PONTIAC, Mich. – Several affordable housing units and short-term shelter spaces are being built in Pontiac starting this year, according to a local organization.
Pontiac-based nonprofit Lighthouse says it is working on multiple developments to address a lack of affordable housing within the city. Lighthouse says it’s “helping to develop” nearly 100 units that will appear to take the shape of both apartments and townhomes.
At 454 Auburn Avenue, near South Sanford Street, a new five-story building is expected to be built and contain 54 units. Lighthouse said Wednesday, May 29 that groundbreaking on this project was scheduled to start in the fall of 2024, and should take “about 18 months to complete.”
Another affordable housing project is also expected to begin this fall, but at an existing structure. The Beacon Townhomes, located at 101 Mechanic Street, are set to undergo $14 million worth of redevelopment that will create 40 updated affordable housing units.
Lighthouse also reported Wednesday that its new “campus expansion project” will increase their central campus’ shelter capacity from 30 beds to 150 beds. It’s part of an at least $32 million development project meant to build up the nonprofit’s physical space to become a “one stop shop for Oakland County residents in need.”
They estimate the expansion of their short-term shelter will help the nonprofit serve 600 people each year in that space.
Work on the expansion of Lighthouse’s campus, located at 46156 Woodward Avenue, may begin late this year or early in 2025, officials said. The nonprofit was still working to raise money for the project, though more than $24 million had been secured as of Wednesday.
“The project will also consolidate Lighthouse’s emergency food service program and establish a client-choice social supermarket; create an Economic Opportunity Center focused on income, employment, and educational needs of the community; increase the availability of on-site supportive services; and redevelop the current administrative building to include an event space and cafe accessible to the public for social connections, special events, and neighborhood gatherings,” a press release read Wednesday.
It wasn’t said how long the work on the campus would take once it begins.