ANN ARBOR – A 50-unit affordable housing portion of sustainable housing development in Ann Arbor on Platt Road, The Grove at Veridian, has received $1.5 million in tax credits.
Avalon Housing will help develop the new units, which are part of 150 planned for the mixed-income housing site near County Farm Park by Tree Town real estate firm Thrive Collaborative.
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As a nonprofit organization championing affordable housing options and services for community members in need, Avalon first proposed the development alongside Thrive Collaborative in 2016.
“In their proposal, Thrive and Avalon shared a vision of developing energy efficient, climate-resilient homes for households with a wide range of incomes. Avalon proposed building their 50-unit property alongside Thrive’s proposal for market-rate housing on the site,” Avalon officials said in a release.
Buildings at the site will have all-electric heating and cooling and all-electric appliances, be solar-ready and will aim for net-zero certification with its community center through the International Living Future Institute’s Affordable Housing Pilot Program.
The $1.5 million of tax credits for The Grove at Veridian are part of a $13 million investment in affordable housing announced by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The project has also been allocated $1.1 million through the City of Ann Arbor’s affordable housing millage and $250,000 from state enhancement funding, officials said.
“Avalon Housing is grateful for the County’s decision to make this incredibly scarce land available for affordable housing. With the support of the County, City and all our community partners, we’ll be able to create safe, efficient and beautiful homes for 50 more of our neighbors who need it. The Grove at Veridian will be affirming for people most impacted by homelessness, including young people who deserve stable housing at a time in their lives when they should be able to focus on things other than survival. Real change can happen when people come together with a shared vision, as our community has here,” said Aubrey Patiño, Executive Director of Avalon Housing.
Avalon currently supports and provides housing for 800 Washtenaw County residents, 200 of which are children.
Its 50 units at The Grove will be affordable to community members who only make up to 60 percent of the Ann Arbor area’s median income (AMI), with 30 units set aside for those existing homeless or who only make up to 30% of the AMI. Of those 30, 10 will be held for young community members being served by Ozone House experiencing housing instability.
Construction for the project will begin construction in 2023, with occupancy anticipated for some time in 2025.
It is expected to offer residents access to schools, parks and public transit as well as green spaces.