Portage experiencing surge in housing developments
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Tom Haroldson | Special to MLive
PORTAGE, MI – A proposed $15 million affordable housing community on East Centre Avenue is among several residential housing developments in Portage going on are being lined up this year.
Two of the projects are facing March 22 Portage City Council public hearings on rezoning that if approved will clear the way for the housing developments:
• 1521, 1603 and 1615 E. Centre Ave., from one-family residential, multiple-family residential and office service to planned development for the proposed Selinon Park development proposing a 74-unit affordable supportive housing community in three buildings.
• 480 Admiral Ave.; 514, 520, 526, 532, 606, 612, 618Dorset St.; 6843, 422, 426 Dorset St.; 6979 S. Westnedge, all from various zonings to one-family residential for one to three two-family attached residential duplexes along the northern portion of the property near Westnedge and Romence Road Parkway.
Both of the proposed rezoning requests have been approved by the Portage Planning Commission.
Related to housing construction, the City Council on Tuesday approved phase one of the proposed Whisper Rock development at 2275 W. Centre Ave. that calls for 45 attached condos in 18 two-unit and three three-unit buildings. The project is part of the overall Oakland Hills at Centre planned development at Centre and Oakland Drive.
Another housing development going on in the city is the Copperleaf subdivision off West Milham Avenue now being built by Allen Edwin Homes that proposes 39 homes in the first phase.
Senior and assisted living are being addressed by two projects both on West Milham: Story Point, 3951 W. Milham Ave., senior living community with independent and assisted living; and Bickford of Portage, 4713 W. Milham Ave., an expansion of 16 assisted senior living units.
The Selinon Park project on East Centre has been submitted by Full Circle Communities and is designed to give Portage needed affordable housing. Three buildings offering 74 apartments with one to four bedrooms are in the plans.
One third will be for residents with physical or sensory impairments or special needs; a third for under-housed working families burdened by high housing costs and at risk of being homeless; and a third for households whose annual income is between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income.
The community will also include pedestrian and recreation paths, landscaped common areas, an outdoor recreation area for children and an existing historic home on Centre that will be maintained for the property manager.
The developer is asking for a payment in lieu of taxes tax exemption (PILOT) that gives the company a tax break while still paying a minimum of $34,071 a year to area taxing units.
A PILOT has been previously approved by the city for several developments including Hearthside, Spring Manor, The Crossings II and Milham Meadows.
