$40M development in Fort Gratiot to bring more affordable housing for seniors
Local seniors will soon have more options for affordable housing with a $40 million expansion at the Village of Lake Huron Woods in Fort Gratiot.
Officials broke ground on the campus expansion Wednesday morning. The project aims to accommodate more independent living apartments and cottages for residents. In total, there will be 90 new affordable accommodations at the senior living facility.
Village of Lake Huron Woods Business Administrator Jenny Loshaw said the new housing is expected to be available in 2024.
"The community at Lake Huron Woods has the most amazing residents and serving them is such an honor," she said. "I absolutely cannot wait to have other seniors join our community and enjoy what it has to offer."
Village of Lake Huron Woods is located at 5221 Lakeshore Road. The community is a part of the Presbyterian Villages of Michigan, which provides senior living services across the state.
Loshaw said the expansion is being paid through donors and sponsorships. Sponsors and other funding include the James Acheson Foundation and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
Speakers representing the partnership organizations and sponsors were present at the groundbreaking. Chairperson for the Lake Huron Woods Board Dave Imesch said the groundbreaking is a big day for the facility and is the result of many years of great collaboration between partners.
"They had the same vision to provide a much needed additional housing services here in Fort Gratiot," Imesch said. "We continue to focus on delivering reliable and affordable services to our residents, and this new addition to Lake Huron Woods will allow us to do that."
PNC Bank Senior Vice President Todd Krumwiede said the bank is extremely proud to be a partner in the expansion project. The bank was involved in development by purchasing tax credits provided by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
"To come to an event like this put an impact on what we do to help provide safe and affordable housing for the seniors in Fort Gratiot," Krumwiede said.
Executive Director of the Port Huron Housing Commission Jim Dewey said the project was first talked about in 2017. He said that while it has taken a few years to get to the groundbreaking, the site will provide much needed housing once finished.
"We know that affordable housing and healthcare for our seniors is an issue and we wanted to crack that nut," Dewey said. "I'm excited that we get to turn up some dirt to kick off this truly affordable housing facility."
Of the planned 90 new accommodations, 43 will be one-bedroom apartments, two will be two bedrooms apartments and the remaining 45 units will be cottages. Loshaw said there is already a waitlist for the one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Currently, Village of Lake Huron Woods serves roughly 130 residents. With this expansion, its campus can accommodate between 137 and 180 new residents, depending on how the new units are occupied.
Loshaw said there will be a donor recognition wall installed in the new lobby of the expanded campus.
Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.
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This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: $40M development in Fort Gratiot to bring more affordable housing for seniors
