City Council Unanimously Approves Low Income Housing ‘Center City Lofts’
MIDLAND, Mich. — The Midland City Council on Monday night unanimously approved the low income housing development by Spire Development, seeking to build near the corner of Jefferson and Dartmouth, behind the Post Office.
The proposed development is a three-story, 55-unit multiple family residential development which will make use of the PILOT tax incentive, or ‘Payment in Lieu of Taxes.’ PILOT is an agreed fee that is paid annually to the City of Midland, based upon factors such as rent capacity, tenant fees, vacancies and eligible utility costs, instead of ad valorem property taxes. The City Council approved the PILOT program for the development and it is expected to last for 20 years.
“This is our most walkable part of the city,” Director of Planning and Community Development Grant Murschel told the council Monday night. “You could live here without a car.”
Anna Collins, residential advocate and housing specialist at Shelterhouse, also spoke in favor of the development.
“We greatly support this PILOT proposition. It sets a need that is so needed in this community that we see every single day,” Ms. Collins said, adding that the location of the development was accommodating.
Shelterhouse offers safety, shelter, advocacy and counseling for victims of domestic and sexual assault.
“I think it’s going to be a very nice development,” Councilman Diane Brown Wilhelm (Ward 4) said. “I think it’s going to be a good add to our community.”
Michael Westendorf is the chairman and executive editor of Chemical City Paper. As Executive Editor, he leads the City Paper’s news coverage and editorial team.