Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced three significant redevelopment projects across Michigan, set to bring over 30 new homes and commercial spaces to Albion, North Branch, and Monroe. These initiatives, supported by more than $14.2 million in total capital investment through various Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) programs, aim to revitalize vacant properties and enhance community vibrancy.
In Downtown Albion, nine functionally obsolete properties on S. Superior Street will be transformed into 21 residential units, offered at 70% to 100% of the Area Median Income, and six new commercial spaces. This $11.3 million project is backed by a $5 million Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grant, along with Brownfield Tax Increment Financing and local support from the City of Albion and the Albion Community Foundation. Mayor Victoria Garcia Snyder said, "This $5 million commitment to the Big Albion Plan represents a transformational investment in the future of our community."
The Village of North Branch will see a vacant former hardware store at 4003 Huron Street rehabilitated into eight new apartments, priced at or below 120% AMI, and two commercial spaces, creating 14 anticipated new jobs. This $2.3 million redevelopment, addressing significant blight, is supported by a $992,000 Michigan Community Revitalization Program (MCRP) grant and a $10,000 façade grant from the Village’s Downtown Development Authority. Village President M. Kelly Martin said the project "will provide much-needed apartment housing, 1,200 square feet of fresh commercial space on the first floor, and additional parking."
Meanwhile, Downtown Monroe's 111 E. Front Street will be reactivated into a mixed-use development featuring first-floor commercial space and two residential units upstairs. This $558,110 project, which includes interior and exterior restoration and a new mural, is receiving a $250,000 Build MI Community (BMC) grant. Developer Shasta Panza said, "This grant is a huge step forward for ST Project Management Agency and will allow us to immediately begin revitalization efforts that will positively impact the community."
Governor Whitmer emphasized the broader impact, saying, "These three new projects will turn vacant properties into thriving homes and commercial space. I’m proud of our work to build or renovate 90,000 homes in communities across Michigan, more than any other administration in history." Michele Wildman, MEDC’s SVP of Community Planning and Development Readiness, added that the projects will "help to strengthen local economies, attract investment, and enhance quality of life for residents." These developments align with Michigan's "Make It in Michigan" economic development strategy, aiming to attract and retain talented workers, lower costs, and enrich communities.