trust sets the price based on current area median income and finds a buyer who qualifies.

City of Portage Housing Resource Specialist Anita Johnson said the program targets workforce housing for city hall workers, teachers, firefighters, and police officers who cannot afford typical market rates.