Economic Development Coordinator Speaks About the Future of Housing in Alpena

Individuals and families trying to find housing in northeast Michigan know there are a myriad of challenges with our housing market for both renters and potential homebuyers. The stock of affordable housing in Alpena has dwindled due to many factors, “so currently my team and I are partnering with a great organization like Habitat, and we’re going to be building ten homes in five counties of northeastern Michigan,” Economic Development Coordinator, Lenny Avery said.

Potential home buyers will be working class wage earners, “and these homes are going to target individuals who are between 60 percent to 120 percent of average median income,” Avery said. Enticing new builders to see the market for affordable housing is the name of the game. “If we can show other developers that there is a market for this, then we’ll get more housing developed,” he said. Mr. Avery and his team have a large vision for future housing in northeast Michigan. “So, in the next 5 to 10 years, what we’re looking at, just not even just for Alpena, but for regionally, we’re looking to build five thousand homes for the region. That includes rehabs and redevelopments. That includes demolition of ugly homes or old houses and putting new infill construction and building more single-family home ownership home in Alpena.”