GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY — Traverse City Area Public Schools is moving forward with a $27 million plan to build 70 units of duplex housing for educators and support staff.
The housing will be built in a wooded area located behind Blair Elementary School.
The project aims to provide affordable living options for school employees through a partnership with several local education groups and state housing officials. The development is being funded in part by a $5 million state appropriation and support from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
The Blair Housing project is a collaborative effort between several regional educational organizations. Traverse City Area Public Schools is partnering with Northwest Education, Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools and the Interlochen Center for the Arts to develop the site. The development is designed to provide housing for K-12 educators and various support staff members across the participating districts.
The project is expected to cost a total of $27 million. Funding for the development includes a $5 million state appropriation. Additional financing is provided through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, or MSHDA.
Each of the duplex units will feature either one or two bedrooms. The housing will be legally protected to prevent the units from being converted into market-rate housing in the future. Half of the 70 units will be designated as subsidized housing through MSHDA.
Dr. John VanWagoner, superintendent of Traverse City Area Public Schools, said rent levels for the units will be determined by income standards and subsidies. Subsidized one-bedroom units are estimated to cost between $1,000 and $1,100 per month. Rent for subsidized two-bedroom units is expected to fall between $1,200 and $1,300 per month. Non-subsidized units for staff who do not meet specific income requirements will cost approximately $200 more per month than the subsidized options.
Traverse City Area Public Schools will not own the housing complex. The district is acting as a sponsor for the project. VanWagoner also noted that the district has considered the possibility of eventually offering rent-to-own units.
Construction on the housing units is expected to begin this spring. VanWagoner said he hopes the development will pave they way for other school districts to build their own housing complexes for employees.