FLINT, MI -- Nearly 400 public housing apartments in Flint would be rehabilitated through a U.S. Housing and Urban Development program that calls for converting four complexes in the city into the federal government’s Section 8 housing program.
The Flint City Council approved payments in lieu of taxes for the properties -- Aldridge Place Townhouses, Centerview Apartments, Howard Estates and Mince Manor -- during a committee meeting last week and could complete the approval during its meeting on Monday, June 27.
Using HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program, the city would work with MHT Housing, a non-profit company to rehabilitate and manage public housing in exchange for tax credits and subsidies.
MHT said the conversion to Section 8 would allow for the investment of roughly $30 million into the four FHC properties.
“What has occurred in our country is a lot of the public housing stock ... has become obsolete,” Jim Gromer of MHT told the council last week. In Flint, “it’s been so long (since rehabilitation that the properties) need all the major mechanicals from roofs to heating and cooling and it has to be brought up date ... to make everything as efficient as possible.”
Under the payment in lieu of taxes, the properties would generate roughly $95,000 for the city compared to just $17,000 paid last year while the complexes were a part of HUD’s Section 9 program.
Council members approved the PILOT agreements for the properties in a 5-0 vote last week.
Despite the change, the Flint Housing Commission would continue to staff and own the properties with MHT partnering with the agency to secure financing and to apply for low-income housing tax credits and tax-exempt bond financing from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
“I’m really excited for this ... You guys have my full, 100 percent support,” said 4th Ward Councilwoman Judy Priestley, whose ward includes two of the FHC properties.
Information supplied to council members says residents will retain a right to remain at the properties and will continue to pay only 30 percent of their income toward rent provided they are at or below 60 percent of the area median income.
Aldridge Place is comprised of 97 two, three and four-bedroom townhomes, Centerview has 90 one-bedroom apartments, Howard Estates has 96 townhouses, and Mince Manor, which is geared toward older clients, offers 110 units.
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