Four County Community wants to purchase and develop vacant lot
IMLAY CITY — The Four County Community Foundation (4CCF) is seeking to purchase a piece of property at 250 P.O.&N Street for the purpose of building a new family home.
The vacant lot is currently owned by Imlay City residents Ivan and Amy Planck, who are interested in selling the property.
Because the size of the property does not meet the city’s required dimensions, it will be necessary for the owners to seek a variance from Imlay City’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).
To accommodate the sale and purchase of the property, the ZBA is hosting a public hearing at the Imlay City Hall at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24.
4CCF Director Kathy Dickens said the Imlay City community would benefit from construction of a brand-new modular home on the property.
Four County Community Foundation hopes to build a new family home on this empty parcel at 250 P.O.&N Street. Construction at the site is subject to approval of a variance by the Imlay City ZBA.
“We’re talking about building an attractive 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom family home,” Dickens said. “All the commitments are in place. However, everything is contingent on getting a variance to build there.”
Dickens said the results of a recent survey conducted by 4CCF, indicated there is significant need for single-family housing in Imlay City and surrounding communities.
To help fill the need for additional housing, Dickens applied for and was awarded a $200,000 grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to fund the entirety of the project.
Presuming the project moves forward, Dickens said the grant would be repayable upon the sale of the property.
“Our intent is to build a house in Imlay City,” she said. “If we don’t get ZBA approval, we can do the project in another community.”
The MSHDA program is specifically designed “to help Michigan communities attract and retain new businesses, talent and homebuyers by creating affordable new construction housing using modular build/modified technology homes.”
Through this program, MSHDA is awarding up to $200,000 per recipient toward the construction, marketing and sale of a modular home that can serve as a catalyst to encourage new construction of affordable homes within the community.
Various processes and activities that can be financed through the program include model delivery, taxes, site preparation, on-site finishing, and related construction costs.
Dickens said it is because of the benefits and opportunities provided through the MSHDA program, that Four County Community Foundation is able to participate in the proposed build at 250 P.O.&N Street.
She noted that funding for the “MSHDA MOD” program may be used to build single-family modular construction; single-family modified technology/techniques; and for small-scale multi-unit modular construction options.
